Hidayat Nur Wahid Values Paradoxical Government Policy, Raises PPKM Status But Opens Doors For Foreign Tourists

ILLUSTRATION/Passengers from Japan following the arrival process flow at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali (DAFI VOI PHOTO)

JAKARTA - The government has opened the entrance for foreign tourists even though cases of the Omicron variant of the Corona Virus have been increasing lately. This is marked by the entry of foreign tourists from Japan using Garuda Indonesia airline.

Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly, Hidayat Nur Wahid, considered the policy to be a paradox. Because according to him, amid the high number of COVID-19 cases, who are the tourists who want to visit? On the other hand, the consistency and seriousness of the government in dealing with the outbreak is also questioned.

"It's not just who wants to come to Indonesia when the Omicron is high, but also the consistency and seriousness of the government in dealing with COVID-19," said Hidayat, Tuesday, February 8.

The senior PKS politician questioned the government's consistency, because when raising PPKM to level 3 for a number of areas including Jakarta, the policy was to open international doors at 4 airports.

These include I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, Hang Nadim Airport in Batam, Haji Fisabililah Airport in Tanjung Pinang, and Soekarno Hatta Airport in Tangerang.

"On the one hand, PPKM has even increased to 3, worship at mosques is regulated, schools are not 100 percent PTM, but 4 international/tourism doors have been opened," said Hidayat.

Previously, the Deputy for Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Nia Niscaya, said that the opening of tourist entrances was a pilot project. Where Indonesia is trying to restore the tourism sector, especially in Bali.

Not only that, international flights have indeed been opened since October 2021. "So there are no violations," Nia said in a virtual Weekly Press Briefing, Monday, February 7.

Nia continued, health protocols are still strictly enforced, including applying the 3M and 3T rules during this opening. The 3Ms are washing hands, wearing masks, and keeping a distance, while the 3Ts are early examinations, tracking, and treatment.

"The application of opening the flight door applies a warm up vacation scheme. Which means warming up before going on vacation," he said.