"President Jokowi's visit to Malioboro Street proves that the street is safe for tourists," Head of the Tri Dharma Co-operatives of the Malioboro Street Hawkers Association Rudiarto told President Jokowi after the president officiated the cash transfer programme for street vendors here on Saturday.
The co-operatives' head suggested the authority to improve the activities restriction enforcement (PPKM) status in Yogyakarta to level 2 to kickstart economic activities in the city, especially on Malioboro Street, amid an improvement in the pandemic situation in the region.
Rudiarto additionally informed that most hawkers and business owners, horse coachmen, and cycle rickshaw drivers operating in the Malioboro Street tourist attraction had taken their second vaccine doses.
President Jokowi officiated a cash assistance programme for street hawkers in Indonesia during his visit to Malioboro Street. Under the program, one million eligible street hawkers nationwide will each receive disbursement of Rp1.2 million (around US$84).
Rudiarto, representing the Malioboro street hawkers and business owners, then expressed gratitude for the cash assistance to alleviate the economic hardships faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from Rudiarto, other hawkers' representatives also delivered their aspirations to the president during his visit to the tourist attraction along with Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono X, and Yogyakarta Deputy Mayor Haryadi Suyuti.
Head of the Association of Ahmad Yani Street Painters, Craftsmen, and Street Hawkers Slamet Santoso informed that some 450 association members were registered to receive the benefit, and he was currently waiting for confirmation on how many members are eligible for the benefit.
"We have registered our members, and we are waiting on the confirmation regarding eligible recipients that will be further classified," Santoso noted.
Echoing Rudiarto's viewpoint, Santoso also expressed optimism that President Jokowi's visit to Malioboro Street would attract tourists to visit Yogyakarta.
"We hope to see tourists thronging Malioboro Street soon," Santoso stated.
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Translator: Luqman Hakim, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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