IO – The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/ BAPAREKRAF) once again distributed aid to workers and actors of tourism and the creative economy affected by COVID-19. Assistance was shared with 10 thousand affected workers in South Sumatra, in the form of packages of BaLaSa (Ready-made Side Dishes).
The packages were handed over by the Ministry to the South Sumatra Provincial Government to be forwarded to tourism and creative economy workers, divided into 10 clusters (districts/cities). The distribution will be supervised by South Sumatra Regional Police.
During the distribution, Friday (12/6/2020) at the Palembang Poltekpar Building, Deputy of Tourism, Products and Events Organizers (Events) of Kemenparekraf/ BAPAREKRAF Rizki Handayani said tourism and the creative economy were the sectors first affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the BPS report, the decline in the number of tourists started in February 2020 and continues to decline, in line with the enactment of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) in various regions.
“This certainly has an impact on the activities and work of workers in the tourism and creative economy sectors, including South Sumatra,” said Rizki Handayani.
Also present at that time were Governor of South Sumatra Herman Daru, South Sumatra Regional Police Chief Inspector General of Police, Eko Indra Heri, and the Special Staff of the Minister of Security Parekraf Adi Deriyan Jayamarta.
Rizki Handayani hopes that this assistance can help tourism and the creative economy workers especially in South Sumatra, get by.
Besides, in current condition, all related associations are expected to work together and encourage one another in facing difficult times like this.
Kemenparekraf has compiled a new normal protocol for tourism and creative economy, which is still in a stage of harmonization, together with the Ministry of Health.
“Obviously, we hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will end soon, so that things can return to normal, especially for the tourism and creative economy industry which is so deeply affected by this pandemic,” she said.
Rizki Handayani also expressed appreciation for the South Sumatra Provincial Government and the South Sumatra Regional Police for their full support in the distribution. Each BaLaSa package contains 5 kg of rice, 2 liters of cooking oil, 520 ml of sweet soy sauce, tea bags, and 1 kg of flour.
Previously Kemenparekraf provided BaLaSa packages for tourism workers and actors in the provinces of Bali, Yogyakarta, West Java and East Java.