Refusing PPKM To Be Implemented Again, Hotel Entrepreneurs Ask Communities To Obey Health Protocol To Anticipate New Variants Of COVID-19 From China

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Entrepreneurs who are members of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) DKI Jakarta admit that they are worried that the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron BF.7 will pose a threat to the hospitality business.

Considering that in China there has been an explosion of cases of this variant.

Jakarta PHRI BPD Chairman Sutrisno Iwantono asked the government to be aware of the spread of the new Omicron BF.7 variant of COVID-19.

“The hotel and restaurant tourism industry is currently being haunted by the emergence of a new variant of COVID-19. In China there has been an explosion of cases, namely the omicron variant known as BF.7," he said in a virtual press conference, Tuesday, January 17.

Sutrisno asked the government to intensify booster vaccinations so that they were more evenly distributed.

In addition, PHRI also asked the public to remain disciplined in health protocols.

“Why is that? We don't want the implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM) that have been revoked, to be reapplied later," he said.

Sutrisno said the tourism industry, especially hotels and restaurants, had not fully recovered.

If PPKM is re-enacted, said Sutrisno, this will be a threat to this industry.

"Because PPKM is really a bitter pill for all of us in the hotel and restaurant industry, and tourism in general," he said.

As is known, the tourism industry, especially hotels and restaurants, has been greatly affected by the presence of COVID-19.

During the two years of handling the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, the government has adopted various policies that have had an impact on the hotel and restaurant business. One of them is PPKM based on level.