Indonesia Tourism: Are We Ready to Reopen Some Tourist Destinations?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Some popular tourist attractions in Indonesia are getting ready to reopen as the government has begun easing the Covid-19 restrictions after the number of new confirmed cases continues to decline.

The government’s decision to start gradually reopen the economy was based on continuous improvement in Covid-19 indicators. As of September 9, the total number of active cases reached 127,829 compared to 367,733 active cases on July 9.

Two months ago, Indonesia reported a high record of coronavirus infections, which was likely fueled by the spread of the more virulent Delta variant.

However, some adjustments have been made when the government recently announced that the Covid-19 restrictions on public activities, known by its Indonesian acronym PPKM, have been extended until September 13 in Java and Bali.

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This affected the rules for places of worship, restaurants, and malls or shopping centers. Besides, the trial runs for the reopening of 20 tourist attractions can be implemented in alert level 3 areas under strict health protocols. The government also requires the use of the Covid-19 contact tracing app PeduliLindungi.

Tourist destinations in alert level 2 areas will also be required to use the contact tracing app. The detail of the policy will be under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“Restaurants within the shopping malls can now serve dine-in customers with a duration of 60 minutes [per customer] but limit their capacity to 50 percent,” said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is also the coordinator of Covid-19 restrictions on public activities in Java-Bali, Monday, September 6.

Previously, shopping centers could only operate at 25 percent capacity, while restaurants could only offer takeaway or delivery services.

Reopening tourist destinations

Partial lockdown remains in place for over a year now to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Currently, tourist destinations that are affected by the Covid-19 alert level 4 in Java and Bali until September 13 are only 11 regencies or cities from 25 regencies or cities previously.

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Regencies or cities at the highest level of 4 include Ponorogo and Magetan in East Java as well all eight regencies and a district in the Indonesian resort of Bali. There, public facilities such as a park, tourist attractions, and other public places will remain closed.

SHUTTERSTOCK/Dmitry Zimin A section of the 7th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple known as Borobudur Temple in Magelang regency, Central Java, Indonesia during sunset.

Tourist destinations that are affected by the Covid-19 alert level 3 will also remain closed. However, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will implement the trial runs for the reopening of selected tourist attractions.

Selected tourist spots are required to use the Covid-19 mitigation mobile app PeduliLindungi and children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter. Currently, the Covid-19 mass vaccination program is still targeting children aged 12-17 years, adults, and elderly people.