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Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Minister of Finance Sandiaga Uno. (Photo: Doc. Between)

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati claimed to have received a request from the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno so that the tourism sector can be opened quickly, because the tourism sector has been depressed for too long by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sri Mulyani said Sandiaga Uno's request was a very difficult choice. He said that the government is currently focusing on struggling to reduce the number of cases and the spread of COVID-19.

"Earlier Mr. Sandi whispered to me, if we try to encourage his demand how to travel? But we know there are difficult choices, for fear of COVID-19 spreading," he said at the 'Sarasehan Acceleration of National Economic Recovery' event, Friday, April 9.

The government, sri said, should pay close attention to the implementation of health protocols in reopening the tourism sector. Moreover, the government has spawned various programs ranging from Proudly Made in Indonesia to Proud Tourism Indonesia.

Therefore, said Sri Mulyani, the government continues to think about encouraging mobility and consumption without causing an increase in COVID-19 cases getting worse.

"Indeed in this case the design must be very careful and thorough because we want to encourage community activities but we do not want the COVID continues to increase. It's always looking for the midpoint," he said.

Sri Mulyani said that the government continues to pay attention so that businesses in the tourism sector can survive the pandemic. In 2020, he said, the government provided tourism grants reaching Rp3.3 trillion for 101 regions, one of which is Bali.

As is known, Bali, North Sulawesi, Yogyakarta is an area that becomes a tourist destination. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic entered Indonesia in March 2020, the area was immediately affected because tourists from China were stopped from entering Indonesia, resulting in an immediate economic downturn, especially for tourist destinations.

"For Bali itself Rp1.18 trillion for nine districts / cities. I know many districts / cities still want because Bali is one of the deepest affected by the pandemic," he explained.