Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, held PAREKRAF Goes to Campus: Meet the Next Generation on Saturday (7/11) at the Wisma KAGAMA Hall.
The event, which was broadcasted online, was filled with talk shows about tourism and the creative economy in Indonesia by presenting several creative economy actors from Yogyakarta and its surroundings.
“This event is in line with the program from the Ministry of Education and Culture. Tourism is one of the learning facilities for students in the context of Kampus Merdeka,” said UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., IPU, ASEAN Eng., during his opening speech.
Panut said that Indonesia has abundant tourism potential because almost all regions have attractions in natural beauty and other interesting objects. Therefore, it is essential to think about creative and innovative efforts that can be made to develop potential, including answering challenges during the pandemic.
Deputy for Resources and Institutions of the Tourism and Creative Economic Agency, Dr. Wisnu Bawa Tarunajaya, said that the tourism sector was one of the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Almost all businesses have declined, many human resources have been laid off, and they don’t even work anymore,” he said.
However, many efforts have started to run again by implementing some adaptations to new habits and complying with recommended health protocols.
According to him, the tourism sector revival cannot be separated from the community’s high demand for vacation activities after spending a long time at home.
“During the latest four-day holiday, you can see the situation, people already miss going on vacation. All people need to be refreshed. They need to arrange how they can enjoy it,” said Vishnu.
KEMENPAREKRAF itself, he explained, seeks to mobilize villages, regencies, and provinces to revive the tourism industry sector in their respective regions. It is done while still paying attention to health aspects to suppress the spread of Covid-19.
“I see that people have understood health procedures and protocols with discipline in using masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands,” he added.
On the same occasion, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Wishnutama Kusubandio, revealed that the government had made various efforts to assist tourism and creative economy actors.
The assistance provided includes tax relaxation and tourism grants. It is intended to improve the quality of tourism and the creative economy.
“I hope this activity can be a space that opens up opportunities to exchange ideas and information on how to accelerate the recovery of tourism and the national creative economy,” he said regarding the implementation of PAREKRAF Goes to Campus.
Source: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/20325-parekraf-goes-to-campus-digelar-di-ugm
