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.

At the time of publication, the ministry has yet released the selected tourist attractions although some places have already been proposed. Here below is the list of proposed tourist spots for reopening:

Jakarta
Taman Impian Jaya Ancol
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

Central Java
Grand Maerakaca Taman Mini
Taman Wisata Candi (TWC) Borobudur
TWC Prambanan
Taman Satwa Taru Jurug

East Java
Taman Rekreasi Selecta
Jatim Park 2
Maharani Zoo
Gua Malang Night Paradise
Museum Ganesya

Meanwhile, some tourist destinations located in the alert level 2 areas are allowed to reopen under strict health protocols and use the contact tracing app. They can operate at 25 percent capacity.

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The tourist destinations under this category include hiking and trekking tours in Mount Prau in Central Java, Mount Gede-Pangrango in West Java, Mount Bromo in East Java, as well as outdoor activities in Pamekasan, East Java and the Karimunjawa National Park in Jepara regency, Central Java.

Apart from the requirement of using the contact tracing app at public places, such as tourist attractions, people are required to wear masks, including when in common facilities, keep appropriate social distance with others and stay at home when feeling unwell. 

The Covid-19 level 2 to level 4 restrictions on public activities, which was previously known as the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), has been changed several times, especially in its restrictions related to activity and people’s mobility.

A stricter policy was implemented when Jokowi announced the emergency Covid-19 measures (PPKM darurat) which took effect from July 3-20 this year following a surge in Covid-19 cases. At that time, the increasing number of new confirmed cases was not supported by the improvement of health facilities or hospitals, which then led to a high death rate.

The trial runs for the reopening of some of tourist attractions must be well-prepared. All relevant government ministries and agencies, private sector and the public must work closely to monitor the program. It's good that visitors are attracted to come but at the same time efforts to avoid new infections must also be done. If a tourist destination becomes the source of outbreak, we can't afford the impact of the Covid-19 surge.

Source: Kompas.com