With the I Do Care Program, the tourism industry is expected to improve its services and standards in an effort to gain the tourists' trustJakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto expects the I Do Care, or Indonesia Care Program, initiated by the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, to be able to revive the pandemic-impacted tourism industry.
"With the I Do Care Program, the tourism industry is expected to improve its services and standards in an effort to gain the tourists' trust," the minister noted in his remarks at the 2021 National Tourism Coordination Meeting held online, Monday.
Hartarto also noted that the government had implemented the Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environment (CHSE) Program, which is part of the I Do Care Program.
The I Do Care program is a movement by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to promote the importance of health protocols, especially in the tourism industry.
With this program, the tourism and creative economy sectors are expected to be the role models in applying the principles of cleanliness, health protocols, visitor safety, and environmental sustainability.
"It is expected to have a follow-up project with inter-ministerial cooperation, for instance, with the discourse of reopening international flights with the Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other parties," Minister Hartarto expounded.
The government had allocated Rp7.67 trillion to support the development of national tourism strategic areas, ecotourism, and training for tourism human resources.
The government also launched the Government Incentive Assistance (BIP) Program for the tourism and creative economy sectors.
"There is an increase in the BIP budget to Rp60 billion, which is three times higher than in 2020," he noted.
In addition, the government offers tourism grant funds to lower the impact of COVID-19 and to maintain economic sustainability, especially in the tourism sector.
The grant funds are provided through a transfer mechanism to the regions through their local governments and tourism businesses in 101 districts and cities based on several criteria.
The regions comprise the capital cities of 34 provinces being among the 10 priority tourist destinations and five super-priority destinations, included in the 100 calendars of events, regional branding destinations, as well as regions with revenue from hotel and regional taxes of at least 15 percent of the total regional incomes in 2019.
"Last year's tourism grant of around Rp3.3 trillion was disbursed, while this year, it was increased to Rp3.7 trillion. This grant fund is not only used in the hotel and restaurant sector but can also be used in travel agencies, destination managers, and recreational parks," Hartarto added.
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Translator: Kuntum K R, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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