Indonesia piloting limited opening of tourist attractions

Indonesia piloting limited opening of tourist attractions

After more than a year of closure due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the Indonesian government has allowed to pilot the reopening of some tourist attractions in places where the Covid-19 epidemic tends to decrease.

These days, tourists in Indonesia have been able to visit a number of tourist attractions in areas where the Community Activity Restriction (PPKM) level 3 order is applied, which is more relaxed than the 4 level. However, they have not been able to have the feeling of complete relaxation or go in a family group with children as before the Covid-19 epidemic.

Indonesia piloted the reopening of some tourist attractions (Image: The Bali Sun)

Indonesian Interior Minister Tito Karnavian said that despite reopening, tourist attractions still have to ensure strict epidemic prevention measures. Accordingly, all visitors must present a certificate of Covid-19 vaccination integrated in the government's medical monitoring application. The staff of the resort must also be fully vaccinated. Children under 12 years old who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 are not allowed to enter the attractions. The list of pilot attractions open to the public is decided by the Indonesian Ministry of Creative Economy and Tourism.

In order to revive the tourism industry that is struggling because of the epidemic, in addition to the pilot opening of tourist attractions, the Indonesian government has a plan to develop medical, herbal, health care, beauty tourism, and tourism. Firstly, in potential tourist markets such as Jakarta, Medan, Bali...

The Indonesian Ministry of Creative Economy and Tourism is also preparing a plan to welcome foreign tourists back to the "Green Zone" areas with Covid-19 on the famous tourist island of Bali. Indonesia is expected to apply Thailand's "Phukhet Sandbox" model in Bali, which allows foreign tourists to fully vaccinate against Covid-19 without having to be isolated.

The tourism industry plays a very important role in the Indonesian economy, contributing nearly 6% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing more than 10% of the workforce. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused the "smokeless industry" in the "Land of Wan Islands" to lose billions of dollars due to a sharp drop in foreign tourists.