VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

This week's 13th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) in Nusa Dua, Bali, will be an opportunity for Indonesia, especially local governments, and tourism actors to show the readiness of the Island of the Gods to welcome tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We [through the BDF]) want to show Bali is gradually improving and showing its readiness to reopen Bali, of course, because Bali depends a lot on tourism," Teuku Faizasyah, the ministry's spokesman said on Wednesday.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, BDF, a cross-country and inter-institutional forum that has been regularly held every year since 2008 by Indonesia will be held for one full day on December 10, 2020.

Different from the previous implementation, BDF, which has entered its year 13, will use a hybrid format, namely through a physical and virtual meeting. So far, there are 25 heads of delegations from BDF participating countries who have confirmed their presence in Bali.

Of that number, 24 of them are ambassadors and one other person is the head of an international organization representative based in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, there are more than 100 representatives from BDF participating countries who have confirmed their attendance at the virtual meeting.

"The arrival of the ambassadors will be an opportunity for Indonesia to show Bali's readiness to open its tourism sector, especially when the doors on the border are re-opened for foreign tourists," Teuku said.

The move is in line with the government's mission to revive various sectors of the economy, particularly tourism, during and after the pandemic.

Therefore, Indonesia, as the host of the 13th BDF, plans to invite the ambassadors to take a tour of several tourist sites in Bali on December 11, 2020.

Director of Public Diplomacy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yusron B Ambary, said last week the organizers planned to organize a special tour for the heads of delegations to Uluwatu Temple and the Garuda Wisnu Kencana monument.

"We are planning a diplomatic tour, taking advantage of the presence of ambassadors in Bali on December 11. There will be a briefing from the Bali Provincial Government, from tourism actors, and from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We will divide it into two. Participants will visit Pura Uluwatu and Garuda Wisnu Kencana. This is what we are still discussing and we will convey to the diplomatic representatives who will be present in Bali later," Yusron explained during a press conference last week.

Pura Luhur Uluwatu and Garuda Wisnu Kencana are part of the tourist destinations visited by many tourists in Bali. Pura Luhur Uluwatu is located in Pecatu, Badung Regency, Bali, and can be reached in approximately 30 minutes from the event location, while Garuda Wisnu Kencana is in Ungasan, Badung Regency, and can be reached in about 20 minutes from the event location.

Faizasyah, at the meeting last week and Wednesday, ensured that the entire series of Bali Democracy Forum events held in Bali would implement strict health protocols, including the implementation of mandatory wearing of masks, maintaining distance, and personal hygiene.

Not only that, but all participants are also required to take a COVID-19 swab test before participating in the event.

"We limit the room capacity not to exceed 50 people," Teuku said. (Antaranews)