According to an official on Friday, Indonesia is planning to reopen Bali province to foreign tourists in July.
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the government will also prepare a travel corridor, or travel bubble, with other countries to boost tourism arrivals.
“We have to set up the same parameters to establish reciprocal travel bubbles with other countries,” Luhut said at a virtual news conference for the 2021 Bali Investment Forum.
As information, Indonesia closed its borders last year to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
But, the exceptions were given to those who had special permission from Indonesian ministries or institutions. Indonesia saw a 75% decline in foreign tourists in 2020.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Angela Tanoesoedibjo said there would be requirements for countries that wanted to establish a travel corridor with Indonesia.
The countries must be able to keep infection rates under control and maintain significant vaccination progress.
Indonesia will also consider the availability of direct flights that connect Bali to those countries to reduce the risk of transmission.
“We will prioritize the quality of tourists in terms of longer duration of stay and higher expenditure,” she said.
