JAKARTA, Feb 28 (NNN-ANTARA) – The Indonesian government will conduct a trial on receiving international travellers without quarantine, in the country’s resort island of Bali, beginning Mar 14, under certain conditions, a senior minister said yesterday.
The trial may be launched before Mar 14, if the government sees positive development in the next one week, for the continued downward trend in the COVID-19 cases in Bali, coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, told a virtual press conference.
Foreign visitors have to show proof of hotel booking payments, for at least four days, if they want to enter Bali, while Indonesians who arrive in the holiday island from abroad, are required to show proof of domicile in the Goddess island, said Panjaitan, who is also coordinator of the public mobility restrictions (PPKM) policy, for Java and Bali.
International travellers should have been fully vaccinated, or received booster jabs, besides conducting entry PCR tests, and waiting at hotels for negative test results, he said.
“If the tests show negative results, the international travellers are allowed to do other activities under health protocols,” the Indonesian official said, adding that, they should also carry out PCR tests again, on the third day, at their hotels.
In addition, the requirement to have a guarantor sponsor for tourist e-visa requests will be revoked, because it is considered burdensome for foreign tourists, he said.
He pointed out that, Bali was chosen as the pilot project location, because the rate of two-dose vaccination in the province is higher than in other provinces. If the trial in Bali is successful, the government will expand the non-quarantine policy across Indonesia, on Apr 1, or sooner.– NNN-ANTARA
