TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno on Tuesday said Bali’s average hotel occupancy is still at its lowest with 10 percent from July - August this year, despite the loosened public activity restriction (PPKM).

“This drop in hotel occupancy from July up to August resembles the region’s lowest occupancy of March-July 2020 at 10 percent,” said Sandiaga Uno in his statement on August 31.

Other tourist destinations other than Bali are also still suffering from significant contraction with average hotel occupancies at 15 percent. He made it clear that the creative economy sector’s growth has been deeply affected by the PPKM restriction that has been imposed for the past two months.

“The reduced community mobility negatively affected the market up to 1.3 percent. The creative economy and tourism sector growth, which contributes to the national economy, will likely suffer too,” said the minister.

The Indonesian government has reduced the PPKM restriction status in a number of regions to Level 3. Bali is currently still under a stricter level of PPKM Level 4 but based on the developments of the Covid-19 transmission rate will likely see a reduced restriction in the future.

Read: Sri Mulyani: PPKM Brings Tremendous Impacts on Economy

FRANCISCHA CHRISTY ROSANA