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REGARDING the plans for several Super Priority Destinations or tourist attractions to open in the midst of a pandemic, it is considered awry. Because by opening tourist attractions, there will be an opportunity for the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, if it is not opened, the community in the tourism and creative economy will be affected by the longer term, especially related to the economy.
According to the Center for Environmental and Population Health at Griffith University, Australia, Dicky Budiman, during the Weekly Press Briefing, Monday (8/30) said Indonesia was still in a period of crisis (pandemic). The Delta variant of the crisis period averaged 10-12 weeks. If we count for Java-Bali, the end of September is the end of the crisis period, and we can say that we are also strengthening the 3T, 5M and vaccination response.
“This 3T hasn’t been better. Though 3T is important and major. That is why it must be strengthened by finding cases. Even if there is no testing, it doesn’t matter where the person is found and isolated or quarantined, including tracking. That has to be done,” he said.
Indonesia is still in a crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dicky continued, but what are the strategies and programs prepared by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy so that travel remains safe during this pandemic.
“What is clear is that the implementation of strict and disciplined health protocols and vaccinations are the main programs that the Tourism Ministry continues to run. Because tourism will only be able to move when health can be met. Besides that, the Ministry of Tourism also continues to strengthen the readiness of tourism players and the creative economy to be able to welcome the era of adapting new habits,” Dicky Budiman underlined.
He also explained, the government had prepared a road map to be able to coexist with COVID-19. And those two things (health protocols and vaccinations) are the main things. Are there examples of countries that have opened tourist attractions even though the number of COVID-19 spreads is still ongoing? Or are you waiting for it to be controlled before the tourist access is opened for both foreign and domestic tourists?
“Well, each country has its own policy in an effort to reopen tourism. Thailand is one that has reopened the “tap” of foreign tourists to some of its destinations. But basically, controlling the COVID-19 pandemic remains a major concern. Likewise with Indonesia. Where the reopening of tourism and the creative economy is carried out by looking at the developments in handling COVID-19 in their respective regions by local governments,” said Dicky.
He concluded that because of that, I never stop inviting the public to apply strict and disciplined health protocols and vaccinations as an effort to reduce numbers spread of COVID-19. [traveltext.id]
