Bali Accepts Tourists, Luhut: Its Not Just 'Reopen'
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31 July 2020 15:56 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government has reopened Bali as a tourist destination for domestic tourists on July 31, 2020. Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the reactivation of the tourism sector in the Island of the Gods was decided following numerous studies and considerations.
"We reopened Bali not just like open it, it all went from how many number of people were infected [with Covid-19], how many people cured, what is the mortality rate. That becomes the reference, does [Bali] considered a red zone, or yellow ro green," Luhut said in a written statement on Friday, July 31, 2020.
Luhut claimed that there are no more red zones on the island. Several locations, according to Luhut, are considered yellow zones and the majority of the island has been declared as green zones.
In addition, Luhut said that the government has taken comprehensive steps to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 so that all sectors, including tourism, can begin to be reactivated.
During the economic recovery period, Luhut said, the government has prepared a number of stimulus programs so that corporates or small-medium enterprises can rise, including tourism businesses.
Luhut admitted that the Covid-19 has become a major challenge for the tourism sector. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency, international tourist visits on May 2020 decreases by 86.9 percent year-on-year. Bank Indonesia also recorded that the realization of tourism foreign exchange on May 2020 experienced a -97.3 percent contraction.
During the reopening stages of the tourism sector, Luhut also ensured that the government have urged all respective parties to implement health protocols to prevent another wave of pandemic.
Bali is currently the backbone for international tourist visits to Indonesia. Central Statistics Agency data recorded that 60 percent of international tourists visiting Indonesia come to Bali. The Bali tourism also provides 28.9 percent of the national tourism foreign exchange of IDR 75 trillion.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
