Local Government Closes Tourist Attractions, Doni Monardo: Thank You

Chairman of the Task Force on Handling COVID-19, Doni Monardo (Photo: Dok BNPB)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Task Force on Handling COVID-19 Doni Monardo thanked the local government for deciding to close tourist attractions in the area after being crowded with tourists during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

"We express our deepest gratitude to the regional task force that has taken the initiative to close all tourist attractions", Doni said in a Youtube broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat, Monday, May 17.

Doni considers the closure of tourist attractions as the right decision. Because the number of visitors who want to travel makes the manager can not apply the government's encouragement in limiting visits to 50 percent of capacity.

"We hope to continue so that we can make maximum efforts to prevent transmission", said Doni.

Furthermore, based on the experience of the last year of the pandemic, active cases of COVID-19 always increase after a long holiday. The increase is in the range of 78 percent to 119 percent. While the death rate ranges from 46 percent to 75 percent.

"Therefore, what we need to pay attention to now is how to prevent this case from soaring. One of the main factors is conducting a self-quarantine program for those returning from performing homecoming", he explained.

For information, the density of visitors in a number of tourist attractions makes three provinces close several tourist sites in the area, namely DKI Jakarta, Banten, and West Java.

In the capital city, the Department of Tourism and Creative Economy decided to close three tourist attractions Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Ragunan Wildlife Park, and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) on May 16-17, 2021.

This is a follow-up to the rise of crowds of people who travel during the Eid holidays. Then, the tourist area in Jakarta will be reopened on May 18, 2021.

In West Java, Governor Ridwan Kamil decided to close four tourist attractions. Tourist attractions in Batu Karas, Pangandaran Regency are closed from Sunday, May 16 until an undetermined time.

In addition to Batu Karas, three tourist attractions that are closed are Pasir Jambu, Ciwidey, and Ranca Bali will also be temporarily closed.

Then in Banten Province, Banten Governor Wahidin Halim (WH) temporarily closed all tourist destinations in Banten Province from May 15 to May 30, 2021.