TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) Budijanto Ardiansyah, requested travel and tourism agents to sell affordable tourist packages after the Covid-19 pandemic ends. The price determination, according to Budijanto, must be coordinated between stakeholders.

"Including with airlines. How can we provide affordable packages," Budijanto said in a discussion held online on Saturday, May 2, 2020.

With the competitive packages, travel agents will have better opportunities to attract tourists. Therefore, the recovery period for the tourism sector after the Covid-19 pandemic will be relatively short.

In addition to tourism package price, Budijanto also requested the govement to support businesses by involving travel agents in organizing work meetings.

"For work meetings, it need to be coordinated with operators, cannot be directly to the hotels," Budijanto said.

By involving agents, all of the sectors involved in tourism businesses will receive benefits, such as tour guides, souvenir shops, even artist providing attractions. Therefore, informal workers in the tourism sector who had lost their income can be revived.

Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio said that his ministry will continue to disciss plans to recover the tourism sector with all stakeholders, including hotel management and airlines. In the discussion, Wishnutama explained that the government is planning to sell affordable toirism package after the Covid-19 pandemic is over.

In the other hand, Wishnutama said that the management of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will also helpt to rejuvenate the tourism sector by added seat capacity for passengers from outside the country.

"Garuda Indonesia Director will focus on promoting to attract passengers from outside Indonesia," Wishnutama said. He hoped that the efforts will help to safe the country's foreign reserve revenue.

Concerning the plan, Garuda Indonesia Director Irfan Setiaputra has provided his confirmation. However, he added that the plan is still in the discussion stage.

"Still on initial discussion. But it's beginning to be prepared," he said.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA