TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said that two tourist areas in the Riau Islands, namely Lagoi in Bintan and Nongsa in Batam, will be reopened for travelers from Singapore beginning April 21, 2021.

The General Manager of PT Bintan Resort Cakrawala which operates Bintan Resort Lagoi, Abdul Wahab, confirmed that his resort has met the safe travel bubble requirement of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), such as opening a laboratory completed with its own PCR test kits in collaboration and installing eight units of Covid-19 detector GeNose C19 in the tourism area.

Wahab suggested both governments require travelers to undergo two PCR tests, which are first in Singapore before arrival to Bintan with a validity period of 72 hours and in Bintan Resort before returning to Singapore.

“However, visitors are also required to hold the GeNose test as a substitute for the PCR test upon their arrival at the port,” Wahab added.

Additionally, his side will conduct Covid-19 tracking and tracing. For that, every worker on duty is equipped with a blue pass device to track possible exposure to the virus, while tourists will be equipped with a QR Code to make it easier for officers to detect them.

As to comply with the health protocols, only 25 percent of the capacity of the resorts and hotels will be reopened. “We have 900 rooms and are allowed to open 50 percent of the capacity, but we open 25 percent only,” said Wahab.

The tourist area in Nongsa Batam was also getting ready. Workers at one of the resorts, namely Nongsa Sensation, have received the Covid-19 vaccine. They ensured strict health protocols applied in the area.

Read: Govt to Inoculate 30,000 Tourism Entrepreneurs in Batam, Bintan

ANTARA