PCR-Antigen Becomes Official Domestic Travel Requirement Removed, Hotels In NTT Sure Occupancy Will Soar Soon

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JAKARTA - The COVID-19 Task Force has officially removed the PCR test or antigen swab as a requirement for domestic or domestic travel. This news was immediately welcomed by the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

They clearly welcome it because it will certainly increase tourism in NTT. The hotel occupancy rate is predicted to be automatically raised by itself.

Secretary of PHRI NTT Tri Arachis said, so far his party really hopes for a decision that is not too burdensome for travellers or tourists to come to an area.

With the emergence of this discourse, of course, he said, will greatly help economic recovery in the province of NTT which is currently struggling to get back up through the tourism sector.

"Before the pandemic, hotel occupancy in NTT ranged from 70 to 80 percent. But in Kupang City itself, it reached 90 percent," Tri said, Tuesday, March 8, quoted from Antara.

However, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, and the emergence of regulations that were quite difficult for tourists and hotel stay travelers in NTT, visits actually fell by 30 percent.

This condition resulted in many hotel employees who had to be laid off because the income for the hotels was reduced.

Therefore, he is very confident that the discourse will provide a positive response for many parties, especially tourism actors in NTT.

The PCR test or antigen swab as a requirement for domestic or domestic travel is officially abolished. However, the abolition of this requirement only applies to people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two doses. This is stated in Circular Letter Number 11 of 2022 concerning Provisions for Travel of Domestic People During the COVID-19 Pandemic, issued as of March 8, 2022.

Meanwhile, the mandatory requirement to show the results of the PCR or antigen test still applies to people who are still undergoing the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination. As a rule, they are required to show a negative result of the RT-PCR test whose sample is taken within 3 x 24 hours or a rapid antigen test whose sample is taken within 1 x 24 hours before departure.

Then, for travelers with special health conditions or comorbid diseases that prevent travelers from receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, they are also required to show a negative RT-PCR test result whose sample was taken within a maximum period of 3x24 hours or a rapid antigen test whose sample was taken. within a maximum period of 1x24 hours before departure.