TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria suggested residents go on virtual tourism. The city administration, he said, is trying to develop virtual tours in a bid to prevent crowds in tourist sites during the upcoming long holiday at the end of this month.

“[Virtual tours] are being developed,” said Riza at the City Hall on Thursday, October 22, 2020.

Riza said Jakartans were appealed to refrain from going on holiday out of the town at this month’s end. The surge in tourists during a long holiday has the potential of COVID-19 transmission, he added.

The long holiday kicks off from October 28 until November 1, 2020, since the commemoration of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad or Maulid Nabi falls on Thursday, October 29, and the government sets the national collective leaves on Wednesday and Friday.

“[In a long holiday,] people usually visit Jakarta, Puncak Bogor, or perhaps Anyer, Bandung, and Bogor,” Riza said. “It is better to stay at home amid this transitional period [of the social restriction].”

An epidemiologist Tifauzia Tyassuma said a global depression is happening due to the COVID-19 pandemic that harms public mental health. Taking a leisure trip or traveling, she added, could be a way to refresh the minds.

However, pandemic surely causes worries for people to travel. Yet Tifauzia said virtual tourism could be the option.

Read: Virtual Tourism Emerge as Industry Battles with Pandemic Restrictions

IMAM HAMDI | NINIS CHAIRUNISSA