Padang lost a lot of revenue from tourism sector due to COVID-19

Padang (ANTARA) - Due to the COVID-19, Padang city, W Sumatra lost revenue from the tourism sector around Rp174 billion.

"The tourism sector is one of the biggest contributors to revenue in Padang, since February to May 2020 almost no one traveled to Padang," said the Head of the Padang City Tourism Office, Arfian in Padang, Wednesday.

He said for revenue from the Air Manis Beach retribution, lost revenue in the last three months reached Rp60 million.

"Especially during the Eid holiday, it should be able to reach Rp100 million because of increased tourists, but because COVID-19 caused tourist attractions to be closed," he said.

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According to him the tourism sector is the main contributor to regional revenue in Padang city and he hopes that in the new normal era, tourism sector can increase again.

"We do not want to be drop for a long time and we hope the tourism sector will increase again," he said.

Specifically for hotel and restaurant taxes by Regional Revenue Agency (Bapenda) of Padang and Tourism Agency were focus on Retribution.

While GM Kryad Bumi Minang Hotel Fajdri Roesman conveyed that entering a new normal era, his party was ready to serve guests with the COVID-19 protocol.

"There have been many changes made in hotel operations, especially regarding health and hygiene services," he said.

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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 recover the tourism sector in the country that is currently being hit," she said

She explained that the tourism sector was very vulnerable to natural disasters and crises, currently, there was a crisis in the health sector that makes the interest of people to travel down dramatically.

According to her referring to data reported by the WTO which was the UN agency in the field of tourism, this condition was same with a decline in tourists for seven years from the current figures.

"It also caused around 400 million people in the world engaged in tourism losing their jobs," She added.

Transleted by; Mutiara Ramadhani

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