Malls and restaurants are visited a lot.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Economic activities in West Jakarta, especially in malls and restaurants in the region, have increased amid Level 3 Public Activities Restrictions (PPKM), according to the city government.

This is reflected by the growing number of people visiting malls and restaurants, it reported.

"Malls and restaurants are visited a lot. Many people go to the restaurants to experience culinary tourism," chief of the West Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Office, Sherly Yuliana, said when contacted here on Friday.

The majority of people are choosing restaurants and malls as destinations because they are affordable and accessible, she pointed out.

In addition, tourist attractions and some city parks have not been able to operate, she added.

Yuliana said she considered the bustle in malls and restaurants as a sign of economic recovery, especially for tourism business players.

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She further said her office is still ascertaining the transaction value of tourism businesses during the easing of PPKM.

"From our supervision (the economy) has started to recover. The movement of their business transactions is monitored by the revenue and tax agency," Yuliana informed.

Despite the increase in the number of visitors at malls and restaurants, all tourism and entertainment businesses in the region are still implementing strict health protocols, she assured.

According to her, several large businesses are already using the PeduliLindungi application to check visitors' health status.

"Thus, tourism enterprises can continue to operate and tighten health protocols altogether," she remarked.

She said she hopes that the positive trend will continue to grow so that tourism businesses can slowly recover in the midst of the pandemic.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo had encouraged entrepreneurs to stay optimistic in facing various challenges in recovering the economy, which has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto.

He made the statement at a press conference with businesspersons from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI), and Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo) at the Presidential Palace Complex.

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Translator: Walda M, Kenzu T
Editor: Suharto
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