Tourism players are ready to step up to take advantage of the momentum for the recovery of the Indonesian tourism sector in 2022. At the end of this year, some businesses from various sectors are starting to stretch, and this will be an excellent opportunity for the industry to become a foothold in facing 2022. 

"We see there is a hidden desire from the public to travel again after experiencing more than one year in the lockdown. And of course, we are preparing for this," President Director of PT Panorama Sentrawisata Tbk., Budianto Tirtawisata, said at the Beritasatu Economic Outlook 2022 event with the theme of Acceleration of Tourism Development 2022, Tuesday (23/11).

Budianto said that during the Covid-19 in the last 1.5 years, tourism players were defensive due to community activities restrictions. “And now there is light at the end of the tunnel, with the pandemic starting to be controlled, people who have started to be aware of health protocols, and people's perceptions of the overall economic condition. We believe that 2022 has entered a period of recovery," he said.

At the end of 2021, according to Budianto, there are already signs of a recovery in the tourism business, and this will continue, especially in the second quarter of 2022. "And now it's starting to happen," he said.

He said that the opening of Bali and the Riau Islands to foreign tourists is expected to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals slumped due to the Covid-19. "It does take time because people come from abroad to Indonesia in stages, starting with the granting of visas, then the quarantine requirements have been eased, and finally direct flights from their respective countries," he explained.

There has been an easing of travel policies abroad. In addition, many insurances cover Covid-19 for tourists, and the vaccination rate continues to grow. “In essence, people's confidence to travel is getting higher. Therefore, from the data, we have seen and the bookings that came in in 2022 from abroad, it shows a very positive trend," he explained.

While domestically, Budianto saw, there was a high desire from the public to travel. This is evident from the loosening of PPKM some time ago, which caused a surge in demand or revenge tourism after 1.5 years of not being able to travel.

“This domestic demand is mind-blowing. Therefore, we also see that flights have gradually recovered. The implementation of 3T (tracking, tracing, treatment) has also been going well, and Covid-19 cases have been well controlled," he said.

Other tourism businesses such as MICE and tourism accommodation also seem to be starting to rise. "With the easing of PPKM, exhibition activities are now running again. And also in the field of tourist transportation and hospitality. So everyone is already planning for 2022," he added.

Budianto emphasized the importance of tourism businesses to provide innovative products and products that adapt to the new normal. "We must also collaborate with various parties, including local governments, creative economy entrepreneurs, social media activists, and online travel agencies to provide better services for tourists," he explained.