The Impact of Covid-19 on Souvenir Industry in Marine Tourism Areas in Indonesia
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P -ISSN: 1907 – 9419 Jurnal Kepariwisataan Indonesia 15 (1) (2021) E-ISSN: 2685 - 9076 Juni 2021 THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SOUVENIR INDUSTRY IN MARINE TOURISM AREAS IN INDONESIA Indah Pambudi Arumsari1, Rolisda Yosintha2 1,2Faculty of Teacher Training and Education Tidar University Jl. Kapten Suparman No.39, Tuguran, Potrobangsan, Kec. Magelang Utara, Kota Magelang, Jawa Tengah 56116 [email protected] Accepted: 15 Juni 2020. Approved: 24 Mei 2021. Published: 28 Juni 2021 Abstract Covid-19 is a lethal virus that is being faced by the world. Many sectors are affected by the virus, including the marine tourism industry and all people who work in this industry. This study aimed to investigate the impact of Covid-19 on souvenir traders in the marine tourism area in Indonesia. The researchers used a qualitative method to collect the data and descriptive analysis to analyze the data. The findings show that Covid-19 has detrimentally affected souvenir traders in marine tourism areas in Indonesia as they lost nearly 100% of their income from tourist visits. To overcome this income deficit, most of them choose to switch professions to become farmers, fishermen, seaweed farmers, and antiseptic gel makers. Keywords: covid-19, marine tourism, souvenir industry © 2021 Direktorat Kajian Strategis INTRODUCTION touches the eyes, nose, or mouth will be the way of the virus entering a person's The world is now suffering from body. WHO also says that the common the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms of Covid-19 are such as fever, (Covid-19). This disease is a type of dry cough, and fatigue. Other symptoms infectious disease that was not widely felt are headache, shortness of breath, known before the outbreak that struck sore throat, diarrhea, loss of sense of Wuhan, China, in December 2019. smell or taste, conjunctivitis. Usually, Covid-19 can easily spread when a these symptoms come gradually and vary person who is not infected with Covid-19 depending on the severity that occurs. accidentally inhales or holds an object People who are elderly and have that has been contaminated with a spark comorbidities will experience more that comes from a positive person with severe pain. Covid-19. The hand that has touched the In Indonesia, the number of object affected by the spark when it positive corona cases continues to 16 P -ISSN: 1907 – 9419 Jurnal Kepariwisataan Indonesia 15 (1) (2021) E-ISSN: 2685 - 9076 Juni 2021 increase. This condition makes the companies, and other travel documents Indonesian government continue to enact such as official identity cards. Even this policies related to this pandemic. It regulation is also applied in Indonesia. begins with an appeal to stay at home for From those things, it means that people only 2 weeks last March, but until now cannot leave or enter Indonesia as freely Indonesian people are still being asked to as before. stay at home. According to an official The travel ban, which leads to report in https://covid19.go.id/, the access restrictions, brings about further number of positive corona cases in impacts on the tourism industry in Indonesia reached 23,165 on May 26, Indonesia as this regulation directly 2020. As many as 5,877 patients recover diminishes the number of travelers, either from this disease reach, while 1.418 domestic or foreign. To prevent the patients die. The people who were spread of Covid-19, several tourism initially encouraged to stay at home for departments have instructed to only 2 weeks now have to be patient temporarily close almost all tourism again because the policy continues to be destinations in their regions, including extended. Starting March 2020, the marine tourism attractions. Based on government ordered many institutions, (Asnida Riani, 2020), Lovina and including those in the education sectors, Pandawa beaches in Bali have been to Study from Home or Work from Home closed since March. Not only that (Imam to prevent the spread of this virus. In Rosidin, Robertus Belamirnus, 2020) addition, many public places that are also said that Kuta beach and all usually busy and crowded such as attractions in Badung, Bali were also shopping malls, tourist attractions, and closed. Other tourist objects such as places of worship are also on temporary Sayang Heulang beach in West Java were closure. also closed (Fitri Nursaniyah, 2020), and Furthermore, on the official several beaches in Gunung Kidul were website of the Covid-19 countermeasure also closed by the Gunung Kidul in Indonesia concerning the PSBB Regency Government (antaranews.com, (Large-Scale Social Restrictions) which 2020). makes the school be shut down, Anis Indonesia is the largest Baswedan will extend the policy to 4 archipelagic country in the world with June 2020. In Jakarta itself, per the DKI 17,499 islands across the equator. With Jakarta Governor Regulation (Pergub) 81,000 km of coastline, tourists can find Number 47 the Year 2020 regarding Exit countless marine tourism