Governor Koster Ensures Three Green Zones For Bali Tourism To Open In July

Bali Governor Wayan Koster confirmed that three green tourism zones will be opened in July. (MELASTI BADUNG BEACH ILLUSTRATION, BALI / ANTARA)

DENPASAR - Bali Governor Wayan Koster received a Working Visit (Kunker) from the Parliamentary Diplomacy group of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP).

In his remarks, Governor Koster expressed his appreciation for the BKSAP visit to Bali, as a form of support for Bali's deteriorating condition amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Previously, we would like to thank you for the presence of BKSAP in Bali. I am sure of course in order to participate in restoring tourist activities to Bali as one of the world's tourist destinations. Bali experienced total paralysis for almost a year during the COVID-19 pandemic", said Koster.

Koster said the conditions for the spread and handling of the pandemic in Bali are currently in a sloping condition, with a 93 percent cure rate. The community also continues to implement strict health protocols (prokes).

Koster also said that Bali's recovery is very dependent on the mass vaccination program.

"By the central government, Bali has been promised a priority vaccination program for up to 70 percent of the total population of Bali. This is the fastest hope for Bali to recover soon, the more vaccinated the spread will be safer. Until now Bali has received 800 thousand vials of the vaccine and it has been delivered immediately distributed to the community", he explained.

"Especially in the three green zones, namely Ubud in Gianyar, Nusa Dua in Badung, and Sanur in Denpasar. The implementation was monitored directly by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Joko Widodo, running very smoothly. The tourism plan for foreigners in the three regions will be opened in July, but still, I will monitor the developments in the field. Hopefully, it can go as expected, please help BKSAP to participate in guarding the vaccine ration for Bali", continued Koster.

The provincial government of Bali in an effort to advance the tourism sector in Bali, especially based on new and renewable energy and is environmentally friendly, has been regulated through regional regulations and governor regulations (Pergub).

"This pandemic has also taught us not to rely on sectors like today. In the future, we will also design the development of other fundamental sectors, such as the industrial and agricultural sectors. Without having to leave the tourism sector, we will also boost other sectors so that they can be equal and become sources of regional income. We will continue to improve the quality of the tourism sector", he said.

Meanwhile, the head of the BKSAP DPR group, Putu Supadma Rudana, stated that the visit to Bali this time was to obtain input and materials to support and lift the economy through tourism for Indonesia, especially Bali.

These inputs and materials will be conveyed as weapons of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy during working visits abroad.

With the hope that cooperation in the tourism sector will have a positive impact on Bali. As is the case in the near future, the BKSAP will conduct a visit to Morocco, which has a geographical advantage close to Europe, Portugal, and others that are centers of quality tourists.

"One program that can be developed during the visit will form sister province cooperation with Morocco. As is known, one of the cities of Maracas has a visit rate of 12.3 million foreign tourists per year. Its location is adjacent to southern Europe, hopefully, this can increase new tourism sector to Indonesia and Bali. Of course quality tourists", said Supadma.