Luhut Brings Good News, Finally Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport Will Open For International October 14

ILLUSTRATION/NGURAH RAI AIRPORT BALI/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The government has added entrances for foreign travel. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali will be opened for international travel in mid-October.

This he conveyed in the announcement of the extension of the implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM) in Java and Bali from 5 to 18 October 2021.

"Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport will be opened internationally on October 14, 2021 as long as it fulfills the provisions and requirements regarding quarantine, testing, and the readiness of the task force," Luhut said in a virtual press conference, Monday, October 4.

Luhut said that every international arrival passenger must have proof of a hotel booking for a minimum of 8 days of quarantine at their own expense.

"The countries that we will open will consist of several countries such as South Korea, China, Japan, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, then New Zealand," he continued.

In the previous implementation of PPKM, the government limited the arrival of international travelers at the National Border Post (PLBN), ports, and airports.

For airports that are opened only at Soekarno Hatta and Sam Ratulangi Airports, Manado. Ports are only opened at Batam and Nunukan ports. Also, PLBN is only opened at Entikong and Aruk Terminals.

In the extension of the Java-Bali PPKM, Luhut said there was an increase in the number of regions implementing PPKM Level 3 from 84 regencies/cities to 107 regencies/cities.

Currently, there are still 20 regions that will continue PPKM Level 2 for the next two weeks. Then, there is no area that is still undergoing PPKM Level 4.

According to Luhut, the increase in the number of regions implementing PPKM Level 3 which was previously level 2 is due to the fact that these regions have not met the vaccination target for implementing PPKM Level 2.

"Cities at level 2 that previously received dispensation (on the implementation of PPKM until October 4) are currently unable to achieve the vaccination coverage target," he concluded.

The good news is that there is one area that has been able to implement PPKM Level 1, or you could say the new normal, namely the City of Blitar.

"The government will test the implementation of PPKM Level 1, the new normal for Blitar City. The implementation of PPKM Level 1 will approach normal community life activities," he said.

The implementation of the PPKM Level 1 trial in Blitar was implemented because it had fulfilled the WHO indicator requirements and the target for vaccination coverage of dose 1 was 70 percent and dose 1 for the elderly was 60 percent.