Government Evaluates Quarantine Rules For Overseas Travelers

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The government will continue to evaluate regulations regarding quarantines that are required for foreign travelers so that they can quickly get opportunities for economic revival as well as to remain vigilant about COVID-19.

"The time span for evaluating the provisions of travel terms and protocols abroad in the COVID-19 pandemic, in which there is an obligation to quarantine, will be accelerated with the decision to adapt to the latest developments," said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno in Medan, Friday quoted by Antara.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy has been in Medan since Thursday to attend the Indonesian Chinese Cultural Festival, which is a program of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Indonesian House of Representatives, the North Sumatra Provincial Government and the Medan City Government. as well as visiting the creative ventures of the Kitchenette Brasserie Restaurant.

According to him, the acceleration of the evaluation of the quarantine period is aimed at providing support for increasing economic activity, especially in the tourism sector, while being vigilant about COVID-19 cases.

"If the evaluation results show a decrease in the number of COVID-19 sufferers and others, then the quarantine period will certainly be reduced from five to seven days as it is now," he said.

Based on the Circular (SE) of the Head of Task Force No. 4/2022, all foreign travelers with the status of Indonesian Citizens (WNI) or Foreign Citizens (WNA) must follow a number of applicable requirements.

Indonesian citizens and foreigners are required to show a card or certificate (physical or digital).

Meanwhile, upon arrival, RT/PCR retests are carried out for foreign travelers and are required to undergo centralized quarantine with a number of provisions.

Quarantine for 7x24 hours for foreign travelers who have received the first dose of vaccine, or quarantine for 5x24 hours for individual travelers abroad who have received the full dose of vaccine.

"There will continue to be evaluations, for example, the government has reopened international entrances in Bali on February 4, 2022 to encourage the Balinese economy, which is under pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

The move follows up on the travel bubble plan with a number of countries.

"So the North Sumatran provincial government, cities and districts as well as tourism actors in North Sumatra must continue to prepare so they can get big opportunities in tourist arrivals when the COVID-19 pandemic subsides," he said.

Director of Tourism Malaysia Medan, Hishamuddin Mustafa, said Tourism Malaysia hopes the Indonesian government will make it easier for Indonesian tourists to enter Malaysia and vice versa.

"Tourism Malaysia understands that Indonesia's policy is still strictly monitoring the entry and exit of tourists to avoid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, but there must be other considerations such as reducing the quarantine period," he said.

He hopes that the quarantine period, which is still 5-7 days, will be reduced, especially now that Indonesians and Malaysians are increasingly aware of the need for COVID-19 vaccination to increase their immune system from the COVID-19 virus.