The National Nutrition Agency’s (BGN) plan to save restaurants and hotels on the brink of bankruptcy by converting them into Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) has been responded to by academics at IPB University.
Dr Andriyono Kilat Adhi, an Agribusiness expert from IPB University, stated that economically, it is not a problem if hotels and restaurants that are no longer operational are repurposed as SPPG to support the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program.
In fact, many hotels are currently closed due to government efficiency policies and a lack of tourist visits. This, he said, could actually be an opportunity to optimize existing facilities, such as hotel kitchens and restaurants, to provide nutritious meals for children in the surrounding area.
“Hotel kitchens already exist and generally meet hygiene standards. These can be utilized for the MBG program without the need for significant investment in building new kitchens,” he said during a Zoom Meeting interview on Friday, (6/13).
He noted that hotels’ involvement in the MBG program not only provides new income for hotel managers but also creates job opportunities for employees who were previously laid off. “Hotels can rehire workers who were previously furloughed,” he added.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the National Nutrition Agency of Indonesia, as a government institution, will certainly regulate the technical implementation and duration of using hotels as SPPGs. Despite being temporarily repurposed as MBG program kitchens, hotels can resume normal operations during peak seasons or when tourist visits increase.
Dr Andriyono also criticized the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) for being overly reliant on government projects. He emphasized that hotels should be part of an independent tourism sector that attracts tourists.
“The issue in Indonesia today is that hotels are no longer a tourist attraction. Many have closed. Therefore, creative solutions like this are needed to keep existing assets productive,” he concluded. (dh) (IAAS/PRO)
