VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

China's new coronavirus outbreak has made the Indonesia Tour and Travel Agency Association (ASITA) concerned with slowing demand for tour packages as several countries have reported cases of infection, Head of the ASITA-Yogyakarta Chapter Udhi Sudiyanto said.

"Despite the absence of significant cancels, the demands for tour packages this month and next months may get decreased compared to those in the previous months," he told journalists in Yogyakarta on Tuesday.

This situation indicated that many foreign tourists still wait and see the development of this novel coronavirus that has killed at least 106 people in China, he said, adding that travel agencies become one of the tourism industry players that get impacted.

Travelers need safety, security, and comfortability. Therefore, the government and other related stakeholders of the tourism industry are expected to do everything necessary to ensure that both domestic and foreign tourists coming to Yogyakarta feel safe and comfortable, he said.

As part of the government's precautionary measures, a thermal scanner has been installed in Yogyakart's airport but the government is expected to be more serious in monitoring the travelers from China on their arrivals and departures so that they can be handled immediately and properly if something unexpected occurs.

Udhi Sudiyanto admitted that China is one of the primary markets for Yogyakarta's tourism industry.

Chinese authorities declared the first case of coronavirus after a person with pneumonia was hospitalized in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, according to an official statement of the WHO.

Over the past weeks, people, with symptoms of pneumonia and reported travel history to Wuhan, had been identified at international airports.

This novel coronavirus has, so far, claimed at least 106 lives in China, while several other countries, such as Thailand, Australia, Singapore, the United States, Japan, and Canada, have announced their confirmed cases.

However, none of the confirmed cases were found in Indonesia. Apart from this reality, since the issuance of an official statement by the WHO on the coronavirus outbreak in China, the Indonesian government has remained on alert.

As part of its precautionary measures, thermal scanners have been installed at various airports around the archipelago for screening international passengers. The thermal scanners are aimed at detecting any foreign tourists symptomatic with this novel coronavirus.

Several hospitals in Indonesia's big cities have also made necessary preparations to handle those with suspected coronavirus symptoms. (ANTARA)