On the implementation days of PON, accommodation, food and beverage, tourism, as well as MSMEs are thrivingJakarta (ANTARA) - The 20th National Sports Week (PON) has positively affected Papua's accommodation, food and beverage, and MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprise) sectors, Executive Director of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) Tauhid Ahmad has said.
"On the implementation days of PON, accommodation, food and beverage, tourism, as well as MSMEs are thriving," Ahmad told ANTARA here on Monday.
Although the sporting event's impact on the sectors' growth has not been as major as that of mining activities, it has still contributed positively to the economic movement of the Papuan people, he added.
"Accommodation is needed because many PON participants and spectators are coming from outside Papua, although (entry to) the event is limited due to the pandemic situation," he said.
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Meanwhile, before PON started, the construction sector improved first, he pointed out. There was an increase in local raw material prices and a lot of labor was absorbed, he said.
"Construction for the event such as buildings and supporting facilities like roads, bridges, energy, water, and others had taken part before the event," he explained.
Furthermore, Ahmad suggested that the government continue to hold sports events in Papua so that the positive impact of PON Papua keeps contributing to the province's economic growth.
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If the building and facilities that have been built for PON are abandoned, it would only burden the local government because it will still have to pay maintenance costs, he said.
"If national sports events are held in Papua many times, not only it has an economic impact (in the future) but also enhances the impression that Papua is safe, which later can attract investment," he expounded.
In addition, INDEF has also suggested that the Ministry of Tourism look at Papua as a tourist destination that needs to be developed and managed better, Ahmad said.
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The PON XX is being held in four clusters—Jayapura City, Jayapura District, Mimika District, and Merauke District.
The event was officially opened by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Sentani, Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday (October 2, 2021).
A total of 6,442 athletes from all over Indonesia are competing at the PON, which will end on October 15, 2021. The games this year are featuring 37 sports, 56 sports disciplines, and 679 match categories.
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Translator: Kuntum R, Kenzu T
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
