Indonesia is set to reopen its borders to international arrivals this July, following an announcement by the country’s President and an official press release from the Ministry of Tourism, released on Wednesday (2/6). The first phase of reopening will include key tourism destinations, including Bali, Batam and Bintan. These locations have been described as ‘locomotive’ regions, which are expected to drive a nationwide tourism revival in the months ahead.
In preparation for the reopening, the Indonesian government has been taking steps to safeguard tourism activities from the potential risks associated with Covid-19. Indonesia has already completed a widespread vaccination programme targeting workers in the tourism industry, along with residents in key locations and transport hubs. A combination of state and private vaccination programmes for the general public are currently ongoing.
To ensure the safety of returning travellers, the government has also initiated the Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability (CHSE) certification programme, which has been implemented throughout the tourism sector. Last July, Indonesia was awarded the Safe Travels stamp by the World Travel & Tourism Council, developed in partnership with the WHO and the CDC.
As one of the leading DMCs in Indonesia, Panorama Destination has been awarded ‘Excellence’ status by MOTCE, having successfully fulfilled 91% of the indicators in the CHSE programme. We have also partnered with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to implement ‘Safe Travels’ protocols in all operations. These SOP from WTTC cover a range of sectors, including hospitality, attractions, outdoor retail, aviation, airports, cruises, convention centres and MICE.
The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy announced plans to revive inbound tourism during Arabian Travel Market Dubai 2021 on 2 June, 2021. “By participating in ATM Dubai 2021,” explained Indonesia’s Deputy of Minister for Tourism Marketing Nia Niscaya this week, “we are demonstrating that Indonesia is confident of maintaining its position as a world-class destination.”
Travellers from the Middle East are a key source market for Indonesian tourism; in 2019, the archipelago saw a 28% year-on-year increase in arrivals from the region, with a total of 263,923 visitors making the trip. With borders set to reopen and travel infrastructure ready to get back in business, Indonesia can expect to welcome even more arrivals in 2021.
