March 22, 2022
Indonesia scraps quarantine, details pending + Gov't expands Visa on Arrival to a total of 42 countries + Java Bali PPKM extended for two more weeks + more
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Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Tuesday, March 22. In today’s edition, we have an announcement that Indonesia is to drop quarantine for international arrivals. While the statement said this is effective immediately, details remain pending. In related news, the number of nations eligible for Visa On Arrival has been expanded to 42—scroll down for the new additions. Java-Bali PPKM has been extended for two more weeks, until April 4, though the details on the regulations are yet to be released. Scroll down for the full wrap on what has been happening in Bali and Indonesia since you last heard from us.
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National Figures
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The Big News
“Indonesia Scraps Quarantine for Overseas Arrivals” from Reuters: Indonesia has removed its quarantine requirement for all arrivals from overseas, its tourism minister said on Monday, responding to improvements in its containment of the coronavirus. The decision, effective immediately, follows the successful implementation of a quarantine waiver this month for visitors vaccinated against COVID-19 on the islands of Bali, Batam, and Bintan, minister Sandiaga Uno said. "With the handling of the pandemic more controlled ...today we announce that the policy of no quarantine has been expanded across Indonesia," said Sandiaga, adding a negative COVID test would still be required. Sandiaga said detailed regulations could be published on Tuesday.
“Gov't Extends Visa on Arrival for Travelers From 42 Countries” from Antara: The government has extended the visa on arrival (VoA) program to cover international travelers arriving at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, from 42 countries, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said. The facility was earlier extended to travelers from 23 countries. According to Uno, the VoA program for foreign tourists will be effectively implemented while waiting for the issuance of a new circular letter. The VoA facility has been extended to South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, India, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Poland, Seychelles, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Tunisia.
“Java Bali PPKM Extended For Two Weeks” from Detik (Indonesian): The government has extended PPKM in Java-Bali for the next two weeks. "PPKM is extended, 2 weeks," said Director General of Regional Administration of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Safrizal, on Monday. Under the extension policy, PPKM in Jabodetabek will be valid until April 4. However, it is not yet known the details of the area and PPKM level applied in Java and Bali. "From the evaluation conducted to the local government shows that the COVID-19 response in Indonesia shows a trend that continues to improve with the decline in the number of daily cases," Safrizal said on Tuesday.
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Other Headlines
“Community Leader Still Rejects Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road” from Kumparan (Indonesian): Community leaders whose land was affected by the Gilimanuk-Mengwi toll road, Ida Bagus Susena claimed to have met The Governor of Bali Wayan Koster, but he insisted he still rejected the plan to build the toll road. "Initially the invitation met with the Governor to chat about the issues of generality and development of Bali," he said on Monday. But during the meeting, according to him, Governor Koster focused more on the application to support the toll road. He even gave more input on the importance of a comprehensive, independent, careful review and involving various components, especially the Balinese caring component. "This seems to me that many feel ignored in the project plan that has a broad impact on the existence of Bali," he said.
Vaccination Update
“632 Kuwum Villagers Received Booster” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Mengwi Kompol Police Chief Nyoman Darsana, S.H accompanied by Waka Polsek Mengwi AKP I Ketut Ganiawan, S.Sos monitored the implementation of the third dose of vaccination held at Banjar Balangan Hall, Kuwum Village in Badung, on Monday. Kompol Nyoman Darsana, S.H said. He said the enthusiasm of the people of Kuwum Village is very high as evidenced by as many as 632 residents who have been injected with the vaccine today. "The more people who are injected with the third dose of vaccination will be faster the formation of herd immunity in the community so that the spread of Covid-19 can be prevented by accompanied by the implementation of strict health protocols that must be done by the community," he said.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Dozens of Prokes Violators are Still Found in Denpasar” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): The Denpasar Judicial Team continues to aggressively control Level 3 PPKM in all areas in Denpasar City. This time the control was carried out on Jalan Pulau Batanta, Dauh Puri Kauh Village, West Denpasar District, on Monday. The Head of Public Order and Public Order at the Denpasar City Sat Pol PP, Nyoman Sudarsana, said that there were still cases of Covid-19 transmission in Denpasar City, so the control would continue to be implemented. For this time, his party found 41 people who were wearing masks incorrectly. "As a deterrent effect, they are given coaching with push-ups on the spot," said Sudarsana.
More...
Jembrana: “Jembrana Sees Low Covid Cases, Empty Centralized Isolation Places” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Occupancy During MotoGP Reaches 95%” from Republika (Indonesian): The Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) of West Nusa Tenggara said the MotoGP has a huge impact on the occupancy of Lombok hotel rooms. PHRI NTB Chairman Ni Ketut Wolini said almost all hotels in Lombok were full during the MotoGP event. "Occupancy is now 95%. Hotel rooms in Mataram and Central Lombok, sold out, are full," Wolini said on Sunday. Wolini said the high occupancy of hotels in the three regions could not be separated from the geographical compartment adjacent to the location of the event in the special economic area of Mandalika. Wolini said hotels and restaurants hope that more international events such as MotoGP will be held on Lombok, and he is optimistic that tourism activity in Lombok will continue post-MotoGP.
More...
Nation: “Court Extends Garuda Debt Restructuring by Another Two Months” from CNA
Nation: “Indonesia Seeks New Capital Investors After Softbank Exit” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Petrokimia Ready to Divert Potassium Chloride Imports Amid Russian-Ukrainian War” from Antara
Nation: “NTB Ready to Continue Positive Momentum After MotoGP” from Republika (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“AirAsia Says Bali Passenger Traffic Up 232%” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian): AirAsia has recorded a significant increase in flight bookings to Bali, up 232% since the implementation of visa on arrival. AirAsia Indonesia President Director Veranita Yosephine believes that the increasingly controlled pandemic situation in the world at this time and with the support of the government and tourism and aviation stakeholders can help accelerate the recovery of tourist visits. Vera also plans to open more international routes not only to Bali, but through other entrances in Indonesia. Vera explained that it will increase the frequency of flights to Bali from April 1 to seven times a week from the previous three times a week. In addition, AirAsia has also announced plans to re-operate the second international flight from Bali, the Bangkok-Bali route which will begin service on April 12.
More...
“Minister of Transportation Asks South Korean Airlines to Fly to Bali Again” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Of Interest
“Lucky MotoGP Fan Scores Priceless Memorabilia After Getting Hit in the Head by Aleix Espargaró’s Flying Helmet” from Coconuts Bali
“Governor Koster Commits to Glorifying Balinese Culture” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
“Saudi Arabia Opens Hajj for Indonesian Pilgrims” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
“Hot Off the Heels of MotoGP, Indonesia Eyes Hosting F1 Grand Prix in 2024” from Coconuts Jakarta
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