Bali

Bali’s Governor, I Wayan Koster, has responded to the rumours that international flights to and from Bali will open on 1^st December 2020, derived from social media messages that stated so. He explained that the plan is still only at the stage of a study by the central government.

“It’s being discussed with the coordinating minister and the Minister of Transportation,” the governor said.

In the message, it was stated that there had been a direction from the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment to the Directorate General of Health, in an effort to restore the national economy, especially in Bali, by increasing tourism on the island.

Other reasons for opening international flights immediately are to restore Bali’s economic condition and to improve imports and exports. Many small- and medium-sized enterprises (UMKM) products are usually shipped via international

Bali Regional Secretary and a spokesperson from the Bali COVID-19 Task Force, Dewa Made Indra, also explained that the opening of Bali’s international flights is still under review by the central and regional governments.

“IF WE WERE ALLOWED, INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS WOULD HAVE BEEN OPENED ALREADY, BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT TO MOVE OUR ECONOMY. BUT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS EVALUATING OUR LEVEL OF READINESS SO THAT WHEN IT IS OPENED, THERE WILL NOT BE AN INCREASE IN COVID-19 CASES,” HE SAID.

Furthermore, Head of Bali Provincial Tourism Office Putu Astawa claimed that he had not received official information regarding the plan to open international flights to and from Bali.

However, on one occasion, Putu also asked the central government to announce the opening to foreign tourists into Indonesia, particularly to Bali, ahead of time so that the Bali Provincial Government can be prepared before implementing the policy.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, recently stated that the Indonesian government is aiming to make Bali into a green zone in early 2021, following large-scale vaccination in the third week of December. Foreign tourists’ confidence in Bali’s security from COVID-19 is also a consideration.

Resume of Socialization from the Health Office *

Day: Friday, 6 November 2020
from Dr. Terawan Agus Putranto; RI Health Director / Ministery

Following up on directions from the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment to the Directorate General of Health, in an effort to restore the national economy, especially Bali by increasing tourism in Bali, the Minister released the following plan, translated from Bahasa Indonesian.

Several concrete steps will be taken by the government, as a commitment to improve the people’s economy.

1. Opening International flights to and from Bali, which will be planned
   starting December 1, 2020. And it is hoped that all stakeholders and shareholders will join hands in the success of the government’s agenda.
2. Prepare supporting facilities and infrastructure in Bandar Ngurah Rai along with other related units, especially matters relating to health protocols.
3. Creating a safe and comfortable atmosphere for foreign tourists visiting Bali, eliminating the stiff atmosphere, bureaucratic atmosphere and tense atmosphere (no TNI or Polri apparatus) in order to attract and give the impression that Bali is a cool, pleasant and welcome place and ready to welcome the arrival of foreign tourists while still enforcing health protocols, (Keep Distance, wear masks and wash hands). That Covid 19 is a common disease, just like the flu, or fever need not be excessive
4. There will be simulations starting from the arrival of passengers, the SWEB / PCR checkpoint at arrival, how long it will take the scanning process to arrive at the passenger pick-up point. This simulation will be carried out tomorrow, Saturday, November 7, 2020, together with the Airport and Airport Authority (AP 1) and Otband together with the Headquarters Health team.
5. Implement * DIGITALIZATION SYSTEM * on the SWB / PCR examination system, in order to detect earlier and more accurately verify misuse such as fake data, expired data, also avoid long queues of passengers when they arrive with QR-Code, so that passengers can go directly to the hotel.
6. Prepare hotel accommodation according to the needs and number of passengers, to wait for the results of the intended SWEB / PCR. The results of the SWEB / PCR will be known 3-4 hours after the test is carried out.
7. The SWEB / PCR test results will be sent to passengers at temporary accommodation hotels by KKP officers. The SWEB / PCR test fees and hotel accommodation will be borne by the passengers themselves. The Denpasar KKP was asked to prepare hotels, starting from 2 hotels, then 4 hotels or 10 hotels according to the needs and number of arriving passengers.
   If the test results are stated positive, then the passenger will be isolated by the government at the cost of being borne by the passenger himself, in this connection to ensure insurance for each passenger.
8. As an effort to accelerate, a * Mobile Laboratory * will be prepared to carry out the SWEB / PCR checking process, and will also appoint seven (07) laboratories in Bali, parallel while waiting for the construction of a permanent supporting laboratory in Bali.
9. The Mobile Laboratory will be sent to Bali immediately, its placement will be further arranged. Indo Farma as a state-owned company engaged in providing pharmaceutical facilities, in order to support the smooth running of the above stages and processes.
10. Transit passengers should make a special route by the airport authorities so that they do not come into contact with arriving passengers, and transit passengers do not need a SWEB / PCR test.
11. Tell passengers that the E-HAC must be enforced before landing the data has been submitted.
12. AP 1 and Otband, are ready to support and oversee the steps and government programs launched.

So there you have it. A piece of cake.

I am sure that the process will be as smooth as any of the great triumphs that the airport is now famous for rolling out. Of course there will be hiccups, but any system would have its own bugs that need working out.

So book your flights and get ready to Come Back to Lombok!🙏