August 27, 2021
Bali will not become an essential traveler's destination during pandemic says tourism minister + Vax rates will drive Bali's reopening + Hopes for soft loans to tourism entrepreneurs dashed + more
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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*Note: The provincial government did not release its infographic by press time.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
“Bali Will Not Become An Essential Traveler's Destination During Covid-19” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has explained the reasons behind not choosing Bali as a destination for essential travelers. An essential traveler is a visit by foreign nationals in the context of essential business trips and official trips. Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said that Bali was not chosen as an essential traveler destination as an effort to protect the Island of the Gods. Visits from abroad to Indonesia are considered to be the trigger for the new transmission of Covid-19. "All of these reasons are to protect Bali because they think there are many triggers for new transmissions from Indonesian migrant workers who return to Indonesia, therefore not accepting essential travelers is an effort to protect Bali," he said on Thursday. "The opening of Bali is a symbol of our awakening and hopefully we can gradually try it out and it can be carried out a few months before the G20 kick-off which takes place in November 2022 or at least the end of the third quarter," he said.
Context: This is the first time we’ve seen the tourism minister refer to a reopening timeframe after the slated July reopening did not eventuate. A few months before the G20 is August 2022, though when he said “at least at the end of the third quarter” it isn’t clear whether he means the third quarter of this year or next year. However, this contradicts other reports that the new targeted timeframe for Bali’s reopening will be tied to the achievement of the vaccination target, which is set for September this year.
“Vaccination Rates Will Drive Reopening of Tourism Destinations” from Antara: Vaccination rates are strongly correlated to the reopening of tourism destinations and creative economic centers, including the opening of the travel corridor arrangements in Bali, Batam, and Bintan, says Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno. "The three main destinations that we will open (for the) travel corridor arrangement are still heading toward the 75-80% completed vaccination prerequisite set as the target," Uno noted on Thursday. The minister remarked that President Joko Widodo had planned to complete that target by the end of September. In addition, he highlighted other preconditions, including the CHSE end-to-end certification and industrial readiness, that should be taken into account for the opening of Batam, Bintan, and Bali. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is targeting to vaccinate 95% of tourism and creative economy players.
“Hopes for Soft Loans to Bali Tourism Entrepreneurs Dashed” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): The dreams of Bali tourism entrepreneurs to get soft loan assistance worth almost Rp. 10 trillion have been dashed. Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said his party had been trying to encourage the provision of soft loans worth almost Rp. 10 trillion so that it could be considered by the National Economic Recovery Committee (PEN). However, the Ministry of Finance and the National Export Development Committee considered that providing loans to Bali tourism entrepreneurs through grant funds was not right on target. The PEN Committee will only provide a budget of Rp. 2.4 trillion in the form of government assistance formulations for tourism businesses.
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Other Headlines
“Indonesians Can Pay for Booster Shot in 2022: Health Minister” from Coconuts Jakarta: As it looks increasingly likely that everyone is going to need a booster shot on top of the (mostly) double-dose COVID-19 jab, the general public in Indonesia will also be able to get theirs starting next year. By that time, though, we would have to pay for it. During a meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) on Wednesday, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin outlined the government’s plans for the distribution of booster shots after the conclusion of the fully-subsidized mass vaccination program. “Up to now, 58 million people have been lucky enough to have received their first jab. And 30 million have received the second shot,” Unlike for the first two shots, the general public will have to fork out some cash for the booster shot. Under President Joko Widodo’s order, the health minister said only low-income citizens whose national healthcare premiums are covered by the government will be eligible to receive full subsidy for their booster shot. “One shot would be US$7 or US$8 each, so it would not exceed IDR100,000. We will open it up to all the vaccine types so the public will be able to choose their booster shot,” Budi said.
Vaccination Update
"Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination Policy Too Soon, Unfair: Experts" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): Experts have criticized the government's policy on proof of COVID-19 vaccination, deeming it "untimely" and "unfair" to the public because Indonesia is still struggling with a low vaccination rate. The policy was introduced earlier this month in several major cities on Java island, and has since been expanded to other regions across the archipelago as the government eased more restrictions. It requires people visiting shopping malls and sport venues to show a digital vaccination record via the government's mobile app PeduliLindungi. Anyone traveling a long distance either by car, train, bus or airplane on the most populous islands of Java and Bali, and in regions imposing level 3 and 4 curbs - the strictest in the four-tiered restriction system - must provide a vaccination cards for their trip. But Diah Saminarsih, senior adviser on gender and youth to the World Health Organization (WHO) director general, said it was too early to implement a vaccine passport policy across all of Indonesia's regions, especially when lots of regions still reported low vaccination rates. "The policy should only be implemented in regions with at least 50% vaccine coverage, and the government should ensure that vaccine supplies in regions are enough."
More...
Nation: “Indonesia to Ramp Up Covid-19 Vaccine Drive, Aims for 50 Million Doses Monthly From September” from The Straits Times
Nation: ”Foreigners in Indonesia’s Jakarta Are Finding It Harder to Get Covid-19 Vaccines Than in Bali“ from The South China Morning Post
Nation: “Indonesian SOEs, Domestic Firms Urged to Optimize Vaccine Development” from Antara
Nation: Indonesian Navy Sets Sail on Maritime Vaccination Drive from Agence France-Presse
Nation: “Indonesia Using Same Vaccine for Both Doses” from Antara
Nation: “Tourist Attractions Must Use PeduliLindungi Tracing App” from Antara
Nation: ”Scars of Papua Conflict Weigh on Covid-19 Vaccine Drive“ from Agence France-Presse
Karangasem: “31 Crew of Fishing Boats Taken to Police With Allegedly Fake Vaccine Certificates” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
West Nusa Tenggara: “Mataram Health Office Aims to Vaccinate 2,000 Pregnant Women” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Authorities Take Hands-off Approach To Hands-on ‘Plus-plus’ Spa” from Coconuts Bali: A spa allegedly offering “plus-plus” services (a euphemism in Indonesia for establishments offering happy ending massages) has reportedly defied COVID-19 restrictions in Bali by remaining open, but it has so far gotten away with it because authorities can’t agree on whose jurisdiction it falls under. Local media alleged that the spa is a front for prostitution. According to witnesses, the establishment has gotten a steady stream of customers even during the Enforcement of PPKM. Even when we ignore the plus-plus allegations for a minute, the fact that it’s been open for business during PPKM should be enough justification for authorities to investigate. And yet officials from Denpasar city and Badung regency have not acted due to a jurisdiction matter.
More...
Province: “Integrated Isolation in Bali Promotes Local Wisdom” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Province: “Community Has a Role in Policing New PCR Tariffs and Using Licensed Labs” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Province: “Saraswati Prayers Limited” from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Denpasar: “Serangan the Only Green Zone in Denpasar” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
Nation: “Green, Digital, Downstream: Jokowi’s New Economic Strategy” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Province: ”Deputy Governor Offers Risk-based Policy to Save Bali's Economy” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Province: “Thousands of PLN Customers in Bali Still Enjoy Electricity Discounts Thanks to Covid-19” from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: “Help Needed for Sangeh's Animals and Nature Parks” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
“Indonesia Can’t Keep Up With Its Covid-19 Cases” from Foreign Policy: Nearly 18 months into the coronavirus pandemic, Indonesia overtook India as Asia’s epicenter of new cases on July 13, with a massive third wave driven by the supercontagious delta variant. Trust in Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s handling of the pandemic has plummeted. This month, the country passed another grim milestone: joining just a few others that have recorded more than 100,000 COVID-19 deaths. Although Indonesia’s new daily cases have dropped significantly in recent weeks, the delta variant is still spreading beyond Java, the most populous island, to remote parts of the archipelago with limited health care infrastructure. The actual number of cases is likely higher than the official data indicates: Indonesia’s testing rate is among the lowest in Southeast Asia, and its daily death toll—down from its worst levels in July—still remains the highest in the world.
"Balinese Ni Nengah Widiasih Wins Indonesia's First Medal at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics" from Kompas (Indonesian): The athlete, who is familiarly called Widi, finished in second place in the women's 41 kg class, lifting 98 kg on her third try. Widi effortlessly lifted 96 kg on her first opportunity, however, was unable to complete the second trial. In her third attempt, Widi again lifted 98 kg. Meanwhile, the gold medal went to an athlete from China, Guo Lingling, and the bronze medal went to Clara Sarahy Fuentes Monasterio (Venezuela). Thanks to this result, Ni Nengah Widiasih has successfully improved on her achievements at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where she received a bronze medal.
“Kiwi and Australian Arrested at Pot Party” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The New Zealander boss of a venue in Sanur was reportedly arrested during a drug party at a house in Sanur alongside an Australian friend. According to reports, the friends were arrested by the police at a marijuana party. Denpasar Police Narcotics Head AKP Losa Lusiano immediately denied the arrests. Despite this a different statement was conveyed by the Director of the Bali Police Narcotics Research Kombespol Mochamad Khozin who checked with the Badung Police and Denpasar Police and confirmed the arrests were made by the Narcotics Investigation Unit.
Some Covid Context
The South East Asia Travel Show Ep 91: 2021: The Year So Far in Indonesia, with Julia Winterflood: Indonesia’s size, scale, and diversity have been decisive factors for its long struggle to contain COVID-19, and the immense logistical challenges of inoculating its people. That said, significant progress is being made, and although the reopening of Bali to international travellers has faded from view for now, a cautious optimism exists for the future. In Part 8 of our 2021: The Year So Far In… series, Gary and Hannah head to Indonesia to chat with Bali-based Julia Winterflood, who is Head Writer of The Bali Beat.
*Note: Click on the embedded player above to listen or open the episode in Spotify. You can also find it in your favorite podcast app by searching for “South East Asia Travel Show,” or you can listen to it on the program’s website here. If you’ve heard a podcast or watched a video that you think can inform issues that we are facing here in Bali, let us know at TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
Weekend Reads
"Indonesia Stuck in the Middle With Its Covid-19 Crisis" from East Asia Forum
“Axie Infinity’s All Work, All Play Model to Rewrite Gig Work in SE Asia” from The Ken (Metered Paywall)
“The Forgotten First People of Singapore” from BBC Travel
“Learning How to Say ‘You’ in Indonesian: Why It’s Time to Embrace Its Complexity” from Melbourne Asia Review
“The Woman on a Mission to Expose Torture in Thailand’s Troubled South” from The Guardian
“Intact DNA From Woman Who Lived 7,200 Years Ago Discovered in Indonesia” from The Guardian
Of Interest
“Balinese Millennials Share Their Thoughts on How to Improve Covid Policies“ from Now Bali
"Indonesia’s Jokowi Approval at 5-Year Low as Covid Hits Growth" from Bloomberg (Metered Paywall)
“Short Film ‘Srikandi’ Showcases Contemporary Take on Wayang” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“Ahead of Saraswati, Lontar Collections at Klungkung’s Semarajaya Museum Cleaned” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
“Three Sumatran Tigers Die in Snare” from Indonesia Expat
“Foreigners Desperate to Surf at Kuta Beach” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
How You Can Help
In response to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali and the resulting economic crisis, dozens of individuals and organizations have sprung into action, raising funds and distributing badly needed food and everyday essentials to the innumerable families who have suddenly found themselves without any source of income. We've been making an effort to document and raise awareness of these efforts. We will add information on projects in this space as we are able to confirm them. If you'd like to see a list of the efforts that we've featured so far and contribute to them with either time or money, visit our complete list here. You can also see a list of projects that have registered themselves with Bali Solidarity. If you know of an effort and would like to have them listed, please send their information to TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
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