The Indonesian government has scrapped plans to implement public activity and travel restrictions across the country during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Around 11 million people are expected to travel during the Christmas and New Year holidays, according to a recent survey by the Transportation Ministry.
This has been facilitated by the government’s decision to cancel its earlier plan to impose public activity and travel restrictions during the holiday period
The government had previously issued a new regulation which included imposing Level 3 public activity restrictions as well as calling on the public to refrain from traveling during the festive period.
Under the regulation, which was issued by Home Minister Tito Karnavian on Monday, the central government has asked regional administrations to urge the public to limit their “nonessential” mobility and tighten border restrictions in anticipation of an influx of Indonesian migrant workers returning from abroad over the holiday period.
The regulation was scheduled to be in force between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2, 2022.
But Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister, Luhut Pandjaitan, cited Indonesia’s relatively stable Covid-19 situation and high vaccination rate as the reasons behind the policy change.
He said the government would instead implement curbs based on prevailing conditions in each region.
He also said the government would maintain some of its year-end curbs, including mandating travellers to take Covid-19 tests and banning New Year’s festivities that could see crowds gathering, such as fireworks and parades.
Source – The Jakarta Post