Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno has announced plans to prioritise Indonesian tourism destinations in the nation’s on-going vaccination programme, paving the way for a revival in areas of the archipelago traditionally popular with foreign visitors.
According to a recent statement by Indonesia’s new tourism minister, vaccination resources will be focused on three key destinations: Bali, Batam and Bintan. This trio of locations comprises the most common entry ports for foreign tourists, particularly those arriving from Singapore.
In related news, Indonesia is also working on a new travel bubble with its regional neighbours; Sandiaga is reportedly in discussions with Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan with regards to inking a potential tourism partnership arrangement between the two nations in the near future.
Both countries have imposed tight restrictions on travel in order to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. However, officials are now beginning to consider ways in which these controls could be partially lifted, in order to facilitate a controlled return of international tourism.
“I think it is not impossible to relax it (the tourism restrictions), such as with Singapore,” explained Sandiaga on 20th January. “Because the entry points of tourists from Singapore are Batam and Bintan,” he added. Under the new proposal, these ports would provide the starting point of several travel corridors connecting Indonesia with Singapore.
By focusing vaccine resources and Covid-19 infrastructure on these key locations, the minister believes Indonesia can create a clean and safe tourism bubble, thereby unlocking the international tourism sector sooner rather than later. Due to the continued shutdown in each of these destinations caused by the pandemic, a swift reopening is seen by many as an economic necessity.
“I have negotiated to grant Bali, Jakarta, Batam and Bintan a priority considering that Bali’s economy sees a recession, at minus 4 percent, due to a drop in tourism performance,” explains the minister. “[The tourism in] Batam and Bintan is also paralyzed,” he added.
Indonesia and Singapore continue to make preparations for the new travel corridors, especially with regards to health and safety protocols to be implemented at both ends. Once these details have been finalised, the new bubble system will be officially ready for launch. Further announcements to that effect are expected soon.
