Sandiaga Uno: The Tourism Grant Fund Is Still In The Local Government Validation Stage, Targeted To Be Complete In July

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno said tourism grant funds are still in the validation stage at the local government (Pemda) at both city and district levels. He hopes that the validation phase can be completed soon.

"After being verified and validated by the Regional Government and the Provincial Government, this (grant funds) will be realized directly for tourism and creative economy actors," he said in the Weekly Press Briefing, Monday, July 5.

Sandiaga targets that at least in July 2021, verification and validation will be at the local government level. This grant fund, said Sandiaga, can help tourism and creative economy actors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This grant has already been transferred to other ministries/agencies who are currently processing it. With the emergency PPKM, we made a decision to accelerate it and we hope that this July the validation verification process can be completed, so that it can be accepted by the Regional Government," he said.

Therefore, he requested that after the grant funds were validated and verified at the local and provincial government levels, the Ministry of Finance and the National Economic Recovery Committee (PEN) could approve it so that it could be disbursed.

"We hope to get a quick follow-up because we have completed the preparation program at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and we have received the data from BPJS. Now we hope that the Ministry of Finance and the PEN Committee can launch (grant funds) soon," he explained.

As is known, tourism grant funds this year increased by Rp1 trillion compared to the previous year which amounted to Rp2.7 trillion. So the total is Rp3.7 trillion. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has also expanded grant recipients, not only to hotel and restaurant players but also to other creative economy players.

"This year we want to touch travel agencies, tour guides, tour guides, recreational areas, and several tourist centers," he said.

On the other hand, Sandiaga also encouraged the realization of social assistance to be accelerated amidst the implementation of this Emergency PPKM. Sandiaga also hopes that social assistance needs to be expanded to cover those who have not received it.

"The social assistance program that has been implemented has been accelerated and the recipients have also been expanded. Earlier there was also a suggestion from the Coordinating Minister for Social Assistance to reach out to previous BLT recipients but the social assistance was not touched. Don't let it be touched," he said.