PON Reinvigorates Papuan Economy

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Seorang penjual cenderamata khas Papua, Yuliana Degai yang berjualan di salah satu stan dalam Expo HUT Mimika ke-25 di lapangan bekas pasar sentar, Kota Timika, Kabupaten Mimika, Senin (11/10/2021).

TIMIKA, KOMPAS—In addition to success in achievements and implementation, the primary target of holding the National Games (PON) 2021 Papua is economic growth. The arrival of thousands of visitors from all provinces in the country is expected to help boost economic growth in the province nicknamed "Bumi Cenderawasih" (land of the bird of paradise).

Sarah Korwa, an owner of a stall at Bukit Jokowi Park in Jayapura city, Papua, seemed to be enthusiastic about welcoming the customers who visited her stall on Tuesday (12/10/2021).

The park has become one of the main tourist destinations for the provincial contingents to PON. The park offers panoramic views of Youtefa Bay and Jayapura's iconic, red Youtefa Bridge. A single day can see at least 500 visitors.

Sarah and her two relatives currently earn up to Rp 1 million per day from selling young coconuts, instant noodles, and snacks. Before PON, Sarah earned a daily profit of only Rp 300,000-Rp 500,000.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has hit small and medium businesses in Jayapura city. Businesspeople like us are really frustrated with the situation. PON is a moment to revive our business," said Sarah.

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The revival in economic activities was also felt at Kopi Juang, a coffee shop located in the Jayapura city center. During the Games, the shop’s sales turnover has doubled from around Rp 3 million per day to Rp 6 million per day.

"Yes, our turnover has certainly increased during PON. Hopefully this will continue even after PON is over,” said owner Jefry Roberto Theos.

The blessings from PON have also been felt in Mimika regency, one of the Games’ four host cities. Yuliana Degai, nicknamed Mama Yuliana, who sells noken (Papuan traditional net bags), said that since Mimika’s 25th Anniversary Expo was held in the former market center of Timika in Mimika, she has sold up to six noken per day for Rp 150,000-Rp 300,000 each. All noken buyers were visitors who came to watch PON Papua.

Mama Yuliana usually sold her goods on the roadside in the Eme Neme area of Timika. She normally sold only one noken. "Sometimes there were no buyers at all," said the mother of eight children.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Fireworks to enliven the opening of the PON Papua 2021, seen from the side of the Youtefa Bridge, Jayapura, Papua, Saturday (2/10/2021). The national sporting event which was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic will last until October 15, 2021.

Newly emerging businesses

The general chairman of the Papua Regional Governing Body of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), Syahrir Hasan, said that the hotel occupancy rate increased during the Games from 30 percent to 70 percent in September, and then to 100 percent in early October. PHRI members in the four PON host cities had readied a total of 4,300 rooms.

Syahrir also acknowledged that new micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), hotels and restaurants had emerged ahead of PON Papua. According to PHRI data, early September saw the emergence of 12 new hotels, 75 MSMEs, and around 100 restaurants in addition to new shops.

“As for hotel room rates, the lowest rate is Rp 850,000 and the highest is Rp 2.5 million. Meanwhile, food prices have increased slightly because of high demand, lack of human resources and dependency on raw materials from outside Papua," said Syahril.

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Small-scale business owners and local administrations in Papua hoped that the reinvigoration of economic activities as a result of PON will not be momentary.

“At least, through PON, people from outside Papua can see that Papua is not like the negative image that has [prevailed] so far. Hopefully, this will be a momentum for reviving Papua, especially in the economic sector,” said Mimika Deputy Regent Johannes Rettob. (FLO/DRI/SAN/KEL)