Due To Crowded, Sandiaga Uno Will Close Tourist Attractions That Do Not Comply With Health Protocols

JAKARTA - The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, will evaluate the opening of tourist attractions. This departed from the large number of visitors in several tourist destinations that triggered crowds and violations of health protocols during the Eid holiday yesterday.

Sandiaga said the evaluation was carried out so that the opening of tourist attractions would still apply health protocols in a disciplined manner, so as not to become a cluster for the spread of the virus. Later, tour managers who are proven to be disobedient to health protocols such as limiting the number of visitors, wearing masks, and maintaining distance will be subjected to strict sanctions in the form of closure of places.

In fact, Sandiaga said, his party will cooperate with the local government and the COVID-19 Task Force to bring order to the community.

"This is a step that needs to be corrected in the future and there are those who swell during the Eid holiday. It is hoped that the participation of the local government and all stakeholders will be improved. With this evaluation, compliance with protocols will be improved and of course, we must prepare ourselves in the future because there are still many holidays," he said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday, May 18.

The results of the evaluation will be divided into three groups, namely tourist attractions that have implemented a disciplined health protocol, tourist attractions that still need to be upgraded again, and tourist attractions that have not implemented the protocol. Later, Sandiaga said, during a long holiday, the officers will be alerted as supervisors.

Apart from that, the role of the community is also needed in the monitoring process. Anyone who visits tourist attractions and sees that the implementation of health protocols is not strictly implemented can report it, accompanied by documentation in the form of photos or videos.

"There is flexibility for the local government to be firm both in closing and imposing sanctions on managers. We can see that the implementation of health protocols in restaurant malls and hotels as well as others have been going well," he said.

On the other hand, Sandiaga appreciated the steps taken by several regions that had the courage to take firm action against tourist managers who did not apply health protocols. For example, DKI Jakarta, West Java, and Surabaya. According to him, this is a firm step implemented by the government so that tourism does not become a place for the virus to spread.