PPKM Emergency: Banyuwangi Ijen Crater Tour Closed

BANYUWANGI - Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Park (TWA), Banyuwangi, East Java, will be closed from July 3 to 20. Closure related to the implementation of emergency PPKM.

The closure was also carried out due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Banyuwangi and Bondowoso regencies. These two areas are now red zone status.

This closure is stated in a circular letter from the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) regarding the closure of the Ijen natural tourism park.

"This is a form of our support for the implementation of the Emergency PPKM to break the COVID-19 chain. Moreover, currently Banyuwangi and Bondowoso are in red zone status," Head of the Conservation Section of BKSDA Region V Banyuwangi, Purwantono when contacted, Friday, July 2.

If there is no extension of the emergency PPKM period, this natural tourism will be re-opened on July 21.

The closure of Ijen Crater TWA only applies to tourist visits. Meanwhile, sulfur mining activities at the bottom of the crater are still allowed.

"Tourism visits are prohibited. Sulfur miners are still allowed, because that is their livelihood," he added.

As of Friday, July 2, there were 59 new cases and three patients died in Banyuwangi. Cumulatively, 7,535 people have been exposed to COVID-19, 489 active cases and 733 people have died since the pandemic.

Meanwhile, in Bondowoso Regency, there were 32 additional cases and 8 people died. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been 2,959 cases, 229 active cases, and 219 patients died.