Bali Will Reopen Tourist Attractions, Governor Targets 80 Percent Cure Of COVID-19 Patients

Illustration. (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Provincial Government (Pemprov) of Bali will reopen the tourism sector for domestic tourists on July 31. This effort was made to restore the tourism sector and the creative economy (parekraf) slowly after being deteriorated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, said that he prepared three stages for the opening of the parekraf sector. First, the opening of the local parecraf activity on July 9, and is still running until now.

Second, the opening of the tourism sector specifically for domestic tourists on July 31. Third, the opening of the tourism sector for foreign tourists (tourists) on September 11.

"We in Bali are currently in the process of initiating tourism activities. We must work harder in handling COVID-19 according to the president's direction. We choose the right time according to the Balinese calendar on July 31, then domestic tourists will start to stretch and have an impact on welfare Balinese people, "he said, in a virtual discussion, Wednesday, July 22.

Koster said the reopening of the tourism sector would still be accompanied by strict implementation of the COVID-19 pandemic health protocol. Every manager of the tourism sector, both tourist sites, hotels, and restaurants, must pocket a certificate stating that they are capable of carrying out the health protocol.

Furthermore, Koster said, to visit Bali wisnus according to the direction of the task force and the central government, a rapid test is sufficient. However, he said, at this time he did not know whether the rules had changed too much or not.

"We leave it to the central government whether wisnus still needs a rapid test or not. We are waiting for the policy of the central government and the national task force," he said.

However, said Koster, his party applied different rules for foreign tourists. He said foreign tourists visiting Indonesia, especially Bali, must show a negative result of the swap test which is valid for 2 weeks.

In addition, Koster said, the development of COVID-19 in Bali until July 21, the number of cumulative cases of 2,856 people who recovered 2,110 or 74 percent had a high degree of healing. Meanwhile, 700 people or 20 percent are still being treated.

"The positive cases of more than 400 people are OTG and only 220 are in hospitals and we handle this properly according to the president's direction to control the growth of new cases and increase the cure rate.

"In handling COVID-19 in Bali, next week there will be more advanced developments. Our target is that 80 percent will recover and become a good image and give confidence to domestic tourists and foreign tourists who come to Bali," he said.