Indonesian Tourists Advised to Postpone Overseas Trips during Pandemic

It is possible that Indonesian tourists will spontaneously plan overseas trips as more countries reopen their borders.

Considerations before reopening borders

Many countries have yet to allow Indonesian tourists due to their national caseload and the high number of active Covid-19 cases, said Hermawan. 

The exception to that rule only applied to umrah pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia in which the most Indonesian pilgrims departed to the Arab nation on Sunday, November 1.

“That is simply because umrah pilgrimage is a religious activity and it is a right for all Muslims hence the Saudi government proceeded in reopening their borders while imposing strict Covid-19 health protocols and procedures.”

Read also: Indonesia’s Airport Operator: First 253 Umrah Pilgrims Follow Health Protocols

Hermawan said that Covid-19 health protocols and procedures will almost definitely be much stricter than daily activities.

The protocols will be different than the ones applied for tourism purposes where many travelers take advantage of loopholes which then creates new Covid-19 clusters.

The risks of overseas trips

Indonesian tourists face a higher risk during an overseas trip than if they would travel close to their house or domestically.

One of the biggest risks that tourists from Indonesia face is the transmission of the Covid-19 virus, especially where they find themselves in crowded public spaces.

An airport is one example as well as modes of public transportation such as airplanes and buses, or tourist attractions and shopping centers.

Read also: Jakarta’s Main Airport Hits Record High in Passenger Movement amid Covid-19

“Such scenarios make it difficult to conduct proper tracing if there turns out to be a Covid-19 positive case that emerges.”

Another likely scenario is the emergence of a new strain of the Covid-19 virus.

Hermawan believes that such a scenario is probable where an Indonesian tourist returns home carrying a new virus strain.

Such a scenario would be possible as it is a risk behind social mobility such as traveling overseas.

(Writer: Syifa Nuri Khairunnisa | Editor: Kahfi Dirga Cahya)

Source: https://travel.kompas.com/read/2020/11/03/180800527/ahli-imbau-masyarakat-tunda-liburan-ke-luar-negeri?page=all#page2