Indonesia Highlights: Indonesian Ministers Discuss Security, Economic Issues in Tokyo Meet | Indonesia to Reopen for Foreign Tourists Mid-Year | Indonesia Steps Up Diplomacy Efforts to Avoid Vaccine S

Indonesia to Reopen for Foreign Tourists Mid-Year

Indonesia hopes to welcome back vaccinated foreign tourists by the middle of this year, to be precise around June to July, the month when travel restrictions may be lifted.

"We continue to finalize the preparation for the Safe Travel Corridor Arrangement in Bali, Batam, and Bintan. For Bali, there are three areas included, namely Nusa Dua, Sanur, and Ubud,” Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said in a weekly press briefing at the ministry's building in Jakarta Monday, March 29.

Sandiaga hoped that everyone in the sector of tourism and the creative economy in the green zones, areas with zero coronavirus cases, will be prioritized in receiving Covid-19 vaccination to create herd immunity.

"However, if the [workers] are unwell, we hope that business owners and tourism operators offer more flexibility for staff and should not lay off employees.

This is a very tough time for the tourism and the creative economy industry,” said Sandi.

He urged all people, including those in the green zones, to continue to implement health protocols, so that they become more ready to welcome foreign tourists when they are allowed to enter Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the Safe Travel Corridor Arrangement will cover the green zones. In the context of Bali, for example, the green zones are part of what officials describe as a Covid-free corridor, where all residents and people who conduct businesses within Ubud, Sanur, and Nusa Dua, will be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Bali Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati or popularly known as Cok Ace disclosed the plan for the Bali-China travel corridor during a webinar held on Thursday, March 25.

Under the plan, the tourists from China who have been vaccinated in their country will be allowed to come to Bali through this corridor.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/03/30/152144874/indonesia-to-reopen-for-foreign-tourists-mid-year.