KOMPAS.com – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo discussed with the Balinese hospitality and business players during a mass inoculation program in a Bali hotel on March 16.
In the discussion, President indicated that Bali could reopen its tourist attractions in the second semester of the year if the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic will be better.
Meanwhile, to contain the spread of coronavirus in Indonesian waters, the Navy has been strengthening its routine border patrol. The patrol is to monitor high-threat areas where illegal border crossing, drug smuggling, movement of illegal commodities, and human trafficking are prevalent.
During the operation, the members of the Indonesian Navy spotted a boat carrying 115 alleged Indonesian illegal migrant workers and children returning from Malaysia.
Below are the editors’ picks stories published on Kompas.com:
Bali’s Tourist Attractions May Reopen in July
Indonesia’s President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that the island resort of Bali may reopen its doors to tourist arrivals in July if the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic will be better.
Jokowi brought this up during a limited meeting with tourism industry players who had been vaccinated in the mass inoculation program in a Bali hotel on Tuesday, March 16.
Bali is among the hardest hit by the economic impact of the Covid-19 as its economy depends mostly on tourism.
During the meeting, the President indicated that if the Covid-19 case is under control, health protocols are strictly implemented, and the mass vaccination program will achieve the expectation, the tourism could reopen in June or July this year.
“Everyone must support this and remain careful. This could reopen in July,” Jokowi said in a televised statement.
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno concurred. Sandiaga also hoped that Bali could reopen in June or July.