TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said the travel bubble policy for foreign tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic was spot-on as it would serve as a momentum for the national economic recovery.

“This travel bubble policy was a form of the government’s policy that is spot-on, highly beneficial, and on-time,” he said in a release on Friday, January 21, 2022.

The travel bubble policy is the opening of international border zones that allow citizens to travel within the determined areas.

Earlier, Sandiaga said the policy was aimed at the G20 summit delegates and the racers, officials and crews of the MotoGP in Mandalika, and that it would be extended to Batam, Riau Islands.

Sandiaga also inspected Friday the Nongsapura Port facility in Batam for preparations of the travel bubble policy. He said the port was set to support the policy.

“Based on my observation, we are ready to go and industry players told me that for the next few days they would make sure of their preparedness so that they could operate immediately after the Economic Coordinating Minister announces the policy,” he said.

Sandiaga Uno explained the inspection also sought to check on the preparations of the forthcoming Leaders Retreat on January 25, 2022, at which President Joko Widodo’s attendance had been confirmed as the latter wanted to observe the development of the tourism and creative economy sector of the province.

On the same occasion, Riau Islands Governor Anshar Ahmad said the travel bubble policy in the province would focus on COVID-19 handling. According to him, the province has excelled at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Anshar added the province’s total vaccination rates had reached 102 percent for the first dose and around 90 percent for the second jab.

“This is a scientific reference for our friends in Singapore and other countries that we are set to do this. It is just that we need to weigh input from tourism players when it opens,” he said.

Read: Sandiaga Uno: Mandalika MotoGP to Continue under Travel Bubble Scheme

M FAIZ ZAKI