Bali Governor Asks Tourism Entrepreneurs To Be Patient, Don't Make Petitions For Jokowi

DENPASAR - Bali Governor, Wayan Koster, asked the Bali Regional House of Representatives to provide understanding to tourism actors in Bali not to petition President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) regarding the strict entry requirements to Bali.

"I ask the members of the board of directors to share awareness and understanding with tourism actors, to be patient a little. Don't make petitions of all kinds because it is counterproductive, does not solve the problem. I am working, very seriously working, to deal with the pandemic so that recovery as soon as possible", said Governor Koster at the Bali Regional House of Representatives building, Monday, November 22.

Koster explained that Bali has opened the door to international tourism since October 14 by allowing citizens from 19 countries to enter.

"But overseas the cases (COVID-19) have actually increased. So it's impossible to come, we'll open it, it's closed, it doesn't come either. So, it's not that our government is wrong, it's not us (the government) of the wrong province", he said.

"We have opened but the country that is the source or destination of foreign tourists that we have opened has not allowed its citizens to go abroad, visit, travel because the pandemic is rising in their country. applies in his country. We can't force it from here, "said Koster.

Therefore, the Governor of Bali asked the council to actively participate in providing understanding and awareness to all tourism actors. The Bali Provincial Government emphasized that Koster did not intend to complicate the situation regarding the level of foreign tourist arrivals.

"We really want our tourism to live, because it has become part of our substantial economic contribution and the Central Government has also given extraordinary attention to us in the Province of Bali, what is not given, everything is given what we ask for, everything is given. But the situation is not yet possible for us to do as expected from tourism actors", continued Koster.

"So I think we have a little patience so that the steps we are taking will no longer be counterproductive in the middle of the road. We are slowly managing to open ourselves up slowly but ensuring that what we are doing can be safe until 2022", said Koster.

For information, tourism actors in Bali complained that there were no foreign tourist visits even though the doors for direct flights to Ngurah Rai Airport from international were opened. This condition is called because of the strict entry requirements for foreign tourists.

A total of 34 tourism stakeholder organizations in Bali made a petition for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). The petition was submitted to urge Jokowi to change three rules that are considered burdensome for foreign tourists coming to Bali.

Three policies are considered to hinder foreign tourists to Bali, namely the visit visa policy, quarantine policy, and flight policy.