Vice Chairperson of the House Budget Committee (Banggar) Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, posed during a souvenir exchange after chairing a hearing with the Head of Bali Regional Office of the Indonesian Central Bank (BI), the Head of Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP), and the Head of Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) at the State Finance Building, in Denpasar, Bali, Thursday (25/11/2021). Photo: Taufan/nvl

Vice Chairperson of the House Budget Committee, Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal stated that the recovery of tourism sector is key to economic and tax revenue improvement in Bali. He called on the local government to work hard in order to restore Bali as the main international tourist destination just like before being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Tourism sector contributes very significantly to Bali’s Economy. Therefore, tourism recovery in Bali will stimulate economic growth and generate revenue especially from hotel and restaurant taxes,” said Syamsurijal when he was chairing a hearing with the Head of Bali Regional Office of the Indonesian Central Bank (BI), the Head of Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP), and the Head of Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) at the State Finance Building, in Denpasar, Bali, Thursday (25/11/2021). 

Syamsurijal believed that by the end of the year, Bali’s economy will start to recover, even getting much better in 2022. He hoped that the COVID-19 outbreak becomes a trigger for Bali to prepare other sectors besides tourism, such as agro-industry, creative economy, agriculture, processing industry and other industries based on the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. This is to diversify Bali’s economy into several sectors in the future to help Bali’s preparedness in time of crisis or pandemic. 

“Although, the current report shows that the COVID-19 cases in Bali is declining and relatively low compared to the data reported last June, Bali economy has not yet fully recovered. There are many (tourism places & facilities) still close and have not yet reopened. It will definitely affect the annual taxes revenue. The local government should seek other sources of income. Do not just depend on tourism sector,” stated the politician of the National Awakening Party. 

On that occasion, Syamsurijal reminded DJP Bali to disseminate the newly enacted Law on Harmonized Tax Regulation (UU HPP). “DJP should calculate thoroughly the potential taxes revenue based on the newly enacted Law on Harmonized Tax Regulation. Do not let it become counter-productive to Bali’s taxes revenue in the future. We hope that DJP Bali will be very careful in estimating taxes revenue,” the legislator of the West Java constituency expected. 

During the hearing, BI Head of Bali Regional Office, Trisno Nugroho, expressed his confidence that Bali’s economic growth will recover soon. One of the indicators is the number of domestic tourists that has reached 11 thousand visitors. Aside from that, Bali’s economy has shown a positive trend, growing 2.88 per cent on the second quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, the Emergency Public Activity Restriction (PPKM) policy applied in July-August period has affected Bali’s economy to decline by -2.91 per cent on the third quarter of 2021. With a number of international events until the end of 2021, BI is optimistic that Bali’s economy will rebound by the end of 2021. (tn/sf)