Yogyakarta Regional Government Shuts Down Operations Of Tourist Destinations On New Year's Eve

One of the beach tourism destinations in Yogyakarta (Photo: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Yogyakarta Special Region Government will close operations of all tourist destinations in four districts on New Year's Eve 2021 starting at 18.00 WIB to prevent crowds that can become a medium for transmitting COVID-19.

"We have coordinated with the regency government to close the entrance gate of tourist objects, so that at 18.00 WIB no tourists enter the location," said the Coordinator of Security and Law Enforcement of the DIY COVID-19 Handling Task Force Noviar Rahmad when met in Yogyakarta, reported by Antara, Wednesday, December 30.

According to him, the policy to close the operation of tourist destinations was the result of a coordination meeting between the Yogyakarta Regional Police and the DIY COVID-19 Task Force and the five regency / city Task Force.

The closure of operations on New Year's Eve will be carried out in 30 tourist destinations, both beaches and other types of destinations spread across Bantul, Kulon Progo, Sleman and Gunung Kidul Regencies.

"The Yogyakarta City Government has a different attitude, which is to keep operating tourist destinations by implementing health protocols," said Noviar who is also the Head of the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol) PP DIY.

According to Noviar, on New Year's Eve, Satpol PP personnel together with the TNI / Polri will guard the gates of all tourist destinations to ensure that there are no New Year celebrations or any activities held by residents or tourists.

Tourist destinations that have the potential to be visited by the most visitors on New Year's Eve, according to him, include Parangtritis Beach, Kaliurang, as well as tourist destinations along the coast of Gunung Kidul Regency.

"If someone wants to enter the destination, we tell him to make a U-turn, not allowed to enter. We have instructed friends in the field on New Year's Eve," he said.

Noviar said that in Yogyakarta City, especially in Malioboro and Tugu Yogya, the Yogyakarta City Government will implement an open and close system.

Nevertheless, he ensured that the DIY Satpol PP would immediately disperse any crowds that appeared in the area.

"If at Zero Point there is no New Year celebration and now the Yogyakarta City Government has installed an iron fence in the area in the hope that no one will enter the location. In Tugu there has also been a ban on stopping," he said.

He said that on January 1, 2021 at 09.00 WIB tourist destinations would be reopened by following the DIY Governor's Instruction Number 7 which limits the operations of tourist destinations and shopping centers to 22.00 WIB. The governor's instruction is valid until January 8, 2021.