Menparekraf Sandiaga Will Increase Accessibility For Foreign Tourists To Bali

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

BADUNG - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno seeks to improve accessibility, especially flight services to anticipate the high interest in foreign tourists visiting Bali.

"We will discuss this with colleagues from the Ministry of Transportation whether for this very crucial time we are allowed, because Bali really needs it," said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno as quoted by Antara, Monday, April 11.

Previously, Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno made a working visit to Australia for a week. From the visit, according to him, the interest of the Australian community in tourist destinations in Indonesia, especially Bali, is very large.

Currently, Jetstar has operated three direct flight routes to Bali, namely three times per week from Melbourne and Sydney, and daily from Perth. The amount is considered still not enough to meet the demand of the Australian market.

For this reason, airlines with flight routes from several countries heading to Australia such as from Doha, Istanbul, and Dubai are encouraged to transit in Bali first, then to Australia.

The hope is that the transit route in Bali can encourage the number of foreign tourists from other countries to stop by for a few days in Bali before continuing their journey to Australia from Bali.

Seeing the enthusiasm of the Australian community and industry players, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy believes that the target of 1.4 million Australian tourist arrivals to Indonesia can be met in the next few periods.

This high tourist interest is predicted to last for the next few weeks considering that Australia is currently entering the Easter holiday period.

The soaring demand for Australian tourists was also caused by a number of policy relaxations carried out by the Indonesian government regarding facilitated overseas travelers (PPLN), such as being free from quarantine, eliminating PCR-tests upon arrival, as well as expanding visas on arrival for 43 countries including Australia.

"I see this revival is in front of our eyes, the recovery of the tourism sector and the creative economy and of course the creation of jobs for the community," said Sandiaga Uno.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana said that his party appreciated the Menparekraf and his staff who had given extraordinary attention to the people of Bali.

The previous COVID-19 pandemic had stopped tourism so that it had a huge impact on Bali's economy. Even Bali's economic growth rate was minus 12.21 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Therefore, with several policies carried out by the government in this case Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf, the revival of the tourism sector and the creative economy in Bali in particular can be realized soon.

“A few days ago I also monitored the activities of the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy during a visit to Australia and I am happy because he also spoke with friends in Australia to provide understanding, understanding and assurance that in Indonesia, especially in Bali, it is safe. Bali is ready to welcome back tourists like before COVID-19," he said.