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THE Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy considers the tourism sector in Bintan, Riau Islands, as one of the destinations that is ready to implement health protocols to welcome the new normality order.
According to the Deputy for Tourism Products and Events of the Ministry of Tourism, Rizki Handayani, during a webinar with the theme of community-based tourism in Bintan in dealing with new normal conditions, explained, this Bintan is a destination that is ready to open if Singapore has opened its border area. But to deal with this, all tourism stakeholders in Bintan must really prepare the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and health guidelines.
“Because we know in the tourist area of Lagoi and its surroundings, this SOP has been implemented. But we need to prepare health standards to welcome tourists so that when they come they feel safe while traveling in Bintan,” she said.
Rizki Handayani said the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on changes in the tourism sector. First the market, then the second is the destination itself, where changes in the destination can be seen from the attractions, access and amenities sectors.
In terms of market, continued Rizki, it will also experience changes in terms of both quantity and segment or quality. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister of tourism had planned the tourism sector in the future to transform and emphasize quality tourism.
“In the future there will be three travel scenarios, the first is travel defense or those who travel without thinking about the current conditions, the most important thing is they travel. This is very worrying because this pandemic is not over. Then travel phobias are those who don’t want to go anywhere. Then travel wise, namely a traveler who is very concerned about many aspects and especially the health protocol,” Rizki Handayani noted.
She also explained, SOP was needed as a guide in managing tourist destinations. There is for the subject, namely protocol for workers, tourists, managers, to third parties in this case the tour operator or travel agent. Then the object where not only cleanliness how the object that meets safety standards. It’s not hard to implement it.
Meanwhile the Head of the Bintan Tourism and Culture Office, Ruddy Iskandar, explained that Bintan is now included in the green zone which then becomes an opportunity to develop tourism in Bintan.
“The Ministry of Tourism has also encouraged the tourism sector in Bintan, especially community-based Community Base Tourism (CBT) to immediately move. Community readiness becomes our homework together. When it was opened but the community was not ready it was a concern. Including the community around the tourist attraction,” he finished. [traveltext.id]
