Bali Begins To Rise From The Pressure Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 pandemic has battered the entire world's economy, including Indonesia. Bali is one of the provinces that has been worst affected by the pandemic.

But now, with the discipline of implementing the strict CHSE health protocol, it is hoped that it will be able to restore the image of Bali tourism. At the same time, helping Bali's economy rise.

The government through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy together with the local government (Pemda) of Bali is preparing a travel corridor arrangement (TCA) to welcome foreign tourists to Bali. The goal, so that the Balinese economy can move again. However, still by implementing strict health protocols.

President Joko Widodo in his statement regarding the 43rd Bali Arts Festival (PKB) stated that Bali as a favorite destination has implemented strict health protocols so that later it will be safe for tourists to visit.

"We can be sure that Bali is safe to visit, of course, while still implementing strict health protocols," said Jokowi, quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Saturday, June 19.

Jokowi emphasized that the main key to Bali's economic recovery is the implementation of strict and disciplined health protocols. In line with that, Jokowi asked that vaccinations be carried out quickly and massively, and that micro PPKM based on banjar and traditional villages in Bali must be made effective to prevent transmission.

"We show the world that Bali is a very safe tourist destination to visit," he said.

In addition, Jokowi also appreciates the implementation of the 43rd Bali Arts Festival (PKB) which will be held from June 12 to July 10, 2021. According to him, organizing the event involving thousands of artists from various communities with strict and measurable health protocols is proof that the pandemic COVID-19 is not a barrier for Balinese people to keep being creative.

Moreover, Jokowi said, the tourism and creative economy sectors in Indonesia, especially in Bali, are experiencing difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy / Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, said the PKB which had been implemented for 43 years was a motivation for the Balinese people to rise from the difficulties they were experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This art festival in Bali is philosophically also a medium and a means of raising our spirits, motivating people to explore, discover, and display cultural arts and improve welfare for the community, open up business opportunities and employment opportunities," he said.

Sandiaga assessed that Bali as the epicenter of Indonesian tourism is not only able to attract domestic and foreign tourists because of its natural beauty appeal, but also its cultural richness. Thus, he considered the 43rd PKB to play an important role in triggering the recovery of Bali tourism.

"I hope that this event will become a field for art appreciation, build an ecosystem of progress within the framework of art and culture in Bali, as well as encourage and revive creativity in the tourism and creative economy as an effort to accelerate economic recovery in Indonesia," he said.

On the same occasion, the Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, added that the 43rd PKB event was filled with a number of activity agendas. These include recasadana (performance, utsawa (parade), wimbakara (competition), kandarupa (exhibition, kriyaloka (workshop), widyatula (rehearsal), and adi Sewaka nugraha (artist award).

"This PKB is also accompanied by the Bali Bangkit IKM (Small and Medium Industry) Exhibition, which is coordinated by the Dekranasda of Bali Province. This exhibition displays the achievements of the best arts and crafts as the embodiment of a cultural party that can prosper Balinese manners," explained Koster.

Previously, Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno hoped that the reactivation of Bali tourism could restore the Balinese economy. Because, based on the report received at the end of the second quarter of June 2021, Bali's economy has contracted again.

Sandiaga said that based on the data he received, the contraction in Bali continued and the figure was not too far off compared to the first quarter. In fact, including a fairly deep category.

"This is what we have to deal with immediately, we have to move quickly, and we have to move in with policies that are right on target, right on benefits, and on time for those who really need it. Otherwise there will be permanent damage or total damage and damage caused fatal. So that's what we hope, together with industry friends here, to avoid this situation that is already very concerning," he said in an official statement, Monday, June 14.

Therefore, said Sandiaga, it is necessary to support and actively participate in all tourism industry players and the creative economy who are members of the Bali Tourism Board, to help prepare for the reactivation of Bali tourism as a step to restore the tourism sector and the creative economy.

"In reopening tourism, of course, we need industry support, because in the end it is our friends who are at the forefront, namely those who are engaged in the tourism industry and the creative economy," he said.