Deputy Governor Invites PHRI Bali To Formulate Future Tourism Concepts For The Island Of The Gods

DENPASAR - Deputy Governor of Bali Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati invited the ranks of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali to think about and formulate the concept of the future of local tourism.

"Tourism development cannot be separated from various supporting factors such as social, political, economic, cultural and security," said the Deputy Governor of Bali when opening the PHRI Bali Regional Work Meeting (Rakerda) II in Denpasar, quoted by Antara, Saturday, February 5.

Regarding social factors, he said that tourism business actors are currently facing a complicated situation, one of which is the decision to lay off workers and demands that employees return to full employment because they consider the situation to be recovering.

The man who is usually called Cok Ace hopes that the management can respond to this situation wisely. "Our society is currently sensitive and easily offended because of economic pressures that have led to an increase in poverty and unemployment," said the man who is also the chairman of PHRI Bali.

According to him, we must be able to openly explain the concrete picture and condition of the company in the right language to employees," said Cok Ace, who is also a member of the Puri Ubud.

Another factor that should be taken into account is politics, because 2023 has entered the political year as part of the preparation for the 2024 Simultaneous Election.

One consequence is that the government's focus on the tourism sector may be slightly reduced because it has to focus on big celebrations.

"The Bali Provincial Government is currently boosting a number of infrastructure developments such as shortcuts, the Bali Cultural Center (PKB) and the arrangement of the Besakih area. I predict that this infrastructure arrangement will affect the map and face of Bali tourism," he said.

Next is the cultural factor which has recently undergone a shift. He gave an example of the decline in the large Ngaben procession which used to be one of the tourist attractions.

"Therefore, I ask tourism actors to re-examine whether they continue to make ceremonial activities a mainstay or try to balance it with the development of other alternatives," he said.

On the other hand, Deputy Governor Cok Ace also mentioned the trend of tourism that prioritizes matters related to health.

He hopes that tourism business players in Bali will remain optimistic and not be discouraged. According to him, the development of the tourism sector does not only require the support of complete infrastructure.

"No less important is the support of human resources and I believe Bali is still superior so far," said Cok Ace.

Meanwhile, the Head of the PHRI Rakerda Committee, Perry Markus, said that this agenda was a follow-up to the Rakercab implementation and was a mandate from the organization's AR/ART.

The Rakerda was carried out in a simple manner according to the concerned conditions faced by Bali tourism actors and also in line with the implementation of health protocols to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant.