By Contributor - March 4, 2021
Indonesiaâs Island of the Gods hopes to reopen to foreign travelers under a new scheme that will restrict their movements to certain areas.
Photo: Sebastian Pena Lambarri/Unsplash
Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has said that several of Indonesiaâs ministers have backed his plan to set up a âCovid-free corridorâ for domestic and international visitors, encompassing southern Baliâs Nusa Dua enclave and the cultural heart of Ubud. He made the announcement during a virtual press conference hosted by the Indonesian health ministry earlier this week.
However, the timeline for this scheme is dependent on the speed of the islandâs vaccine rollout. Provincial authorities in Bali are now prioritizing those in the tourism industry to accelerate the reopening of international travel. According to Koster, around 50,000 local residents and workers in Ubud will need to receive the jabs, while another 10,000 people working in tourism in Nusa Dua must also be inoculated against the virus. A total of 120,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine will be required, and the governor hopes that vaccination efforts will be completed later this month, with the aim of welcoming domestic visitors in May. âIf this is successful,â Koster said to tourism minister Sandiaga Uno, who was also in attendance, âwe hope to start opening up to foreign tourists of several countries with the same treatment, being vaccinated and so on.â