34 Balinese travel organisations have petitioned Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, to ease international travel restrictions as the travel industry slides deeper into crisis.
The current restrictions mandate a three day quarantine period for all vaccinated travellers arriving from overseas, and have resulted in mass cancellation of advance bookings and next to no international arrivals since borders reopened last month.
The petition comes as the central government prepares to introduce a partial lockdown across the country to slow the movement of people over the Christmas holiday period.
Java and Bali have been at the centre of major outbreaks for two years running as citizens ignored stay at home orders proceeding the holy month of Ramadan.
But the Head of the Indonesia Tourism Industry Union (GIPI), Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, believes the travel industry is at breaking point as tourists choose destinations such as Thailand over Bali.
“The tourism sector has collapsed because the government is only prioritizing the health sector and neglecting our economy. We’ve been suffering greatly since we don’t have international visitors as the majority of the Bali population is dependent on them” he said.
As well as calling for an easing of restrictions, Adnyana has requested the President provide financial support for struggling businesses.
Source – The Bali Sun