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COORDINATING Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the government did not want to open up tourism in Bali without limits, especially as the COVID-19 cases on the Island of the Gods continued to increase.
“I think we also don’t want to open the Bali tourists immediately without limits. Earlier I just called the Governor of Bali, so we will limit it,” he said at a virtual press conference on handling COVID-19.
Luhut added, who also serves as Deputy Chair of the Policy Committee for the Control of COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery, that the restrictions imposed, for example, require visitors to Bali using a car to be able to carry out a rapid antigen test.
“For example, from Jakarta, now the incoming car must be able to get a domestic-made rapid antigen test so that the industry will sell it too. If we run it, later I think it will also reduce the spread,” he noted.
Bali is one of the provinces with the largest cases of COVID-19, where Luhut was asked to carry out strict supervision in handling its spread. Apart from Bali, there are DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, North Sumatra and Papua which are the focus areas for handling COVID-19.
Following efforts to suppress cases in the province, the government will strictly implement health protocols and limit a number of community activities even though they are not as extreme as before so that the economy can continue to spin.
“Now in Bali, religious events are reduced, offerings are temporarily reduced, offices are also reduced. Tourists are also reducing it for the past two weeks, perhaps not being closed as before (in total) so that the economy is still moving,” he affirmed.
On the other hand, the government will also encourage improvement in hospital management, including the management of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) so that the death rate can be reduced. Likewise, the rate of recovery can increase as ordered by President Jokowi.
“Just recently reported by the Governor, (the rate of recovery) has increased sharply since then (activity restrictions) were carried out. Previously, Bali tourism had indeed been opened to domestic tourists since July 31,” Luhut concluded. [antaranews/photo special]
