TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The hiking trail of Mount Semeru is set to reopen after it had been closed for a year. The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Board (TNBTS) decided to reopen the site beginning October 1, 2020, for domestic hikers.

Previously, the hiking activity was shut due to severe fire at the end of September 2019. The closure period went longer for the routine restoration program every January until March and then the Covid-19 outbreak broke out.

The TNBTS chairman John Kenedie said the opening of the mount, which is set at 3,676 meters above sea level (mdpl), was concluded in a meeting on the reactivation of hiking activities during the adaptation period to a new normal era on Monday, September 21, 2020.

The meeting concluded that the hiking activities must apply the standard operating procedures or SOPs based on the Covid-19 preventive health protocol. “The reopening will be done gradually."

John added that people willing to hike must register themselves through the official website bookingsemeru.bromotenggersemeru.org to book a ticket. The number of hikers would also be limited to a maximum of 120 people, or 20 percent of the total daily capacity.

Additionally, John said hikers would only be permitted to stay for two days and one night. Climbing would also be allowed until Kalimati Post. This means hikers are prohibited to reach Mahameru, the peak of Mount Semeru.

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ABDI PURMONO