Gunungkidul Regent Ensures That Tourist Attractions Are Opened During Christmas-New Year Holidays During PPKM Level 3

Wediombo Beach Gunungkidul/Ferdinan VOI

GUNUNGKIDUL - Gunungkidul Regent Sunaryanta ensured that tourist attractions in Gunung Kidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region, during the 2022 Christmas and New Year Holidays will remain open despite the Level 3 Restrictions on Community Activities which are valid from 24 December 2021 to 2 January 2022.

"We have received the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs (Inmendagri), which applies nationally. From the Minister of Home Affairs, we will open tourist attractions for tourists with applicable regulations and strictly implement health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the tourism sector," said Sunaryanta in Gunungkidul quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 1.

He said the GunungkKidul Regency Government through technical agencies, such as the Tourism Office, Health Service, and Transportation Service were preparing the right scheme in detail regarding the implementation of PPKM Level 3 in the tourism sector and the community.

This is to ensure that there is no spread of COVID-19 in tourist attractions and communities during the 2022 Christmas and New Year Holidays. Gunung Kidul will be the main destination for tourist visits during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

"The tourism sector is the spearhead to restore the community's economy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. But on the other hand, we don't want the tourism sector to be the cause of the spread of COVID-19. For that, we ask the technical OPD to really prepare a scenario for the Christmas holiday and the New Year of 2022," he said.

Sunaryanta said that his party would limit the number of visitors. In addition, we control the mobility of the community. Although it will only be discussed in detail, he stated that his party is ready to implement all PPKM Level 3 rules for Christmas and New Year.

Sunaryanta also emphasized that homecoming is prohibited during the Christmas and New Year holidays. This prohibition also applies to all State Civil Apparatuses (ASN).

"Homecoming is clearly not allowed, they (ASN) must comply with it," he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Gunungkidul Tourism Office (Dispar) Harry Sukmono said his party would hold a special coordination meeting to discuss the tourism sector in early December.

He said the coordination meeting would be carried out in stages. Starting from cross-sector, internal employees, to involve business associations and tourism actors.

"We want to make sure everyone involved understands their respective duties and functions during the Christmas and New Year holidays," he said.