TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A Surabaya-based travel agent recently lamented on the demand for international tourism that has dived in the past month, which was caused by the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and the travel limits imposed by countries that consequently followed.

“January 2020 saw a number of visits, but in February when the coronavirus announcement struck from China, no one was into overseas travel,” said Padma Tour Organizer owner, Wina Bojonegoro, on Wednesday.

Wina further explained that not only did demands drop, but previously planned trips were also canceled. Prior to the coronavirus crisis, the tour agent said they usually fly people to a number of Asian and European countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Turkey.

The East Java Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) head, Arifudinsyah, echoed Wina’s complaint on dropping demands of overseas travel.

“It’s currently in collapse. Flights to China were all canceled, Umrah too, and flight bookings are dropping,” said Arifudinsyah who said he and other travel agents are pinning their hopes to keep the travel industry alive through Indonesia’s domestic tourism.

ANTARA