President Jokowi: We Will Prove Bali Is A Safe Destination to Visit

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is pushing the government and movers in the country’s tourist industry to encourage visitors to visit Bali, the crown jewel of Indonesia’s tourism sector.

The president is making his case as he prepares to finalize a Travel Corridor Agreement for Indonesia by July 2021. He called on all parties to prove that the resort island is a safe place to visit, as Bali prepares to welcome overseas visitors next July.

“A main factor in Bali’s economic recovery is widespread compliance with [Covid-19] health protocols,” he said at a virtual celebration of the 43rd Bali Artistic festival on Saturday, June 12.

Also read: Jakarta to Send AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccines to Bali

“This includes a quick and massive vaccination drive, Micro-Scale Enforcement of Community Activities or PPKM at the banjar [neighborhood] and village levels. Effective application of both measures should be optimized to prevent Covid-19 transmission.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said Bali’s tourism industry is nearly good to go. “Bali is 90 percent ready to receive foreign tourists. Preparations at tourist sights to welcome is at its last stages,” he asserted in his Instagram page.

“This includes the management of the sights and the readiness of their workforce to receive an influx of foreign tourists.”

Dok. Kemenparekraf Balinese girls in traditional costume place offerings on their head

Sandiaga added that the tourist destinations that are ready to open in Bali includes the Sanur, Ubud and Nusa Dua areas, which is known by the acronym SUN.

“Bali’s economic recovery is a long process that involves many parties. But we are certain that it will pick up and turn the island’s economy around.”

Bali’s health protocols for foreign tourists start with health checks at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.