Bali Tourism (Pandemic and Evaluation)

Bali Tourism

(Pandemic and Evaluation)

Anak Agung Gede Duwira Hadi Santosa

                Bali Tourism and Economy

In the last few decades Tourism is the main pillar of Balinese economy. This statement is not excessive when viewing at data on the relationship between Tourism and economy of Bali. Data from  The Statistics Center of  Indonesia (BPS) for 2018 shows that in the last 5 years Tourism has made a significant contribution to the Balinese economy through providing food and beverage accommodations to contribute the highest Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). Data from BPS on 2019 also shows that tourism contributes to employment so that in 2019 unemployment in Bali ranks lowest when compared to other regions in Indonesia.

The data from BPS which shows Tourism as the main support of the Bali economy is in accordance with what was stated by the Bali Tourism Office. According to the Head of the Bali Tourism Office the Number of Foreign Tourists Arrival to Bali year 2019 reached 6.3 million people or the equivalent of 39.1% of foreign tourists arrival in whole Indonesia with the contribution of Bali Tourism foreign exchange reached 116 Trillion or setters with 41.43% of the National Tourism foreign exchange and accommodating 1.1 million workers including Cooperatives and SMEs.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact On Tourism Of Bali

Corona Virus Disease / COVID-19 which was first discovered in Wuhan, China in the end of 2019 which then spread in almost all countries in the world. World Health Organization on March 11, 2020 established COVID-19 as a pandemic. Pandemic is a contagious disease that spreads rapidly in large areas and causes many victims. For the prevention and handling of COVID-19 countries issued various policies such as lockdowns, closure of entertainment venues, schools, places of worship for closing / tightening transportation as well as entrances and exits country.

Handling of COVID-19 Policies are is also carried out by the Government of Indonesia. After President Jokowi first announced COVID-19 infection on March 2, 2020 with 2 infected people domiciled around, confirmation of positive cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia continued to grow and spread in almost all provinces in Indonesaia. In the context of overcoming and handling the COVID-19 pandemic the government established the COVID-19 Task Force at the national and regional levels. The government issued various policies as outlined in the legislation; including Presidential Decree Number 11 year 2020 concerning Stipulation of Health Emergency, Presidential Decree Number 12 year 2020 concerning National Disaster Determination, Government Regulation Number 21 year 2020 concerning Large-Scale Social Restrictions/Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar (PSBB).

Various policies were taken by countries in the framework of handling and overcoming and breaking the chain of the COVID-19 outbreak Several policies such as lock-down / Quarantine Area, PSBB including closure and prohibition of the operation of public entertainment / tourist facilities, closure or tightening of operations of various modes of transportation including entry and exit areas, automatically hitting the Tourism sector, Bali Tourism is no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in almost no more foreign and domestic tourists visiting Bali except those still living in Bali due to restrictions / prohibitions on operating modes of transportation. Tourism Companies are closed and did not receive income which leads to laying off employees and creating unemployment. Likewise, cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises /MSMEs related to Tourism no longer operate even though sales are still operating drastically, and their sales turn down extremely. Meanwhile the Regional Government loses / decreases the Regional Original Revenue from the tourism sector as a consequence it can threaten the financing of government administration. In general, according to Vice Governor of Bali Cok Ace, the impact of the Bali Tourism COVID-19 pandemic loss of Rp. 9.7 Trillion every month.

Evaluation of Bali Tourism

The direction of Bali's Tourism Policy can be seen in Regional Regulation Number 10 year 2015 concerning the Regional Tourism Development Plan for Bali Province in 2015 to 2029. This regulation is mandated by Law Number 10 year 2009 concerning Tourism. In Article 9 paragraph 2 of the Regional Regulation, it is stated that the aim of tourism development is to create a tourism industry that is capable of driving the regional economy. Furthermore, in Article 10 paragraph 1 it is stated that the target of regional tourism development includes an increase in the number of foreign and domestic tourist arrivals, an increase in length of stay and the amount of tourist expenditure. Meanwhile according to article 46 the strategic direction of developing promotional activities includes providing tourism product packages at competitive prices, collaborating with airlines to sell tour packages at discounted flight ticket prices for foreign and domestic tourists during the low season.

Based on the provisions in the Regional Regulations of the Bali Tourism Development Master Plan above, it appears that the direction of the Bali Tourism policy shows conformity with reality with supporting data that tourism is the main pillar of the Balinese economy. The provisions of article 46 regarding the direction of the promotion development strategy show the direction of Bali Tourism policy is more oriented to quantity than quality, do not know the season because at any time is the tourist season so Bali must adjust to the wishes of tourists rather than tourists who adjust to the sources of Bali Tourism. Borrowing terms in the subak direction of tourism policy which is analogous to Tulak Sumur which is the opposite of Kerta Masa. In general, this is the portrait of Bali Tourism before the Covid-19 Pandemic.

After the pandemic COVID -19 Bali tourism suffered a huge economic loss. The impact of COVID-19 on the Balinese economy proves that there is a high risk if only placing Tourism as the main pillar of the Balinese economy, the term "No Tourist High Risk". For this reason, the positive side of the COVID-19 Pandemic can be used as a momentum to evaluate Bali's Tourism policy as regulated in Regional Regulation Number  10 year 2015.