VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

As the number of positive cases of Covid-19 continues to decline, the Indonesian government has set the opening of international flights on October 14. The Ministry of Transportation has also confirmed the readiness of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of the opening of international flights. The simulation of various services at the international arrival terminal has been carried out in detail.

The Ministry also stated that all service facilities are available and operating well at the international arrival terminals. Matters related to facilities for health protocols are also available. 35 hotels have been alerted for quarantine for new arrivals.

Foreign media have also been busy reporting plans to open international flights in Bali, such as CNN, New York Times, Bloomberg, Japan Today and Xinhua. Even since last week, the Chinese media has introduced the term PPKM or the Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities as restrictions on the movement of local people imposed in Indonesia. In recent years, China has been the largest contributor of foreign tourists, especially to Bali. Every year, no less than 2.5 million Chinese tourists visit Indonesia.

Thus, the world community longs for a vacation to Bali. However, only 18 countries are allowed to enter Indonesia. This does not include Singapore, because the country has not met the WHO level 1 and 2 alert requirements. This is the statement of the Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in his press statement Monday (11/10). The government's plan is also sure to be a breath of fresh air for the people of Bali in particular. The province's economic activities have been hit hardest during the nearly two-year Covid-19 pandemic. Because the income is mostly from the tourism sector.

However, airport readiness is not enough. The arrival of foreign tourists in Bali must also be handled carefully by all Balinese people. Strict health protocols must still be enforced in every house, street, restaurant and tourism destination. The safety of the public and tourists is the most important aspect, because the Covid-19 pandemic has not shaken off.