Indonesia battles Covid-19

Indonesia is expecting a US$10 billion loss in tourism revenue this year.

Minister of tourism and creative economy reckons tourist arrivals could be as low as five million this year. Last year it welcomed 16 million. According to the national statistics agency BPS, tourist arrivals are down more than 30% with the mainland China market down 94%.

The pandemic has forced the closure of more than 1,200 hotels across the country, according to the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association.

President Jokowi has announced an economic stimulus package which will include tourism businesses and tax relief measures were extended to several other sectors including tourism and transportation.

Meanwhile Indonesian trade bodies and travel agencies do not give up and help any way they can. The Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), through its subsidiary Asita Care, has been distributing food to medical workers at government referral hospitals. The initiative by the national board of ASITA was then followed by its chapters. They donated masks to the health sector workers and boxes of rice for the people in need.

MMP