Even Though It Has Level 2 Status, Tasikmalaya Hasn't Opened A Tourist Attraction Yet

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JAKARTA - The government of Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java has yet to open a tourist attraction even though the status in the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) Level 2 allows tourism activities to be opened, for fear of contagion of COVID-19.

"It is feared that Tasikmalaya Regency, which is already Level 2 with tourism being opened, will turn into Level 4," said the Acting Head of the Tasikmalaya Regency Tourism, Youth and Sports Office, Nana Heryana when contacted by reporters in Tasikmalaya, reported by Antara, Friday, August 6.

He said the central government designated the Tasikmalaya Regency area as an area with PPKM Level 2 status which allowed tourism activities to be opened while still limiting the number of visits and implementing health protocols.

Despite having Level 2 status, he said, the Tasikmalaya Regency Government based on the results of the coordination meeting decided that the tourist attraction area could not be opened for fear that it would invite many tourists from outside the area and then the COVID-19 outbreak would spread.

"If it is opened, those who come to the tourist attraction will not necessarily only be Tasikmalaya Regency people, so we have not opened it yet," he said.

He explained another reason that the tourist attraction area in Tasikmalaya Regency had not been opened, because the neighboring regency area was still PPKM Level 3 and 4.

"Our position is in the middle with other regions, while other areas are still PPKM Level 3 and Level 4," said Nana. He revealed that the Tasikmalaya Regency Government understands the current condition of the tourism business sector which expects business activities to reopen, but that desire cannot be carried out because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As long as the tourist attraction is closed, he said, the Tasikmalaya Regency Government will provide assistance to ease the burden on tourism business actors in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are submitting it to the central and provincial levels, we have data on business actors who are licensed to receive assistance," he said.