Bali to Spearhead Vaccine-Based Tourism Project: Indonesian Minister

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said Bali will become a pilot project for vaccine-based tourism to boost its tourism sector which has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In the first to fourth quarters of 2020, Bali's economy which relies heavily on the tourism industry, contracted 12 percent, the lowest among the 34 provinces in the country. In the second quarter of 2021, Bali's economic growth is predicted to contract between six percent and eight percent.

“We will introduce a vaccine-based tourism program and Bali has been chosen [to spearhead the project] because it is currently in dire need of tourists due to a very deep economic contraction," said Sandiaga in the Weekly Press Briefing, Tuesday, June 22.

“The program may also be applied to other destinations,” he added.

Also read: “Work from Bali” to Save Tourism Sector: Indonesian Minister 

The vaccine-based tourism will offer tour packages, including free Covid-19 jab provided by the government to local tourists. Meanwhile, the tour packages for foreign tourists will be managed by associations and the vaccination program will be organized under the private vaccination scheme so that they will not be given the portion of free vaccines provided for the Indonesian citizens.

The plan is still being finalized and will be launched by the Governor of Bali, considering the world’s Covid-19 pandemic situation. The plan would be reviewed if the circumstances did not improve.

“The travel corridor preparation has reached 90 percent. Meanwhile, the preparation of chartered flights has also shown significant progress,” Sandiaga said.

Also read: More Tourism Villages Need to Go Digital: Indonesian Minister

“However, the decision would depend on the latest Covid-19 situation. If it gets better, we will proceed with it and if it is not, we will adjust it.” 

The three priority zones for tourism in Bali include Sanur, Ubud, and Nusa Dua, which already have a grand design of visitor management, support for very complete health facilities, as well as the implementation of a fairly good health protocol. 

In July, Sandiaga targeted 1,200 end-to-end certifications for tourism businesses in Bali to be completed.

Previously, the opening of Bali tourism for foreign tourists was scheduled to take place in July 2021. However, the country's Covid-19 caseload continues to climb after the recent Eid al-Fitr holiday. As of June 22, Indonesia recorded 13,668 new Covid cases, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to more than two million cases since the outbreak was declared in the country in March 2020. Meanwhile, more than 1.8 million people have recovered and 55,291 died.

(Writer: Kiki Safitri | Editor : Yoga Sukmana)

Sources:https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/06/23/074755726/sandiaga-uno-bali-bakal-jadi-pilot-project-wisata-berbasis-vaksin

https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/06/22/173649326/sandiaga-uno-pastikan-pembukaan-pariwisata-bali-tunggu-kasus-covid-19-melandai