TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno observed the Grab Vaccine Center in Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) on his last day working on the island. The location will be the first place to administer Covid-19 vaccination for tourism and creative economy players on the Indonesian resort island.

“Today we've seen the preparation for vaccination and I highly appreciate all the parties involved. Bali Province is significantly affected by the Pandemic," Sandiaga said Saturday, Feb. 27.

The second phase of vaccination will officially be launched by the Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin on Sunday, Feb. 28. It targets 5,000 people consisting of 2,500 people from tourism and creative economic sector, and 2,500 people from the general public.

Sandiaga hopes the vaccination will soon recover the tourism and economy in Bali as its growth was down to minus 12 percent in Q4 last year. "This is the first time happening. Therefore, the first vaccination will be our step in recovering and reopening the tourism and creative economysector.”

"We'll continue to push for the [Covid-19] vaccination and hope that it will also be administered to other regions," the minister said.

Despite the availability of Covid-19 vaccine, Sandiaga Uno asks the public to stick with the implementation of health measures to suppress the number of infections.

Read: Minister Luhut, Sandiaga Mull Reopening Bali for Foreign Tourists

Ninis Chairunnisa