Press, Kendari Adapt to Pandemic Situation

SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Mayor of Kendari Sulkarnain Kadir.

The city of Kendari had been preparing to welcome the National Press Day event, which President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had planned to attend. However, the spike in Covid-19 cases changed that plan, and the attendees adjusted to the situation.

The commemoration of National Press Day (HPN), which was originally designed to be fully in-person in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, changed suddenly. A number of activities were held online and offline.

During the National Mass Media Convention on Monday (7/2/2022), Vice President Ma'ruf Amin opened the virtual event. State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, who was the speaker, was also present virtually. More people took part in the online events than were present in the room.

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Long before the HPN series of activities, which began on Sunday and run until Wednesday (6-9/2), the regional administration and tourism business actors had prepared to welcome the arrival of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and guests from several regions. With the spike

in cases and a change in the concept of the event, a number of guests cancelled their hotel bookings.

Ni Luh Nita Budi Astuti, General Manager of Hotel Venus, was one of those disappointed. A number of room bookings at Hotel Venus have been cancelled from Sunday to Monday (6-7/2/2022).

"I’m disappointed, of course. My rooms were on hold because they had been booked long ago. The [booking] orders were on average for three to four days. Then, at the last minute they were cancelled. But, what can I do?" she said.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO (TOK)

President Joko Widodo delivered an online speech at the peak of the 2021 National Press Day Commemoration, in Ancol, Jakarta, Tuesday (9/2/2021).

Preparations, which included setting health protocols, had been prepared long before. Apart from issues related to health protocols, the hotel also made new uniforms for its employees out of woven fabrics with Southeast Sulawesi motifs to promote the region.

In fact, when the plan changed to include online and offline activities, strict health protocols were still in place to anticipate the spread of Covid-19, one of which was antigen testing of all participants who were physically present.

The Southeast Sulawesi administration had also prepared a series of activities carefully. In fact, when the plan changed to include online and offline activities, strict health protocols were still in place to anticipate the spread of Covid-19, one of which was antigen testing of all participants who were physically present.

"We have also prepared a place of isolation and are preparing for if cases spike. What is clear is that the event is continuing but with various changes to prevent the

spread of Covid-19," said Southeast Sulawesi provincial secretary Nur Endang Abbas, who is also the head of the Local HPN Committee.

Awakening moment

Regional administrations in Southeast Sulawesi had expected the national event to be a moment of economic revival, as well as a chance to promote the region. It is not surprising that in the initial plans, a number of seminars were prepared with the theme of tourism, natural resources and economic potential. Exhibitions involving micro, small and medium enterprises from regencies and cities in Southeast Sulawesi were also prepared.

Southeast Sulawesi Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) secretary general Eko Dwisasono said the first national event this year was a gamble to show Kendari's readiness to host big events in the midst of the pandemic.

"We certainly hope that people will look at Southeast Sulawesi, especially at Kendari. We want to promote many things in this area, including tourism and its natural richness. Hopefully, this will be a moment of awakening," he said.

During the last two years of the pandemic, Southeast Sulawesi's economy slumped, particularly the hospitality sector. "For us, this is a big moment, especially with the presence of the President. However, we can certainly understand if, in the end, the President and his entourage cancel their attendance," he said.

SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

JSpokesperson for the Southeast Sulawesi Covid-19 Handling Acceleration Task Force, Dr. Rabiul Awal.

Halu Oleo University epidemiologist Ramadhan Tosepu said the activities would certainly have benefitted Kendari's economy. However, activities that brought in many people from outside Southeast Sulawesi, he said, had the potential to bring the virus into Kendari as well.

"This area has experienced a large number of case spikes, with a high number of deaths in mid-2021. The spikes in cases [tended to occur] two weeks after the activity took place," said Ramadhan.

Amid the increase in Covid-19 cases, the press and all parties in Kendari who are involved in HPN must indeed adapt in order to suppress the spread of the virus.

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo)