The Director Of The Ministry Of Tourism Ensures That Travel To Tomohon Is Safe For COVID-19

Business actors carry out cleanliness in tourism destinations, Tomohon Nature Park. (Karel A Polakit / Between)

JAKARTA - The Director of Strategic Policy Control of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf), Hasan Abud, said that tourism actors must raise public confidence that traveling to Tomohon is free of COVID-19.

"The trick is to apply strict protocols, do not neglect to use masks, wash your hands diligently and keep your physical distance and activate the BISA movement," Hasan said at the 'BISA Movement' (clean, beautiful, healthy, safe) event at Tomohon Nature Tourism Park. reported by Antara, Friday, October 9.

Hotels, restaurants and culinary delights, according to him, were the first to hit due to the COVID-19 epidemic, but this sector has risen the fastest when business actors in tourist destinations are able to ensure a sense of security and comfort for tourists.

"The point is how to generate public trust and confidence, carry out hygiene procedures, adhere to health protocols, eliminate the impression of slum so that it gives a sense of comfort," he said.

Hasan is optimistic that if these steps are taken, domestic and foreign tourists will slowly arrive.

He also hopes that the government and business actors will use social media to disseminate information that tourist destinations in Tomohon are safe from COVID-19.

"Tourists are looking for entertainment, not disease. If there is a belief that a destination will implement health protocols, they will come. It needs to be conveyed," he said.

Regarding the 'BISA Movement', Hasan said, it was the first step into entering a new normal era in the tourism sector.

This movement, according to him, is an adaptation space for new habits of tourism business actors when tourism begins to open up.

"We also hope that the BISA Movement can be continued by the local government in carrying out cleanliness and rearranging tourist destinations to make them look beautiful and comfortable," he said.

Hasan is optimistic that when the tourism sector starts to grow again, it will have an impact on economic growth and increase the welfare of the community.

The 'BISA movement' at Tomohon Nature Tourism Park was marked by cleaning the destination for two days by 100 business actors, e-kraf associations, tour guides, craftsmen since Thursday (28/9) until today.

Kemenparekraf distributed cleaning tools at the Tomohon Nature Tourism Park destination, and in four other locations in North Sulawesi according to destination needs.