COVID-19 Cases Soar High In Indonesia, Hotel And Restaurant Entrepreneurs: We Still Have To Work To Survive

JAKARTA - The number of COVID-19 cases in the country continues to increase. In the midst of this high number of cases, the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) admitted that it still had to operate.

PHRI Secretary General Maulana Yusran admitted that he was forced to think ahead of the economy. Because the company still has to survive in the midst of the pressure of the pandemic.

"Why do we seem to think it's only an economic problem? Because the problem is for us to survive, we have to work. Our income is only from that sector", he said when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, June 23.

In addition, Yusran said he was worried about the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. However, he said, entrepreneurs are faced with no other choice. Because the company must think about the survival of the people who work in it.

"How will the survival of the people who work in this area be. Not to mention their obligations", he explained.

Not only that, but Yusran also admitted that he was worried that the high number of active COVID-19 cases in the country would reduce public confidence in leaving the house. This has an impact on the company's cash flow.

"It is certain (community's trust is down) and ultimately has an impact on business continuity, company cashflow. Including the fate of the workers who are maintained", he explained.

Therefore, Yursan requested that the micro-scale Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) policy be monitored at the implementation stage. Because, reflecting on the restrictions on the movement of people previously carried out by the government, it was not effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

As is known, the government has previously implemented large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), followed by imposing restrictions on community activities (PPKM), then tightened it with Micro-scale PPKM, bans on Eid al-Fitr 2021 homecoming, cuts off vacation time to leave.

"Of course we hope that this time the implementation of PPKM really goes as expected. So that the COVID-19 number really goes down. Otherwise, this sector will not be able to rise again. This sector will be completely paralyzed, It will be permanent", he said.