TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno in a written statement on Monday said economic activities in Indonesia’s popular tourist destination Bali is starting to grow following an economic-crippling contraction due to the enactment of the public activity restriction (PPKM).

“I might argue this is a positive sign that the tourism and economic sector in Bali will rise again,” said the Minister on September 13.

However, despite the positive outcome shown by the tourism sector, the government said it will not entirely reopen the island for tourists, especially international tourists. He noted that international borders to Bali will only be opened when Covid-19 spread is able to be suppressed.

Citing data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on September 12, Bali logged 152 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

In an attempt to accelerate the economic recovery in the region, Uno said the PPKM level enacted there must be able to be reduced by reducing the number of daily confirmed cases, mortality rate, and active cases.

Coordinator of the PPKM, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan claims the national confirmed cases has dropped 93.9 percent while the Java and Bali islands saw a 96 percent drop compared to the peak in July 15.

Read: PPKM in Bali Dropped to Level 3, Luhut Announces

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA