Health Protocols Must be Implemented in Tourist Destinations: Expert

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government's endeavors to revive Indonesia's tourism sector have won supports from key players of the industry but a Jenderal Soedirman University's expert suggested that tourists consistently practice health protocols to break the chain of COVID-19 pandemic.

To this end, educating both domestic and foreign tourists about the importance of consistently practicing preventive measures mandated in the health protocols was indispensable to enable them to adapt to the new normal, Chusmeru said here Sunday.

"We need a simultaneous and sustainable education to make the tourists well aware of the importance of such preventive measures as maintaining social and physical distancing measures, wearing face masks, and washing hands," he said.

Reopening tourist destinations in many parts of Indonesia would bring positive impacts on the regions and local people's economy but the revival of various tourism-related businesses should be carried out by respecting the health protocols, Chusmeru said.

"To make sure that the health protocols are implemented, local authorities need to conduct a regular monitoring and evaluation in every tourist destination," he said.

Coronavirus infections initially surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019.

Since then, COVID-19 has spread to over 215 countries and territories, including 34 provinces of Indonesia, with a huge rise in death toll.

This COVID-19 pandemic has become a serious health and economic problem owing to its tremendous impacts on Indonesia's business sectors, including tourism industry.

According to the Jakarta Post quoting data from the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (July 14, 2020), the coronavirus pandemic has erased around Rp 85 trillion (US$5.87 billion) of Indonesia's tourism revenue.

The coronavirus pandemic has not only disrupted global supply chains but it has also affected aviation service industries owing to the imposition of travel restrictions and border closure in many countries.

As of August 1, 2020, Indonesia recorded 1,560 fresh cases, while 2,012 people recovered from the coronavirus disease, according to the COVID-19 Handling Task Force.

The country's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 109,936, including a total of 67,919 recoveries since President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) made an announcement of Indonesia's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.

The number of people succumbing to COVID-19 surged by 62, thereby bringing the death toll to 5,193.

A total of 11,190 specimens from 9,355 people were examined at 320 laboratories across Indonesia on Saturday noon, thereby bringing the total number of specimens examined to 1,517,381 from 875,894 people.

Read also: Govt Demands Public Strictly Apply Health Protocols

ANTARA