Changes in Tourism Trends Post-COVID-19 Pandemic
By Ministry Of Tourism and Creative Economy, Indonesia
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the Tourism Industry and Creative Economy in Indonesia. No big deal, since February 2020 the number of international tourists to Indonesia has fallen significantly, with a peak in April 2020 with only 158 thousand tourists, according to the data we have collected on the 2021st-tourist trends book published by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/ the Creative Economy Tourism Agency.
Altogether, through 2020, the number of tourists from around the world entering Indonesia is only about 4.052 million. In a sense, the figure is sobering, as of this approximately 25% of all tourists entered Indonesia in 2019.
This too has affected the country’s income in the tourism sector. With a large scale of social restrictions and a close access to Indonesia in and out, it is causing a reduction in state revenues in the tourism sector by rp20.7 billion.
Sadly, the decline of tourists from around the world has a direct effect on hotels in Indonesia.
January-February, occupancy still at 49.17% and 49.22%. But in March it was 32.24%, and it’s getting worse in April, which is 12.67%.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic against the Indonesian tourist sector is also seen in hours work reduction. Some of 12,91 million people in the tourism sector have hours work reduction, and 939 thousand in the tourism sector are temporarily out of work.
On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic also has a direct impact on various fields of work in the tourism sector. According to BPS 2020 data, about 409 thousand labor in the tourism sector lost jobs due to COVID-19 pandemic.
“Saving” measures for Indonesia Tourism
Efforts were made to save Indonesian tourism. Three “rescue” phases are undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency which is emergency of response, recovery, and normalization.
Emergency response phases focus on health, such as initiate social protection programs, encourage creativity and productivity while the WFH, coordinate the tourism crisis with tourist areas, and do recovery preparations.
Next is the phase of recovery, where Tours of Indonesia are progressively opening. Preparations are extensive, beginning with the implementation of the CHSE protocol (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Suistainability Environment) at the tourist site, and supporting the optimizing of MICE ‘(Meeting, Incentives, Convention, and Exhibition) in Indonesia.
Lastly, it is the Normalization Phase, which is the preparation of destinations with the CHSE protocol, increasing market interest, to a discount on tourist package and MICE. One of the programs that has been implemented is a virtual travel fair since August 2020.
Changes in Tourism Trends Post-COVID-19 Pandemic
A key to both Tourism and the Creative Economy to survive the pandemic is our ability to adapt, innovation, and collaborate well. After all, people are changing today, and with it a trend of shifting tourism.
The most simplistic example, before the pandemic we could be free vacations to travel destinations in both Indonesia and overseas. However, pandemics cause trends in tourism to change, such as vacations with little contact with others to stay safe: a staycation.
Because the hotel has been affected by a pandemic, certainly as a result of the hospitality industry, it cannot be merely a staycation. Hotel providers must also begin to adapt to survive, such as by offering WFH (Work From Hotel), to completing the CHSE certificate from the ministry of the ministry of mail to feel more secure during the holidays.
The desire to spend time without so much as a vacation with others changed the trend of tourist package service. The perpetrators of the tourism industry should start delivering exclusive package or mini group Tours, in order to make the tourists feel more secure and minimize the potential of virus transmission during holidays.
As for travel destinations, many of the places affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, some have even been forced to close because of the lack of visitors. To that end, tourism should take advantage of the technological innovation that plays a vital role in supporting the trend of tourism moving through the pandemic, one with virtual tourism for an online vacation.
Similarly, the rapid trends in tourism in Indonesia have also affected certain restaurant enterprises. To survive, of course, the owners of the restaurant industry must innovate in line with the shifting behavior and habits of the consumer.
As about 70% of people use online service, (delivery, take away, and catering) at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurants should provide take-away services by employing the contactless service.
In fact, it is thought that outdoor concepts will become very popular after the pandemic is over. This is because people remain obedient to health protocols and keep their distance with others to minimize virus contamination.
These are some strategies in enhancing Indonesia’s tourism trends in the middle of a pandemic, or even until the pandemic is over. With this strategy it is hoped to re-awaken the tourism sector and the creative economy in Indonesia which were devastated as the pandemic struck. For those of you who want to know more about the trend of tourism at the time of the pandemic, please visit our homepage directly www.kemenparekraf.go.id/pustaka/Buku-Tren-Pariwisata-2021.
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