Sandiaga Talks About Bali, Batam, Bintan Tourism Opened To Foreigners If Vaccination Reaches Target

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BETWEEN/Badung Melasti Beach, Bali

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said the vaccination rate had a big correlation in ensuring the steps for reopening tourism destinations and creative economy centers.

Including the opening of a Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) targeted at Bali, Batam, and Bintan, it can be accelerated if the complete dose of vaccination has been carried out 75 to 80 percent.

“The three main destinations that we will open (within the framework of) the travel corridor arrangement, namely Batam, Bintan, and Bali, are still in the precondition of 75 to 80 percent of vaccinations being distributed to the target population. President Jokowi has planned to reach the end of September, which means we are directing that this September the preconditions can be reached," said Sandiaga, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, August 25.

The opening of Batam, Bintan, Bali tourism must also look at other preconditioning factors. Such as end-to-end CHSE certification, and industry readiness.

"If the various government programs to assist creative and creative actors are executed properly, I am optimistic that by the end of the third or fourth quarter we will be able to test the opening of our borders," continued Sandiaga.

According to him, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) is targeting vaccination of up to 95 percent of tourism industry players.

As of August 23, 2021, more than 193,000 people have been vaccinated through various vaccination centers in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

Until September 2021, it is targeted that as many as 450,000 parekraf people are vaccinated through the Kemenparekraf vaccination center. So, the number can continue to increase until December 2021.

Sandiaga also appealed to the public to use the PeduliLindung application developed by the government.

His party will maximize the role and function of the application which will later be able to assist and facilitate various community needs regarding health protocols or information about vaccines, as well as controlling crowds at destinations.

"We hope that this application will be able to monitor closely and also provide our opportunity to open our borders along with the decline in cases of COVID-19," he said.

Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad stated that the distribution of vaccines in Batam and Bintan had almost reached 75 percent.

"The case of COVID-19 in Batam (and) Bintan has also been sloping, and we also continue to coordinate with the central government in the opening of Batam and Bintan," said Ansar.