TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said that the newest mutation of the coronavirus, the Omicron variant, will affect the tourism business sector. The new variant, which has spread to various countries, will affect the traffic of both foreign and domestic tourists.

"All [industry] actors must raise their vigilance. The Omicron [variant] is from a literature that has the potential to spread faster than the Delta variant," the minister said during an online meeting with the media on Monday, November 29.

The government, Sandiaga said, continues to monitor the possible entry of the Omicron variant to Indonesia, to prevent a third wave of COVID-19 that would have a greater impact on numerous sectors. In addition to anticipating imported cases of the new variant, the government will limit people's movement ahead of Christmas and year-end holidays.

"This afternoon the government will announce its PPKM evaluation, along with the state's preparation to mitigate the Omicron variant," said Sandiaga after a limited meeting.

When the Delta variant hit Indonesia in July, the tourism sector suffered a huge blow due to the soaring number of new cases, which had reached up to around 50,000 a day. The situation complicated things and the government imposed heavy restrictions on public activities.

This led to a plunge in the tourism sector's income. Even in Q3/2021, the tourism industry in Bali and Nusa Tenggara was still contracted by 0.09 percent.

Read: Regulations at Tourist Attractions Must Be Tightened before Holidays: DPR

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA