The government has decided not to open tourist destinations in Bali yet as the risk of COVID-19 transmission lingers. Antara/Fikri Yusuf via The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network
JAKARTA — The Indonesian government has decided not to open tourist destinations in Bali yet as the risk of COVID-19 transmission lingers.
National COVID-19 task force chief Doni Monardo said on Wednesday that he had discussed the possibility of opening some tourist destinations in Bali during the transition to the “new normal” with Bali Governor Wayan Koster, and both agreed not to do it.
“The result of our discussions with several regional leaders, including the Bali governor, was that we have decided not to open Bali yet,” Doni said in a hearing with House of Representatives Commission X overseeing tourism.
Doni said he wanted the local government to prepare a plan to anticipate the virus.
“We want Bali to have a special protocol from other regions, especially in monitoring people [to determine] if they should be allowed to take tours in Bali,” he said.
Doni suggested that the Bali administration prepare PCR machines at the airport and ports.
Some cities and regencies on the island are red zones and some are orange zones. Areas categorized as red zones have a high risk of COVID-19 transmission. Orange zones have a moderate COVID-19 risk.