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THE ROLE OF UNWTO AS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION IN ADDRESSING

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON INDONESIAN TOURISM

Article · August 2021

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 THE ROLE OF UNWTO AS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION IN
ADDRESSING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON INDONESIAN TOURISM

Muhammad Nur Rifqi Amirullah

Faculty of Law, International Program for Law and Sharia (IPOLS)

Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

E-mail: m.nur.law19@mail.umy.ac.id

Abstract

The focus of the discussion in this paper is the role of the United Nations World Tourism
Organization or UNWTO as an international organization under the auspices of the United
Nations which is engaged in world tourism in generating world tourism which is disrupted
and its operations are not running due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The method used is
normative legal research method with the main source of data collection procedure is legal
material containing normative law. Many countries in the world whose tourism is not running
normally like Indonesia. Indonesia itself makes tourism as a reliable source of state income
to contribute to state revenue. The impact of Covid-19 in Indonesia itself is felt. Many travel
and tourism businesses have had to bear the losses due to this pandemic. In addition, workers
who work in the travel and tourism sector must also be laid off, even losing their jobs due to
the non-normal operation of tourism in the world, especially in Indonesia. The role of
UNWTO is very important in revitalizing tourism in Indonesia, and in the world, it can return
to normal operations and tourism workers, totaling 13 million people in Indonesia and
tourism workers in the world, can return to work and live their lives.
Keywords: UNWTO, Tourism, Covid-19, Indonesia
 I. INTRODUCTION

In early 2020, a virus emerged in a city in the People's Republic of China

named Wuhan, Hubei Province. This virus began with the discovery of the new
pneumonia disease Corona Virus Disease 2019 or Covid-19. This virus has also
spread to various countries in the world. The cause of this virus is the Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). On March 12, 2020,
WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic. Since then, many countries have
anticipated and carried out special handling so that this virus does not enter their
country or can be overcome if it has entered their country.1

The tourism sector itself is facing a very big impact, due to many countries
that have implemented a lockdown, so that the tourism object has stopped
operating. This was done because many countries canceled all issued Visa and
many tourists canceled their trips because they were still worried about this
condition. As many as 93% of tourism destinations in Europe closed their
operations, while in America, this proportion reached 82%, in Asia and the Pacific
77%, in the Middle East 70% and Africa 60%.2

The existence of tourism in every country is very important, because with

the presence of tourism, it can help the economic, environmental and social
development of a country3. In addition, tourism can encourage the opinion of
countries derived from foreign exchange from visits from tourists from various
countries. Gross Regional Domestic Income A country can also grow with the
encouragement of the tourism sector. The existence of tourism should also always
be considered, as part of national development in each country. 4

1
Adityo Susilo, et al, 2020, Coronavirus Disease 2019: Tinjauan Literatur Terkini, Jurnal Penyakit Dalam
Indonesia, Vol. 7 (1), P. 45.
2
Tri Haryanto, 2020, Editorial: Covid-19 Pandemic and International Tourism Demand. JDE (Journal of
Developing Economies), Vol. 5 (1), P.2.
3
Yordan Gunawan, 2021, Pertanggungjawaban Indonesia dalam Kasus Asap Lintas Batas Negara di Asia
Tenggara, Yogyakarta, LP3M Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, hlm. 50.
4
Muchamad Zaenuri, 2012, Perencanaan Strategis Kepariwisataan Daerah Konsep dan Aplikasi, Yogyakarta:
e-Gov Publisihing, P. 3.
 Since the first confirmed case of the Covid-19 virus in Indonesia, the
Government of Indonesia has implemented various policies to deal with the
Covid-19 virus, so that its spread and impact can be controlled. One of the policies
issued by the Indonesian government is to limit the movement of citizens and urge
people to stay at home. In addition, the government also prohibits crowds and
carries out social distancing and physical distancing. Since then, the Indonesian
government has implemented a large-scale social restriction or PSBB program.
Since this policy was implemented, there have been many sectors that have had
to bear a heavy burden as a result of the PSBB policy.

As a result of this policy, the sector that is directly affected is the tourism
sector. Tourism itself, which relies on tourists both from between cities and
between countries, must stop its activities due to this pandemic. Companies
engaged in the tourism and travel sector have to bear considerable losses due to
the large number of tourists who are still reluctant to travel, in addition,
restrictions on community mobility are also a major factor in these losses. These
losses resulted in many people working in the travel and tourism sector having to
stop working due to the absence of tourism activities. Tourism itself is a sector
that can employ up to 13 million people.5The next impact is that they end up not
getting an income to support their lives.

