Jokowi: Show The World, Bali Is A Very Safe Tourist Destination To Visit

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. Setpres)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the Balinese people to show the world that the island of Bali is a very safe tourist destination to visit in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He conveyed this in his opening remarks at the Bali Arts Festival which was broadcast on Saturday, June 12.

"We show the world that Bali is a safe tourist destination to visit," Jokowi said as quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube.

He said the ability to deal with the pandemic, discipline, and strict application of health protocols were the main keys in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The former Governor of DKI Jakarta also reminded that the implementation of restrictions on Micro Community Activities (PPKM) must be carried out effectively.

"Micro PPKM based on banjar and traditional villages must be made effective to prevent transmission," he said.

Jokowi appreciates local governments, artists, and all people on the Island of the Gods who can continue to work, express art, and continue to develop aesthetics.

He even said that organizing the arts festival for the 43rd time is proof that even though the pandemic has hit the community, people's creativity and productivity can still grow.

"The Balinese people continue to grow, come up with new ways to continue to color the world's art scene," he said.

Furthermore, he also appreciated the choice of the theme entitled Purna Jiwa Praning Wanakerti which invites all people to glorify flora and fauna as well as biodiversity. This is considered to spread the spirit of conservation and living in harmony to heal civilization from the pandemic.

Not only that, he asked all parties to re-open cultural heritage, including literature that teaches how to prevent and adapt to the spread of the epidemic. Because, this is considered relevant to the current condition of the country.

"The literary heritage that reminds of the coming of the epidemic that teaches how to prevent and adapt needs to be reopened and developed to take lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic," he concluded.