Padang (ANTARA) - During COVID-19 in March 2020, there were 2,495 foreign tourists visited W Sumatra, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in the province.
The largest number of foreign tourists from Malaysia was 2,080 people, and then Australia (62), France (41), United States (34), Singapore (32), Germany (15), United Kingdom (15), Japan (12), South Africa ( 12), Spain (10) and other countries 182 people.
Compared to the previous month, the number of foreign tourist visits in March 2020 has decreased quite large.
"In February 2020 there were 4,038 foreign tourists coming to W Sumatra, but in March 2020 only 2,495 people," said Head of the W Sumatra Central Statistics Agency, Pitono in Padang, Monday.
Baca juga: Saat COVID-19 Maret 2020 ada 2.495 orang turis asing berkunjung ke Sumbar, menurut BPS
Previously, Andalas University Padang Academic, Dr. Sari Lenggogeni assessed that the tourism sector was one of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will take at least two years to restore the tourism sector in the country that is currently being hit, she said.
She explained that the tourism sector is very vulnerable to natural disasters and crises, currently there is a crisis in the health sector that has made the interest of people to travel down dramatically.
According to her, referring to the data reported by the WTO, which is a UN agency in tourism field, this condition is same with a decrease in tourists for seven years from the current figures.
"This also causes around 400 million people in the world who work in tourism to lose their jobs," she added.
Baca juga: Cegah orang mudik, Mukomuko buat posko di "jalan tikus" Bengkulu-Sumbar
While Chairman of the W Sumatra Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), Alan Maulana Yusran admitted that the W Sumatra tourism sector has plummeted since the outbreak of the corona virus.
From the 110 hotels gathered in PHRI in W Sumatra, 26 hotels were temporarily closed and around 2,500 employees were laid off, she said.
Transleted by: Mutiara Ramadhani
Baca juga: Sejumlah kios di Pasar Ateh Payakumbuh ditutup cegah penularan COVID-19
Baca juga: Kabar gembira dari Pesisir Selatan, lima hari terakhir tidak ada lagi penambahan kasus COVID-19
2,495 foreign tourists visited W Sumatra during COVID-19 in March 2020 according to BPS
Officers put up a sign announcing the closure of the attraction of Air Manis Beach in Padang, Friday (3/20). (ANTARA / Iggoy el Fitra)
