Tourists Still Flock Yogyakarta albeit Thousands of New COVID-19 Cases

TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - Tourists were still seemed enthusiastic to visit a number of tourist destinations in Yogyakarta albeit the city recently recorded thousands of new COVID-19. Tempo observed on Sunday, Feb. 13, that many people crowded urban to district areas, including Sleman Regency.

Tourists coming by bus or private vehicle entered Kaliurang and natural tourist attractions on the slopes of Mount Merapi. They stopped on the river banks of the Ledok Sambi river and culinary places with beautiful rural ambiance such as Kopi Klotok and its vicinities.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 trend in Yogyakarta continued to surge. “The addition of confirmed cases in Yogyakarta today (Sunday, Feb. 14) is 1,010, while yesterday (Saturday, Feb. 12), there were 1,065 cases,” said the Regional COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson Berty Murtiningsih on Sunday.

According to her, Sleman Regency contributed the highest number of new cases at 463.

Yogyakarta Secretary Kadarmanta Baskara Aji reminded tourists to comply with the health protocols against COVID-19. He said that although tourism is open during PPKM Level 3, there are a number of rules to be followed. “We are monitoring tourist sites and hotels so they don’t receive visits exceeding the quota set in the PPKM Level 3 policy,” he added.

In the PPKM Level 3, referring to the latest instructions from the Minister of Home Affairs, tourist sites are allowed to welcome visitors at a maximum of 25 percent. Restaurants and cafes are also allowed to serve dine-in customers at a maximum of 60 percent.

Read: Yogyakarta Stops 100 Percent Physical Attendance Schooling

PRIBADI WICAKSONO (CONTRIBUTOR)