The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) from Gianyar has urged the central government to reopen the travel corridor for international tourists and requested financial loans for hotels. The Head of Gianyar PHRI, Pande Adit, explained that the government should consider options to advance the reopening, including PCR testing on arrival and free quarantine for all international visitors.
Adit used United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an example as they recently made the decision to reopen borders, influencing a positive result on their economy.
“We can learn from what the UAE has done, they already opened their borders to travelers while providing PCR testing upon arrival to ensure that they are free from COVID-19. UAE understood that tourism is the sector that will help their people to survive, especially after realizing that they might run out of oils in the future,” Pande Adit said.
Adit added that the government needs to provide quarantine facilities to accommodate those confirmed positive with COVID-19 after getting tested.
In reference to hotels, Adit stated that many accommodation businesses in Gianyar are resorting to selling their assets in order to survive the economic crisis in Bali and urged the government to provide soft loans.
Accordingly, he requested the government allow a two year pay-back period for the first instalment.
“If the hotels have to pay the installment right away, it would become a burden for them. So I think the solution is to reopen the border for international visitors so they will be able to pay off their loans and create some economic activity,” Pande concluded.
Evidently, the crisis has destroyed many businesses in Bali due to lack of tourism leaving them unable to pay their cost of maintenance, electricity, and staff salary.
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Tracy Baulch
Monday 15th of February 2021
I'm curious. What measures have the Indonesian government taken to protect tourists and their local communities against the corona virus.???? To warrant opening borders
Wayan Bo
Monday 15th of February 2021
International tourismus industry will stay more or less closed, at least for a longer while. - Green energy, geothermal energy, especially for production of green hydrogen are interesting things to think about. - 100 years ago are people also living without tourism.
Brian
Monday 15th of February 2021
Absolutely! Enough of the enforced nannying of the entire population. Let's do whatever it takes to get the economy re-booted, and lift the locals out of their depression. The Government has admitted that lockdowns and restrictions have not been effective, so let's lift them. Let the weak and infirm keep a safe distance, but the rest of the world get back to living life.
Elly jaya
Monday 15th of February 2021
The Indonesian government has to realise that if people in bali don’t die from covid they will die of starvation. With proper testing & quarantine tourists should be allowed in for the survival of the island & its people. The balinese people deserve to preserve this beautiful island. As for aust who wants to be here. Freedom is lost, it’s so expensive, it’s so stressful & life is so hard. I am eventually with gods help move to bali.
Christine Bagnall
Monday 15th of February 2021
Personally I totally agree. Must wear a mask everyone must. Get the economy moving. Does everyone agree? Stay home if you don't