DENPASAR, Bali (BPN) – Deputy Governor of Bali Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati (Cok Ace) ensured the Indian market that Bali tourism is ready to implement the new normal according to health protocols and COVID-19 prevention protocols.
“Currently the tourism industry has implemented the COVID-19 health and prevention protocols, it’s not just to protect tourists, but also tourism workers,” he explained in a webinar held by the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday.
Cok Ace explained the government with tourism associations have prepared a new normal certificate for the tourism industry.
“Tourism industries such as hotels, restaurants, travel agents, and transportation can apply for the certificate and be verified by the Tourism Office. And to get this certificate tourism industries must meet the standards set by WHO, namely Cleanliness, Safety and Health (CSH),” he added.
According to him, this will guarantee tourists’ comfort while traveling in Bali in the middle of this pandemic.
He also added Bali’s facilities and infrastructures are sufficient to support the new normal era. According to him, COVID-19 referral hospitals are available and ready with adequate facilities and reliable health workers.
Deputy Governor Cok Ace hoped that Indian tourist will be traveling to Bali again, since, before the pandemic, India became one of the countries contributes the most tourists to Bali.
“Before the pandemic, there were many direct flights from Bali to various cities in India. I hope in the new normal era, tourism cooperation from both sides can be increased,” he said.
While Mumbai Consul General Agus P. Saptono said Bali was chosen as the theme of the webinar, because the island is the icon of Indonesian tourism and a major destination for foreign tourists, especially for Indian tourists.
“In addition, Bali is also designated by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy as a pilot project for the implementation of new normal tourism in Indonesia,” he added.
According to him, the tourism sector is important because this sector can support other economic sectors. Besides, tourism has contributed significantly to the Indonesian economy.
“Tourism has contributed around 4 to 9 percent of income to the country by absorbing more than 11 million workers in Indonesia,” he explained.
Thus, he believed this sector should be driven again, especially in Bali, which relies on tourism as the highest income.
Norma Aulia from Garuda Indonesia said the company welcomed the plans for Bali and India to re-establish cooperation in the tourism sector. He said Garuda Indonesia is ready to support the plan by opening direct flights from Bali and India.
 - Deputy Governor of Bali Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati (Cok Ace) ensured the Indian market that Bali tourism is ready to implement the new normal according to health protocols and COVID-19 prevention protocols.){kind=link}