CORONA SHOULD NOT INFECT THE MIND; LEARNING FROM TOURISM TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF BALI

CORONA SHOULD NOT INFECT THE MIND;  LEARNING FROM TOURISM

TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF BALI

By

Putu Rumawan Salain

Professor of Architecture Faculty of Engineering-Udayana University

The development of Bali for decades is very hopeful or dependent on the tourism industry. Now tourist visits have dropped dramatically due to the deadly Corona virus. Tourism in Bali is experiencing disruption not only this time, but has been many times, since the Bali Bombings until the eruption of Mount Agung. Various resources and efforts are made to restore the economic downturn in Bali. One thing that is guarded is that do not let our minds get infected, so as to be able to jointly cope with disasters that the city does not know about.

The difference this time is the virus that has spread almost all over the world including Indonesia is not visible to the eyes and rather difficult to detect because of the incubation period of two weeks and human one of the spreading media. Until now at the airport as a place where tourists pass by or in public places are attempted to detect through body temperature measurements with heat scanners, in South Korea the population is plucked from a mucus swab from their mouth.

As a result some countries are delaying flights to some other countries and that means travel delays. For example, in the country there is a postponed umrah trip, the Asean Summit which is planned to be attended by President Jokowi in Las Vegas in March this year was postponed due to concerns over the spread of the Corona virus. Similarly, there are strict checks on cruise ships, up to delays in departure schedules. In fact, there is also a stop in the import of fruit, food, used clothing, and so on from countries infected with the Corona virus without exception.

Dependence of one country with another country in terms of agricultural products in a broad sense will affect supply and demand that will gradually have an impact on the problem of difficulties up to the absence of raw materials. Prices may increase dramatically, and may no longer be available on the market. Moreover, if the outbreak of this deadly outbreak lasts a long time, it will certainly result in difficulties and chaos of the lives and livelihoods of its people. There will be turmoil in all fields, especially economic, social, and political that boils down to the condition of saving each other. Togetherness will be broken because of our common enemy.

Demand and distribution due to the shortage of raw materials are decreasing and it is very likely that mandeg will disrupt the turnaround or movement of the economy and life joints in some areas up to the smallest areas such as Denpasar and others. There will be a new balance that takes place in an era of disruption or detachment. This incident is an expensive and important lesson considering that our common enemy is not yet known anti-virus. There are reports that Israel, China and Japan have already found antinya, even Unicef as a world organization has prepared a considerable fund for its countermeasures.

On the other hand, the travel schedule of tourists heading to Indonesia, especially Bali which had been designed well in advance also experienced delays due to an outbreak that was not visible to the naked eye. As a result Bali as a world tourism destination experienced a drastic decrease in visits, especially Chinese tourists who accounted for the highest number of visits among other foreign tourists. In 2017, the number of visits was 5. 697,739 people with dominance by Chinese, Australian and Indian tourists. If added with the visit of Nusantara tourists in the same year the number will increase to about 12 million more.

While the target of Foreign tourists pegged by the Bali Tourism Office for 2018 is 6,270,000 people, but the realization is only 6,070,473, and in 2019 it is recorded to increase to 6,275,210 people. As of the beginning of 2020 in January, foreign tourists coming to Bali reached 528,883 people far more than in previous years in the same month. The decline of tourists to Bali, allegedly taking place since the beginning of February until now considering the news about the Corona virus "Wuhan" occurred in late December. If the anti-virus being studied is ineffective, the spread is more widespread, then the condition is increasingly unstable which will eventually infect the brain "thinking" of each population. If the mind is no longer rational then reason and desire are difficult to control with a healthy mind!

The impact of the Corona outbreak that has spread to 69 countries has recorded at least 80,026 cases with 2,094 deaths, in Japan with 256 cases and 6 deaths (bali Post, March 3, 2020, page 1). The spread of this outbreak spread rapidly, at least since it was discovered in December 2019. The WHO said that outside China at least 19 confid viruses have contracted more than 6,000 with 86 people dying.

Optimism of a beautiful increase in the number of visits in the statistics will be corrected by the disaster caused by the Confid 19 virus. It is not yet known exactly what percentage of the decline in visits will be in the coming months, but the central government has clearly and definitively outlined a policy of not paying hotel and restaurant taxes for the next six months. Bali Post dated March 4, 2020 page 1 mentions that at least Badung Regency will lose revenue from Hotel and Restaurant Tax (PHR) amounting to Rp 1.6 trillion. All of Bali recorded a loss of Rp 2.3 trillion. At the same time, the government also prepared a disaster management incentive fund amounting to Rp 3.3 trillion to 10 strategic national tourism destinations.

The hurry of the government to take the above decision should also pay attention to other areas or regions affected not because it is a mere tourism area. If up to six months, according to our opinion there will be a weakening of the structure of the economy that is widespread and will result in tight competition to maintain its life. Giving discounts or various waivers can not be useful considering market participants (tourists and other productions) can not go anywhere.

Now, after entering its third month of spreading the deadly virus in several hospitality locations, it has reduced the working hours of its employees through shifts due to the filling of its hotel rooms below average standards. In fact, there have been rumours that someone has housed their employees due to the absence of guests staying overnight. It is not a matter of the arrival of people who travel, in some cities in Indonesia experience difficulties getting sugar or also the increasing prices of goods.

Another difficulty is organizing information that penetrates the raging no less great with the news of the virus itself that disturbs the minds of each population. The government and the Ministry of Health who have done all they can to provide information seem to be outnumbered by the invasion through online media so quickly. Inviting people to calm down in situations like this is quite difficult, because there is no guarantee that even medical and hospital expenses may be available for it.

Life is a challenge, this time the challenge faced is an invisible but fatal virus that can take lives regardless of age, ethnicity, or nation. This outbreak has spread to several countries, and the Government of Republk Indonesia through the President's official statement stated that two of its residents have been infected with the virus. This outbreak is so gripping and panicking that some people are queuing up to buy masks, expensive masks, the absence of masks, until someone produces fake masks in Jakarta.

This common enemy must be faced with a strategic, intelligent and brilliant mind with holistic and integrated accompanied by togetherness. What is needed is that the government is obliged to provide food needs for at least the next six months, prepare prevention / prevention of transmission, provide hospitals with competent medical personnel, improve the cleanliness of the environment, reduce treatment for patients, and if necessary reduce the allowance of ASN which one of the sources is from tax revenue! Life or death is destiny! If we are still given healthy thoughts, do not be used as healthy thoughts are infected. Hopefully!