East Java Free Red Zone, Khofifah Says Ready To Trial The Tourism Sector

SURABAYA - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa said he was ready to conduct trials in several tourism sectors, after the Ministry of Health declared the local area free from PPKM Level IV and free from red zones.

"It is very possible that there will be trials in several tourism sectors. Currently, several tourism sectors have submitted PeduliLindung applications. This means that malls have proposed, other tours as well," Khofifah said, quoted by Antara, Thursday, September 9.

He said the trial must be accompanied by proper health protocols, and accelerated vaccination on all fronts.

Deputy Chairperson of the East Java Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dwi Cahyono, who was present at the Rapimprov, said that from 2018 to 2019 the central government had determined that tourism would be the leading sector in the Indonesian economy.

"It was really extraordinary and no one thought that tourism was really down during this pandemic," he said.

Dwi, who is also the Chair of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) in East Java, acknowledged the slump in the tourism sector during the pandemic because tourism was a driving factor.

"If there is no movement, there is no tourism, there is no business. We see Bali, it really is dead. Today, tourism is the driving force, and during a pandemic its movement is prohibited. Not only hotels and restaurants are dead, but souvenir shops and everything affected, stopped because movement was restricted," he said.

Because it is limited, he said, people's behavior has changed, and is more of a priority for basic needs, while tourism has become the third and fourth needs.

"Now, like it or not, we have to carry out risk management, energy efficiency and human resources. We have to be innovative, the services offered must be innovative and varied," he said.

He said the East Java Chamber of Commerce is also coordinating, making a roadmap to increase the tourism sector.

Kadin hopes that the government will relax and restructure bank loans, occupancy subsidies, tax payment subsidies, including energy and human resources, BPJS and so on.

"For the target market, we are currently focusing on the domestic market and the certainty of bundling, the certainty of events that will be held by the second party, at tourist sites," he said.