No denying that almost one year, Covid-19 pandemic is taking place in Indonesia. Even in December 2020, there has been no decrease in the number of Covid-19 patients, even on the contrary the figures show an increase. The opportunity to have exposure to cave Gong tourism village and Klayar beach in Pacitan, East Java during the pandemic, gives the author an experience to observe how people respond to the pandemic.
Cave Gong and Klayar beach are among
the UNESCO-recognized tourist spots since 2015, so the number of visitors is
high. Since the pandemic broke out, tourist spots are closed so that the
economy of businesses around the tourist area has dropped dramatically,
including the levy of location
entrances, parking lots, traders, tour guides to toilet tips. One of the agate
traders in Goa Gong region told me that usually their income was enough to eat,
but during the pandemic their income falling down even zero. Unluckily, there is
no other option except waiting for tourists to come again and to buy their
merchandise.
Klayar beach offers the beauty of the
seashore. Many local people work as beach motorcycle taxis that transport
passengers from the beach to the exit gate which is quite far and uphill. During this pandemic, the number of beach
taxi drivers is more compared to the number of tourists who come. It is clear
that their income is greatly reduced. A beach motorcycle taxi driver told me
that he has not got any passengers a whole day. One thing that deserves to get
thumbs up is they do not give up, even they are sure that fortune will always
be provided for them. Actually, it is not only those in coastal areas or caves
that are affected by the pandemic in economy. Many people are economically
affected by the pandemic due to the reduction of employees in the workplace, do
not have permanent jobs even farmers because of the decrease of purchasing
power among the people.
Through exposure and field observation,
the writer has a reflection that empathy and action are needed to support each
other economically by buying merchandise or using the services offered. Let's
share the bread by not only considering our needs, but supporting each other,
in order to achieve balance. "The one who gathered much, did not have too
much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little." (2
Corinthians 8: 15).***
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