Sandiaga Uno Brings Bad News: Bali Needs Help Because Its Economy Will Minus 8 Percent In The Second Quarter Of 2021

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno revealed that the Island of the Gods is in need of tourist assistance. In fact, the pace of Bali's economy is predicted to still experience a deep contraction in the second quarter of 2021 at the level of 6 percent to 8 percent.

"Bali is in dire need of tourists. Its economy contracted 12 percent in the third quarter of 2020, minus 12 percent in the fourth quarter, minus 9 percent in the first quarter of this year. I received information that the second quarter of 2021 might be minus 6 to 8 percent. So this is very very very sad. Bali continues to experience contractions," he said in a virtual press conference, Tuesday, June 22.

As is known, the sharp decline in Bali's economy during the pandemic was caused by the drop in the level of tourist arrivals, both foreign and domestic. Bali is one of the provinces whose economy depends on tourism and the creative economy.

Meanwhile, when viewed from the arrival gate at Ngurah Rai international airport, Bali, there was a decline in growth of up to 99.97 percent for foreign tourists until April 23, 2021. Where there were only 348 visits, this was much lower than the same period in 2020 with 1, 21 million visits.

Meanwhile, domestic visits turned out to be the same thing, where the growth of domestic tourism was minus 57.97 percent with visits of 417,000 people until 23 April 2021, compared to 993,000 visits on 23 April 2020.

Therefore, said the owner and founder of PT Saratoga Investama Sedaya Tbk, to support tourism in Bali again, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has launched a number of programs ranging from work from Bali to COVID-19 vaccine tour packages.

"So it's like our brothers who need the most are given priority. Based on the direction from the leadership that Bali is the first destination (vaccine tourism). But it doesn't rule out other destinations," he said.

Regarding the work from Bali program, Sandiaga emphasized that this program will continue to be carried out within the framework of strict health protocols and still take into account the development of positive COVID-19 cases at home and abroad.

"It should be noted that we are taking policies based on data and science. These data and science are moving continuously so that the data two weeks ago and today's data are certainly different. This must all be adjusted," said the former Jakarta governor.