Batam Tourism Applauds More Relaxed Travel Requirements
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17 March 2022 15:29 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The number of domestic tourists visiting Nongsa Batam in the Riau Islands has been reported to increase after the government introduced a more relaxed travel policy during the Covid-19 pandemic by no longer requiring air travel passengers - who have been fully vaccinated - to take PCR and antigen screening tests.
The growing number of tourists was confirmed by the management of the Nongsa Batam resort after the number of visits grew in the past few days.
"Up to 10 rooms are booked each day. Previously there were none," said the resort’s director Gerald Andrew Hendrick, who was understandably grateful and hopes the number will grow larger in the future.
The chairperson of Nongsa Sensation Andy Fong also echoed Hendrick's enthusiasm and said that this improvement is also helping local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Batam. The hotel chairperson also said the same would be done to other smaller local tourist destinations.
"We would direct people staying here to eat at restaurants surrounding the place," he said.
The Indonesian government loosened the requirement for domestic air travel, sea, and land transportations by no longer mandating fully-vaccinated travelers to take PCR or antigen tests prior to their travels.
YOGI EKA SAHPUTRA
