Increase The Number Of Tourists In The Riau Islands, There Is A Proposed Requirement For PCR Tests And Antigens To Be Replaced With Proof Of Vaccination At PeduliLindung

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The chairman of the Tanjungpinang-Bintan Travel Company Association (ASITA), Sapril Sembiring stated, the Lagoi tourist area in Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, has begun to aggressively target the domestic market amid the uncertainty of the travel bubble discourse between Indonesia and Singapore.

Sapril said Singapore as the main tourism market in the Riau Islands (Kepri) has experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases, so the discourse on creating a corridor or travel bubble with the city-state is not yet clear. Tourism, he said, must be sustainable in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

"We will focus on targeting the domestic market first," said Sapril, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, October 6.

Sapril said it could be started by targeting tourists in Batam and Tanjungpinang, then Jakarta. If possible, he said, the requirement for antigen testing or PCR would be abolished and replaced with proof of complete vaccination through the PeduliLindung application.

Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad previously said that he had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Central BNPB to ask for dispensation for inter-provincial travelers so that they no longer need to use the PCR test, but only with an antigen test.

"Hopefully our proposal is approved, so that domestic tourists flock to Riau Islands. Moreover, this area is already at PPKM level one," said Ansar.

According to Sapril, tourism is able to create jobs, support small and medium businesses and contribute to local revenue in Tanjungpinang and Bintan Regency.

"I think we have to focus and work hard together to get out of this difficult situation, get back up again while continuing to comply with health protocols in running the tourism industry," he said.

Sapril admitted that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt for tourism players because restrictions on movement caused a decrease in domestic and foreign tourist arrivals.

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Until now, the Lagoi tourist area, which is famous for its natural beauty and beaches, has not been able to accept foreign tourist visits through the Bandar Bentan Telani entrance in Bintan Regency.

"This condition should not dampen the enthusiasm of tourism actors. There must be a new breakthrough to attract domestic tourists," said Sapril.

To target domestic tourists, Banyan Tree Hotel and Resort in Cassia Bintan, Lagoi, said it had prepared cheap tour packages.

Alpha Eldiansyah, the general manager of the hotel, said that his party continues to be creative for the convenience of visitors who mostly come with family on weekends, in addition to company visitors who hold meetings on weekdays.

He hopes for government support, including policies that make it easier for tourists to enter the Bintan Resort area, and collaboration with other resorts in the Lagoi area.