JAKARTAADAILY.ID – Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Industry, Sandiaga Uno said Indonesia is very ready to welcome foreign tourists, including tourists from China.
The COVID-19 pandemic situation is under control, even the level of immunity of the Indonesian people is above 98 percent. In addition, Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday, December 30, 2022, officially revoked the Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM).
Therefore, the Chinese Government's policy to open the border to tourists on January 8, 2023, was positively welcomed by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga, followed by the implementation of the CHSE protocol.
Currently, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Circular Number 25 dated September 1, 2022, for the Regulation of Foreign Travelers (PPLN) is still in place. However, related ministries and agencies are still coordinating to formulate the best policy.
"In welcoming Chinese tourists, we do it in principle, of course, open with full caution," Sandiaga said in a written statement on Tuesday, January 5, 2022.
Sandiaga said there had been several requests from Chinese international airlines to open direct flights to Jakarta and Bali, such as Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern. It is hoped that national airlines such as Garuda, Lion Air, and Batik can fulfill direct flight requests as well.
Also Read: I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport Recorded 2,176,004 Foreigners Arriving at Bali in 2022
These direct flights will make it easier for Chinese tourists to come to Indonesia. Because usually Chinese tourists want to go to Bali through Singapore first, then go to Soekarno Hatta Airport using domestic flights to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali. Alternatively, Chinese tourists use direct flights from Singapore to Bali.
The number of foreign tourist visits from China and Hongkong, according to data from BPS only reached 94,924 visits in the period January - October 2022. This number is still relatively small when compared to before the pandemic which touched 2.07 million Chinese tourist visits in 2019.
"Therefore, we are very confident that the target for Chinese tourists this year (2023) of 253 thousand can be realized," Sandiaga said.
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