TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said the Aceh Government could request for the reopening of its tourism gate for foreign tourists. The province is one of the main destinations for tourists from Malaysia.

Sandiaga said the Aceh provincial government or the regional legislative council could submit a letter regarding the pandemic conditions to be taken into consideration before opening its doors for foreign tourists. “We will review [the letter] at the next evaluation meeting,” he said while monitoring the Nusa Tourism Village, Lhoknga District, Aceh Besar, Wednesday, October 20.

Indonesia reopened its doors to international tourists to visit Bali and the Riau Islands starting October 14. The tourism reopening also potentially be carried out in other areas.

The ministry, he added, acknowledged public complaints regarding the significant decline in foreign tourist arrivals to Aceh during the pandemic, especially from Malaysia. The drop even reached more than 70 percent.

Sandiaga Uno said the downward COVID-19 trend in the recent weeks, collaboration of all parties against the pandemic, and the public compliance, including tourism players, with the health protocols could be taken into considerations for the tourism reopening in Aceh.

Read: Aceh's Struggle to Bring Foreign Tourist Arrivals Back on Track

ANTARA