VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. Statistics Indonesia (BPS)-Aceh Office has recorded no foreign tourist arrivals in the province since early this year on account of travel restrictions for international travelers in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In February, 2020, BPS recorded 4,030 foreign tourist arrivals in Aceh, but in February this year, there were no arrivals, BPS-Aceh Office head Ihsanurrijal said in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, on Thursday.

"Thus, the enforcement of restrictions on international flights and sea transportation has resulted in the absence of foreign tourist arrivals in Aceh," he explained.

In February last year, the countries that contributed to foreign tourist arrivals in Aceh were Malaysia, China, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, the United States, Singapore, United Kingdom, and Thailand, among others.

The cumulative figure of foreign travelers visiting the province in January and February, 2020 was recorded at 8,012 people. Majority of them were Malaysian citizens.

Aceh, Indonesia's westernmost province, lies on the northernmost tip of Sumatra Island. It is rich in historical and cultural heritage objects as well as natural beauty.

The city of Sabang, for instance, is renowned for its well-protected forest, "kilometer-zero" monument representing Indonesia's starting point, sandy beaches, and underwater beauty, with abundant snorkeling and diving spots.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sabang was one of the popular tourist destinations on Sumatra Island among domestic and foreign visitors as well as international sailors.

Located on Weh Island, Sabang has been frequented by tourists, including those aboard international cruise ships and yachts.

Aceh and other provinces have been striving to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since the Indonesian government officially announced the country's first cases on March 2, 2020.

The government has rolled out a nationwide vaccination program this year to arrest the spread of infections.

According to the Health Ministry, it would take 15 months to vaccinate around 181.5 million people under the national program.

Indonesia's COVID-19 infection rate crossed one million cases on January 26, 2021.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease has dragged Indonesia into serious public health and economic crises.

Tourism has been among the economic sectors severely-affected by COVID-19 in the country. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. The Indonesian government has reiterated its commitment to address climate change and willingness to co-chair the UK-led 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties’ (COP26) Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, conveyed this after a bilateral meeting with UK Minister for Pacific and the Environment, Lord Zac Goldsmith, here on Thursday.

During the meeting, Hartarto welcomed the UK's recognition of Indonesia's commitment to improve bilateral cooperation, especially on the climate change issue.

The minister said he hoped the two countries would play their role to produce useful recommendations for all parties during the FACT Dialogue. Indonesia will be represented by Deputy Minister of Forestry and Environment, Alue Dohong, at the dialogue.

"Indonesia is ready to play its role in the meeting, in the capacity of co-chair. We asserted the importance for us to have a common vision and understanding to reach a common benefit," Hartarto remarked.

With regard to the climate change issue, Hartarto assured that Indonesia is committed to implementing the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), stipulated in the Paris Agreement, and reaching the target set under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Under the NDC, Indonesia has committed to cut greenhouse emissions by 29 percent through its own efforts, and by 41 percent with the support of the international community, in 2030.

"Addressing the climate change impact is a challenging task, because it would need multilateral cooperation and comprehensive efforts," Hartarto said.

Thursday’s meeting between Hartarto and Goldsmith was held as part of preparations for the visit of the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Dominic Raab, to Indonesia from April 6-8 this year.

During his visit, Raab is scheduled to extend an invitation to President Joko Widodo to attend the COP26 session in Glasgow, Scotland in November, 2021. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Indonesia's inflation rose 0.08 percent in March, 2021, bringing the calendar year inflation to 0.44 percent and year-on-year inflation rate to 1.37 percent, according to  Statistics Indonesia (BPS).

"March inflation was fueled by bird eye chili and onion, which contributed 0.04 percent and 0.02 percent (respectively, to inflation)," BPS deputy chief for distribution and service statistics, Setianto, said here on Thursday.

Pure-bred chicken meat, garlic, fresh fish, preserved fish, and domestic help's wages contributed 0.01 percent each to the March, 2021 inflation, he informed.

However, the prices of several commodities declined, with cars contributing 0.03 percent, gold jewelry and red chili 0.02 percent, and rice 0.01 percent to deflation, he added.

The foods, beverages, and tobacco group rose 0.40 percent, contributing 0.10 percent to inflation, Setianto said.

Spending in other groups remained flat and did not contribute to inflation due to its small impact, including the housing, water, electricity, and household fuel groups, he added.

Three groups of spending recorded deflation — the personal care and other services group, the information, communication, and financial services group, and the transportation group, according to the BPS.

Of the 90 cities surveyed by BPS for the consumer price index (IHK), 58 cities recorded inflation and 32 cities witnessed deflation in March, 2021.

The highest inflation of 1.07 percent was recorded in Jayapura and the lowest inflation of 0.01 percent was recorded in Tangerang and Banjarmasin.

The highest deflation of 0.99 percent was recorded in Baubau and the lowest deflation of 0.01 percent was recorded in Palopo, the agency stated.

The movement of inflation was almost the same as last year when it remained flat ahead of the fasting month of Ramadhan, according to the BPS.

The calendar inflation was recorded 0.76 percent and year-on-year inflation was listed at 2.96 percent in 2020. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (LHK) has reopened Mount Rinjani on Lombok Island and Mount Tambora on Sumbawa Island in West Nusa Tenggara to climbers and tourists since April 1, 2021.

Climbing tourism activities at the two sites had earlier been closed since January 1, 2021, due to inhospitable weather in the mountains that endanger human life, the ministry noted in a statement here on Thursday,

Head of the Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR) Dedy Asriady stated that the reopening of the two volcanoes was based on the directions of the Director General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems (KSDAE) of the Ministry of LHK.

"Climbing activities at Mount Rinjani are still limited to a maximum quota of 50 percent of the normal capacity, and the length of the climbers' stay is only three days and two nights," he remarked.

Tourists keen on conducting climbing activities should place an order for climbing tickets through the e-Rinjani application downloadable via the Playstore.

The TNGR Hall also enforces stringent COVID-19 health protocols on tourists, right from the entrance, at the tourist sites, and while leaving the national park area.

"The implementation of health protocols while conducting tourism activities at the TNGR area during the new normal period of the COVID-19 pandemic is in accordance with the direction of the director general of KSDAE," Asriady stated.

Meanwhile, Head of the Tambora National Park, Yuniadi, noted that the Mount Tambora climbing tours will also be started on April 1, 2021.

Every climber visiting Mount Tambora must adhere to the health protocols to stem the transmission of COVID-19 and carry a corona-free certificate.

"Every climber arriving by plane is required to conduct a free re-check for COVID-19 from hospitals, clinics/puskesmas (community health centers) in Bima and Dompu," he stated.

Yuniadi noted that the number of climbers reached a maximum of 30 percent of the normal capacity of the national park area. The climbers are only allowed to stay for three days and two nights in the area.

Every climber must register at every entrance to the climbing route and pay the entrance ticket to the Tambora National Park area according to the government-outlined provisions.

"We also remind climbers to always maintain cleanliness and not to commit acts of vandalism or other activities that disrupt the ecosystem of the national park area," he stated. (Antaranews)