The tourism sector has been a significant driver of economic growth in Indonesia, but it has been hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Border closures and travel restrictions have seen millions of job losses, with women, young people and lower-educated workers being most vulnerable. Now, as vaccination rates grow, there is hope on the horizon. This session will assess the state of the devastated industry, and what actions can be taken to rebuild tourism and the communities that rely on it.
During the pandemic, governments have grappled with the impossible decision of choosing health or the economy while both are in crisis. The Indonesian government has struggled to get this balance right, as infections soared across the country and many people were in precarious financial positions that made social distancing untenable. In this session, researchers will present a model they created to help governments get the balance right, and its conditions and outcomes, using an example from the experience of South Sulawesi.