spots in Permit (SIKM), which regulates the Indonesia (West Java Government, obligations that must be fulfilled by 2017). To Indonesia, these marine tourist citizens who will enter the DKI Jakarta attractions are very important to support. Province. The letter said that those who Quoted from Suara.com, maritime were permitted were health, finance, tourism in Indonesia donated 1 billion US logistics, strategic industries, food, dollars in 2019. (Akhdi Martin Pratama, energy, hospitality, construction, Erlangga Djumena, 2019) released that at communication, and information the end of 2019 the tourism sector could technology, the fulfillment of daily reap foreign exchange totaling 17.6 needs, basic services, public utilities, and billion (Rp246.4 trillion) through the industries determined as objects national program 10 Bali Baru, 7 of the 10 vital and certain objects. Other destinations are marine tourism including requirements such as health certificates, Tanjung Kelayang (Belitung), Tanjung Swab Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Lesung (Banten), Mandalika (West Nusa tests, official letters from agencies or Tenggara), Labuan Bajo (East Nusa 17 P -ISSN: 1907 – 9419 Jurnal Kepariwisataan Indonesia 15 (1) (2021) E-ISSN: 2685 - 9076 Juni 2021 Tenggara), Wakatobi (Southeast older people, they can produce souvenirs Sulawesi), and Morotai (Maluku North). with a variety of very beautiful models. This shows that marine tourism in Not only for local trade, but beach Indonesia also affects the country's souvenirs are also beginning to be in foreign exchange. However, because of demand by traders in big cities. Even the Covid-19 pandemic, some regions recently, the market demand for beach that rely on the marine industry suffered souvenirs has also expanded because it significant losses due to the absence of has been exported to neighboring tourist visits. Quoted from the website countries such as Thailand, Singapore, (Widodo, 2020), the Chairman of the Malay, China, and so on. The Marketing Indonesian Tourism Industry Association Manager of Multi Dimensi ShellCrafts, a in Bali, Ida Bagus Agung Partha company running in the souvenir Adnyana, said that the decline in Bali industry, said that around 2010 to 2015, tourism reached 93% compared to the the total number of exported goods same period last year Tourism reaches 100 to 150 thousand USD each destinations in Bali which is very bad is month (Astutik, 2019). a type of marine tourism, he concluded. The increase in the number of The dive tourism businesses in Labuan orders also affected the number of Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa employees employed, with the highest Tenggara, are also forced to close their number reaching 500 people. They can businesses due to the effects of this sell the products to China, Thailand, coronavirus. Marcia Stephanie, a dive Hongkong, and other countries. With operator in Labuan Bajo who closed the such a huge amount of income generated door of her business for a while said that from the souvenir industry and the losses in her company reached employability increase, the souvenir hundreds of millions (Bali.bisnis.com, industry has contributed to the addition of 2020). foreign exchange (CNBC INDONESIA, In marine tourism, of course, many 2019). Considering the important role parties play a role in supporting this played by the souvenir industry in marine industry. It is not only the visitors, hotel tourism areas, it is very important to or inn providers, and fishermen who play investigate the effects of Covid-19 on the a significant role in this industry, but also souvenir industry in marine tourism in souvenir merchants. When visiting Indonesia. marine tourism spots, visitors are often Talking about souvenirs, we need besieged by souvenir merchants who sell to know that souvenir sales are quite beautiful souvenirs, such as key chains, important. For residents around the coast, beach nuanced photo frames, tissue they will make this business a livelihood. boxes, necklaces, bracelets, seashells Not only that, but souvenirs are also a curtain, decorative lamps, beautiful medium to introduce tourism spots by decorative hangers, and many other showing their characteristics through products. These things are of course these souvenirs. Many tourists are made from the natural resources in the looking for and then buying souvenirs to see such as conch shells, starfish, sea slug save the memories even a gift for those shells, and many more. Some people who closest to them who cannot vacation live on the coast do not only work as together. Another thing also shows that fishermen or fishmongers but also souvenir sales are a supporting business produce beachfront souvenirs for sale. in the tourism sector. As said by Andinata This work is considered safer than a (2010), the other production sectors in fisherman who has to fight against the tourism include the handicraft industry, swift waves in the sea. From teenagers to souvenirs, accommodation, and 18 P -ISSN: 1907 – 9419 Jurnal Kepariwisataan Indonesia 15 (1) (2021) E-ISSN: 2685 - 9076 Juni 2021 transportation.