VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Creativity can encourage optimism in the performing arts and tourism sectors amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to deputy for tourism products and events at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Rizki Handayani.

"This year, all activities, events, and promotions have been halted. We have seen the immense impact [of COVID-19] on the entertainment sector and the lack of visitors at tourism destinations," she said at a press conference on Wednesday.

“We need to still show the world that we are optimistic, which means we cannot sit still. Creativity is in the DNA of Indonesians. We need to get audiences and tell the world that collaboration is open and that our creative industry is remarkable,” she remarked.

In terms of collaboration, she said, the ministry has been working with event promoters, associations, even art activists to revive the sector.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, she continued, movements in the music events have begun to re-emerge. Promoters and event organizers are eager to enliven the entertainment industry, something the ministry is ready to support, she observed.

However, she reminded that the current state of public health remains a challenge, and that events need to be held by combining both direct and virtual platforms.

The government's support, she said, would include preparing health guidelines for events, ranging from cleanliness to health and environmental sustainability.

She further said that all steps for organizing an event, from start to finish, have been included in the regulations and guidelines to ensure audiences and organizers remain vigilant amid the new normal, as a vaccine is yet to be made available.

“There is an optimism here, and we hope vaccines can immediately be discovered and for us to be healthy in order to realize Indonesia as an event destination in South East Asia, as previously stated by Minister (of Tourism and Creative Economy) Wishnutama (Kusubandio),” she added. (Antaranews)