Bracing for New Normal Tourism, Bali Beefs Up Health Protocols
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26 May 2020 14:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism players in Bali under the Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association (IHGMA) are gearing up for the new normal tourism in the province amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“An impartial new normal tourism must be developed in Bali, and we will support [the efforts] to make it happen,” said Bali IHGMA deputy chairman Ketut Swabawa in Kuta, Badung regency, Tuesday, May 2020.
Swabawa said it was necessary to avoid a situation where hotels are built adhering to the COVID-19 health protocols but the transportation and the food supply sectors failed to follow suit. He also said a hotel with quality health standards would charge more than other hotels.
“But on the other side, there are naughty hotels that do not apply the standards so their production costs are low, their rates lower, so they easily get more visitors. But when their visitors get ill, this will taint Bali’s name,” he said.
IHGMA central board’s deputy chairman I Made Ramia Adnyana, meanwhile, said the Bali Tourism Agency was presently formulating an standard operating procedure (SOP) to ready the province for the new normal tourism.
“The SOP will be distributed to all industries to brace for the new normal, beginning from anticipating arrivals at the airport, the immigration's health protocols, the transportation, checking-in at hotels, and so on,” he said.
The Bali Provincial Administration and the Banyuwangi Regency Administration have agreed to step up the procedures of entry to the Bali from the Ketapang Port, East Java. A COVID-19-free hospital letter is among the absolute requirements to enter the tourist island.
“Those who wish to enter Bali, in compliance with the circulars of the Land Transportation Directorate General and the Bali Governor, must clearly state their purpose of entry, have a clear profession, and carry a COVID-19-free letter based on a rapid test,” Bali Regional Secretary Dewa Made Indra said in a press release.
ANTARA