Bali to reopen tourism for domestic tourists, Minister Wishnutama says tourism is a business of trust

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 08:59 am

Bali Tourism will be re-opened to domestic tourists on July 31. Previously, on July 9, the Balinese government opened stages of a gradual and limited recovery of community economic activity.

The toughest challenge for entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, including hotels to rise from the Covid-19 pandemic, is to build the confidence of tourists to come and maintain trust.

Therefore, all preparatory efforts that have been made will be in vain if there is found a cluster or a new Covid-19 explosion.

“I often say, trust is the new currency. If you do not believe, guests do not come. That is the main core,” said Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association (IHGMA) Bali I Nyoman Astama as quoted by CNBC Indonesia, Monday, July 27.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama Kusubandio reminded that tourism actors prioritize health, safety, and comfort aspects to tourists.

Similar to I Nyoman, Minister Wishnutama also reminded the business of trust that lies in tourism that will be reopened.

“Tourism is a business of trust. Therefore, the tourism sector and creative economy actors in Bali must be able to implement health protocols so that they can build tourists’ trust in security when visiting Bali,” Wishnutama said in a written statement, Tuesday, July 28.

Wishnutama explained that the government has implemented various assistance programs for tourism and creative economy actors. Among them are social assistance, tax relaxation, business bailout funds through the State-Owned Bank Association (Himbara) worth Rp10 billion, up to discounted flights and travel packages.

Domestic tourists who want to go to Bali must be free of COVID-19 by showing a certificate of negative results of the PCR-based swab test, minimum results of the non-reactive rapid tests from the authorized agency.

The validity period of a negative PCR-based swab test or non-reactive rapid test results for a visit to Bali is no later than 14 days after the certificate is issued.

“For tourists who have shown a valid certificate, no longer required to do a swab or rapid test, unless experiencing clinical symptoms COVID-19,” said Head of the Office of Communication, Information and Statistics of the Province of Bali, Gede Pramana, as quoted by Antara on Wednesday, July 29.

“However, tourists who cannot show the letter, are obliged to take a PCR-based swab test or rapid test in Bali,” he continued.

Before leaving for Bali, every tourist is obliged to fill in the LOVEBALI application. LOVEBALI application instructions can be accessed on the page https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id.

Tourism accommodation businesses in Bali must ensure that every customer has filled out the LOVEBALI application.

In addition to using masks, maintaining physical distance, and washing hands, tourists are also required to activate the Global Positioning System (GPS) function on their cellphones.

Furthermore, the third phase is planned to be carried out on September 11, 2020, by opening the tourism sector in full and has begun to open for foreign tourist visits.