The Ubud Hotels Association (UHA) held the second phase Basic Food Bazaar by providing a subsidy of 50 percent of the total package price given to the member hotel employees. The basic food contains nine items, such as rice, eggs, cooking oil, sugar, salt, coffee, tea, laundry soap, and bath soap. “This basic food bazaar is given to employees affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said General Manager of COMO Uma Ubud, Gede Suteja, on the sidelines of the distribution of basic food at the Puri Lukisan Museum, Ubud, on Friday (May 28).

Currently, explained Gede Suteja, there are still many members and employees in a condition of reduced working hours. On that account, this basic food bazaar is expected to be able to help ease their burden in facing the difficult situation like today. “This prolonged pandemic situation surely has an impact on the standard of living of our employees. The UHA basic food program can help their basic needs by being subsidized by UHA,” he said.

The program, led by the General Manager of Purana Resort, Ketut Warasana, continues to prioritize sustainability and go green by reducing the use of plastic wrap. All employees who buy groceries are expected to bring their own shopping bags. “Despite the pandemic, we must be consistent in reducing the use of plastic wrap. Well, we hope this can provide education for employees about the importance of reducing plastic waste to protect the environment,” he explained.

The enthusiasm of members in this program is very large. From the morning, all the members were ready to wait the opportunity to buy the cheap basic food packages. “As many as 60 percent of our members bought the subsidized basic necessities, so we hope this program can ease and meet the basic needs of hotel employees who are affected by the current pandemic,” said RDM of Tejaprana Resort, Dian, who is also a UHA Treasurer.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the UHA, Gede Paskara Karilo, stated that the subsidized basic food is the last one held by the UHA. Therefore, he hoped that Bali tourism and the Bali’s economy will bounce back. “Ubud Green Zone should not be just a discourse, but there needs to be action so that all efforts struggling to generate tourism can be realized immediately,” he concluded. (BTN/015)