The role of the government and international institutions is needed so that

tourism in Indonesia can bounce back and advance the economy in the tourism
sector. The international institution that has a big hand in helping this problem is
the United Nations World Tourism Organization or UNWTO. As a world tourism
organization that is under the auspices of the United Nations, UNWTO can help
countries in the world so that tourism in each country, especially in Indonesia can
rise again amid the Covid-19 pandemic and in accordance with the health
protocols set by WHO and the government. .

5
I Dewa Gde Sugihamretha, 2020, Respon Kebijakan: Mitigasi Dampak Wabah Covid-19 Pada Sektor
Pariwisata, The Indonesian Journal of Development Planning, Vol. IV (2), P. 192.
 From this background, the author tries to discuss the role of the United
Nations World Tourism Organization or UNWTO in helping to generate tourism
activities in the world, especially in Indonesia, which for one year has not carried
out activities as before the Covid-19 pandemic took place. The role of UNWTO
is very much needed so that tourism in the world, especially in Indonesia, can run
well again.

II. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What is the role of the United Nation World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) in addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
tourism sector in Indonesia?

III. RESEARCH METHOD

A. The Type of Research

The paper is a normative type of legal research that employs

qualitative analysis, that is, research in which writing is based on existing data
and explained using words or statements rather than numbers. Because the
paper is normative, the legal approach and the case approach are used. The
legal approach that refers to the law is a method of solving cases that uses
several laws and regulations as a guide. While the case approach is a method
of studying and analyzing cases that have occurred and are still relevant to the
topic of the paper.

B. Technique of Collecting Data

The author employed data collection techniques in conjunction with a

literature review. The data collection technique is carried out by searching for
materials related to the topic in e-books, journals, and the internet, followed
 by reading and then recording important points in the source being read6. The
references in the paper are derived from reliable sources, as well as Google
Scholar, International Journals, and other sources.

C. Data Analysis Method

The author employed a logical and systematic data analysis technique. The
data pertaining to the issues to be researched was collected7. In this paper,
discussing the role of UNWTO as an international organization to deal with
the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism in Indonesia.
IV. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The role of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in
addressing the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic in the tourism sector in
Indonesia
Tourism is a journey carried out by a person or group for a while, there is a
movement from one place to another, with the intention of enjoying a trip for
recreational purposes not to earn income in the places visited and to meet the needs
of diverse individuals or groups. According to the object, it can be divided into
several, namely cultural tourism, commercial tourism, sport tourism, political
tourism, social tourism, religion tourism8.

UNWTO or United Nations World Tourism Organization is a world

organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The organization is
headquartered in Madrid, Spain. Currently UNWTO has 157 countries that are also
members. Sebagai organisasi internasional, UNWTO haruslah tunduk terhadap
hukum internasional yang berlaku. Agar hak dan kewajibannya sebagai organisasi

6
Mike McConville & Wing Hong Chui, 2017, Research Methods for Law, Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press, p. 89.
7
Johnny Ibrahim, 2006, Teori dan Metodologi Penelitian Hukum Normatif, Second Edition, Malang: Bayu
Media, p. 303.
8
Lucky Riana Putri, 2020, Pengaruh Pariwisata terhadap Peningkatan PDRB Kota Surakarta, Cakra Wisata,
Vol. 21 (1), p. 44.
 internasional dapat terpenuhi dan dilaksanakan9. The duties of this organization
are10:
1. Promote tourism in a sustainable, responsible and universal manner. UNWTO
believes that tourism is part of the "engine of economic growth, inclusive
development and environmental preservation".
2. UNWTO also supports the implementation of a global code of ethics for tourism.
3. UNWTO is committed and aims to promote tourism as a tool to achieve the
targets of the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs which aim to continue
sustainable development and eradicate poverty.
4. Provide training and guidance to tourism actors and technical assistance to more
than 100 countries in the world.
5. Collect, store and process all international tourism information in statistical and
other forms.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic has attacked almost all countries in the world,
tourism has become one of the sectors that must bear the burden of very heavy losses.
In a weekly count, Covid-19 threatens the health and lives of the world's people. As
a result of this pandemic, many people whose life patterns changed drastic. Tourism
is also one of the sectors affected by this pandemic. The operation of tourism and
hospitality as part of supporting the development of world tourism must be closed
and travel between countries is closed. The right to travel and enjoy tourism and
tourism services is limited. 11UNWTO as an international organization engaged in
tourism issues various policies to encourage tourism to rise again and can slowly run

