More and more people have decided to take the opportunity of doing their work online while having a blast in a beautiful villa in various part of the country, including Bali.
These past few months, more cars with foreign license plates are seen cruising the island; especially around Canggu and Ubud areas where tropical villas are being rented in a much lower rate due to the Covid outbreak.
This phenomenon is highly appreciated by the long-suffering locals, who have now get the opportunity to make money once again. Of course, the flock of out-of-town tourists/business(wo)men brings its own risk of spreading yet another outbreak; however, it seems that the officials are taking further steps in making sure that health protocols are followed in every aspects.
Night patrols have been seen everywhere, strolling on the streets of Canggu, to see that cafes and restaurants are following the health protocols and closing the establishments on time. On top of that, the governor and his staff has done everything in their power to make sure that people get vaccinated in mostly the areas tourists love the most, such as Nusa Dua, Ubud, Kuta and Sanur. Canggu, with its ever-growing hype, is also one of the areas with almost eveyone vaccinated.
The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, is currently concocting a new “work from Bali (WFB)” program for state civil servants (ASN) and civil servants (PNS). This program makes not only ASN, but also Bali hoteliers, very happy. Entrepreneurs believe this program will be effective in reviving economic activity.
“We really welcome this idea from the Coordinating Minister, with a note that the activities will be expanded to broader areas, including those that have not been categorized as the green zone,” said Deputy Chairperson of the Bali Chamber of Commerce for Accommodation and Tourism Development, I Made Ramia Adnyana…, quoted on Tuesday ( 25/5/21).
Until now, Luhut’s WFB policy has only targeted 16 hotels located in The Nusa Dua area managed by the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). Other regions also have a chance considering that the vaccination process on the Island of the Gods continues. Ramia said there were already two million doses of vaccine in stock in his region.
“Allowing other tourist areas of Seminyak, Legian, Kuta to also be opened such as Nusa Dua (WFB), Sanur, Ubud. This is a very good opportunity to help Bali, which is currently suffering a terrible slump; [eventhough the first quarter of 2021 has seen] 9.85% economic growth rate, ” said the Deputy Chairperson of the IHGMA (Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association) DPP.
The Work From Bali or WFB program is planned to start taking place in the third quarter of 2021, or July 2021 at the latest. Massive encouragement are received from Bali hoteliers to implement the program even sooner. “If it can start sooner, why [wait until later?] Cut the bureaucracy [already.] If there is no impact or threatening risks, why not start in June?” Ramia asked.
Work from Bali (WFB) is, by far, planned for Indonesian ASN at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, and ASN of seven ministries/institutions under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, namely the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of PUPR, Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Investment.
The Deputy for Tourism and Creative Economy Coordination MInistries, Odo R.M. Manuhutu, considered the program of potentially having a positive impact on the occupancy rate of hotel rooms in Bali, which were growing increasingly empty.”The occupancy rate of hotels in Bali is only 10 percent in 14 months, which has brought a significant impact to the economy,” he stated.
The WFB policy, which in 2000 after the Bali bombings was also carried out by the Central Government, was not taken haphazardly and without considering other factors. The government has also allocated a social assistance budget (Bansos) for the community during this pandemic amounting to Rp 100 trillion. “…It is not true that the government only focuses on official travel costs for ASN to revive the tourism sector without considering the social needs of the community in general,” he further explained.
Well, what do you think? Will it only trigger anothe outbreak, or, will it bring us all a new hope? Share your thoughts in the commens. See you in our next article, and until then, please take care and stay healthy.
