News

First Person: Surviving Bali’s COVID tourism crash |


“When my parents passed away, I followed their wishes for me to take care of our family home in Sudaji Village.

At that time, the village was already known as a tourist destination thanks to its cultural traditions and scenery, and in 2014, I began to realize my dream of developing a homestay, where visitors stay with families. local family, in my village.

I am fully confident that I can succeed, based on my travel and hospitality background. I watched inns work and learned how to turn my house into a home.


A wooden house at Esa di Kubu Homestay in Sudaji Village, Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia.

Putu Sayoga for the ILO

A wooden house at Esa di Kubu Homestay in Sudaji Village, Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia.

It was a success; My homestay, Esa di Kubu, was selected by the Bali Tourism Office to represent Sudaju Village in a national tourism award and was awarded second place.

Afterwards, the Bali Tourism Office suggested that I participate in the International Labor Organization’s training program on responsible businesses and sustainable competition (SCORE).

The program has helped us ensure that our facilities and equipment meet the accepted ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) regional standards. We learned about professional bedding, toiletries, food presentation, guest service, etc. Every month, the coach coached us and assessed our progress.

The training also taught us the importance of digitization and digital marketing, and I started promoting my homestay online. As a result, sales and visitor numbers increased and I received high ratings on online travel platforms.


Dekha Dewandana sleeps at Esa di Kubu Homestay in Sudaji Village, Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia.

Putu Sayoga for the ILO

Dekha Dewandana sleeps at Esa di Kubu Homestay in Sudaji Village, Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia.

‘We were all panicking and worried’

Then, at the end of 2019, COVID-19 to hit. From January 2020, foreign guests started to cancel and by March, when the Indonesian government declared a pandemic in the country, we had only 5 guests left, all of them stuck in Bali.

At the start of the pandemic, we received training in healthcare from ILO: we are taught how to protect ourselves by following measures such as maintaining physical distance, using masks and washing hands. We maintain protocols with stranded guests who continue to stay while seeking repatriation.

Due to travel restrictions and global and national lockdowns, we have no guests and no income. We were all panicking and worried. I use my savings to buy daily necessities, especially food: I buy as much rice and instant noodles as I can, as the shops and markets are closed.

Former customers abroad have contacted me, inquired about my situation and offered help, for which I am grateful. Their support helped keep my family alive through the end of 2020.

The first seven months of 2021 are the hardest. We were growing vegetables to survive, but my villagers and I barely ate during that time, and I started to lose hope.


Dekha Dewandana and his wife greet their guests with a traditional turmeric drink at Esa di Kubu Homestay in Sudaji Village, Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia.

Putu Sayoga for the ILO

Dekha Dewandana and his wife greet their guests with a traditional turmeric drink at Esa di Kubu Homestay in Sudaji Village, Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia.

‘My inn has come to life again’

In the end, conditions improved, restrictions were lifted, and we got support from the government. I never forgot my boarding dream during all this time, during which I repainted and remodeled the house.

Foreign tourists started to return, and in January 2022 I received a group of tourists from Denmark and Switzerland.

I’m so glad my homestay has come to life again.

In addition to running my own business, I am one of the founders of Sudaji Homestay, a group for hostel owners who have completed the ILO hospitality training program.

Not all homestay owners can speak English or are savvy in marketing and digital marketing, and the team is there to share knowledge and help members maintain standards for their homestay. .

I share my skills and knowledge so that we continue to maintain our reputation as one of the top tourist villages in Indonesia, so that my villagers don’t have to look for work elsewhere.”


Dekha Dewandana arranges letters with flowers at Esa di Kubu Homestay in Sudaji Village, Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia.

Putu Sayoga for the ILO

Dekha Dewandana arranges letters with flowers at Esa di Kubu Homestay in Sudaji Village, Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia.



Source link

newsofmax

News of max: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button
Immediate Matrix Immediate Maximum