9
Yordan Gunawan, 2021, Hukum Internasional: Sebuah Pendekatan Modern, Yogyakarta, LP3M Universitas
Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, hlm. 66
10
Grigore Vasile Herman, Vasile Grama and Marius I. Stupariu, 2016, The International Organization
Between Globalization and Regionalization Case Study: World Tourism Organization, Revista Română de
Geografie Politică, Vol. 28(2), pp. 54-55.
11
Tom Baum and Nguyen Thi Thanh Hai, 2020, Hospitality, tourism, human rights and the impact of COVID-
19, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 32 (7), P. 2397-2398.
 normally. UNWTO proposes three main pillars as a technical assistance package in
order to restore world tourism, the three pillars are:12

1. Tourism Sector Economic Recovery

All policy sectors that exist in each country can help revive tourism,
especially the tourism economic sector which has not been running
normally.
2. Institutional Strengthening and Resilience Building
UNWTO as an international organization will encourage and assist
institutional strengthening and tourism resilience development, which
prioritizes public-private partnerships, so that there is collaboration for the
revival of tourism in the world and crisis recovery.
3. Marketing and promotion
Technical assistance in the form of marketing and promotion to markets
that can help restore and revive world tourism will be provided by
UNWTO. In addition, reformulating marketing strategies and tourism
promotion activities is also one of the assistance provided by UNWTO to
countries whose tourism sector is affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an estimated 75 million jobs have to be lost as a result
of this pandemic. In addition, losses must be borne in the tourism sector as much as 2.1
trillion US$. Indonesia itself during the period January until May tourists from various
countries the number of decreases, from 2019 which amounted to 6.3 million tourists to 2.9
million tourists, if it is calculated as a percent, then the decrease reached 53.36 %13.

In Indonesia itself, due to the Covid-19 pandemic the tourism sector suffered losses. This
is due to government policies in order to overcome Covid-19 in Indonesia, such as flight
restrictions, closing tourist attractions, prohibiting crowds and others. The challenges

12
Nicholas Ryan Aditya, UNWTO Rilis Bantuan Teknis Pemulihan Pariwisata karena Corona,
https://travel.kompas.com/read/2020/05/20/063931627/unwto-rilis-bantuan-teknis-pemulihan-pariwisata-
karena-corona?page=all, accessed on Monday, August 2, 2021 at 11.11 PM.
13
Betty Silfia Ayu Utami and Abdullah Kafabih, 2021, Sektor Pariwisata Indonesia di Tengah Pandemi Covid
19. Jurnal Dinamika Ekonomi Pembangunan,Vol. Vol. 4 (1), P. 384.
experienced by business actors in the tourism sector such as hotels, restaurants and the like
have decreased drastically14.

V. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion
The role of UNWTO as an international organization in the field of
tourism in the world has a very important position in resurrecting and re-
running world tourism affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Various policies
based on their duties and authorities can be issued for the rise of world
tourism. Indonesia as a member of the UNWTO and has a very reliable
tourism must also comply with and carry out the policies issued by the
UNWTO. Technical assistance from UNWTO for world tourism is one of the
things that is urgently needed to stimulate and stimulate world tourism.
B. Suggestion

UNWTO needs to issue more policies that can develop and revive the
tourism sector, which during the Covid-19 pandemic continued to lose money
and had to bear a huge impact. Indonesia itself should issue policies that can
help business actors in the tourism sector to survive in the midst of this
situation. The policy must also be in accordance with UNWTO policies and
not add to the burden of the tourism business actors.

14
Nafis Dwi Kartiko, 2020, Insentif Pajak Dalam Merespons Dampak Pandemi Covid-19 pada Sektor
Pariwisata, Jurnal Pajak dan Keuangan Negara,Vol. II (1), P. 129.
 REFERENCES

Aditya, R.N., (2021) UNWTO Rilis Bantuan Teknis Pemulihan Pariwisata karena Corona,

https://travel.kompas.com/read/2020/05/20/063931627/unwto-rilis-bantuan-teknis-

pemulihan-pariwisata-karena-corona?page=all, accessed on Monday, August 2, 2021 at 11.11

PM

Baum, T., & Hai, N. T. T. (2020). Hospitality, Tourism, Human Rights and the Impact of COVID-

19. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management.

Gunawan Y, 2021, Hukum Internasional: Sebuah Pendekatan Modern, Yogyakarta, LP3M

Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta.

Gunawan, Y. (2021). Pertanggungjawaban Indonesia dalam Pencemaran Asap Batas Lintas Negara

di Asia Tenggara. LP3M Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta.

Haryanto, T. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic and international tourism demand. JDE (Journal of

Developing Economies), 5(1), 1-5.

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globalization and regionalization. Case study: world tourism organization. Revista Română de

Geografie Politică, 28(2), 49-59.

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 Assessment Sheet (Lembar Penilaian Sejawat)

Student ID Name Type of Exam Information

(NIM)
20190610067 Muhammad Nur Rifqi Examination 1 and 2 Individual Examination
Amirullah

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