Indonesia

President Jokowi stated that improving governance is vital in optimising Indonesia’s tourism potentials, stressing: “Do not let the huge potential slip away,” in regards to State-Owned Enterprises Minister’s prediction that domestic tourism could reach 330 million trips and foreign tourism 17 million trips in 2022. He urged the tourism industry to utilise the momentum of international events, including the Mandalika MotoGP and the G20 Summit, to develop the sector, such as preparing the 10 super-priority tourism destinations. He also asked that tourism development should benefit the local community, including MSMEs

COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson stated that the lifting of travel bans on 14 Omicron-infected countries and international travel resumption was necessary in order to uphold state stability and national economic recovery. He added that the ban is “ultimately futile” as Omicron has spread to roughly 150 countries. All foreign arrivals will now be quarantined for 7 days upon arrival regardless of the country they departed from

The pandemic might prolong investigations on Sriwijaya Air’s 9 Jan 2021 crash for another year

Indonesia is preparing nearly 700 pinisi ships (traditional wooden boat from South Sulawesi) with a total of 3,500 rooms, 4 ships with 1,000 rooms each from state-owned ship operator Pelni, and two cruises as additional accommodations for Mandalika MotoGP tourists

President Jokowi has launched State-Owned Enterprises’ tourism holding company, InJourney. He stated that tourism SOEs have “great assets and strategic locations” but are not managed properly. He hopes InJourney could integrate the tourism development process, and regard the pandemic not as a setback but as a turning point to “organise, transform, and build a stronger and more resilient tourism ecosystem”. The holding will comprise, among others, 120 hotels, as well as various tourism attractions and souvenir shops. The holding Minister of SOEs estimated InJourney’s assets could reach 260 trillion IDR by 2024

COVID-19 Handling Task Force has issued a new circular on overseas travel health protocols: • The travel ban on 14 countries with Omicron infections has been removed • All Indonesians arriving from overseas are required to quarantine for 7 days • International travellers visiting Indonesia for tourism purposes are required to enter through Bali or Riau airport

Tourism Minister urges investors to invest in the tourism sector, stating: “For every dollar you invest in tourism and creative economy, you'll have six times more jobs created”. He stated that the current 2.4 billion USD of tourism investment is “too small” for Indonesia’s great tourism potential. He set a target of 470 million to 1.7 billion USD foreign exchange and a contribution of 4.3% in GDP for the tourism sector in 2022. The targets are expected to help create 14.7 million jobs. The tourism sector contributed an estimated 360 million USD in foreign exchange, 4.2% of the GDP, and created 14.3 million jobs in 2021

Ticket sales for the Mandalika MotoGP event have been open since 6 Jan with over 60,000 tickets available. Mandalika Grand Prix Association reported that 4,529 tickets has been sold as of 11 Jan

Indonesia’s economic growth set at 5.1% this year despite threats of Omicron

Field Coordinator for the Preparation of the 2022 Mandalika MotoGP reported that the travel bubble system will be implemented for international visitors attending the event, requiring them to undergo a PCR test at the airport before being directly transferred to designated hotels. Tourists with negative test results will be allowed to enter the first tier of the circuit area. A task force will also be deployed to escort the international visitors

Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator estimated that Omicron infections will peak in early Feb. He stressed that Indonesia is more ready to face any possible COVID-19 wave, supported by higher vaccination rates, higher testing and tracing capacity, and better-prepared health systems. He also urged the cooperation of all parties in complying with regulations

Executive Director of the Center of Reform on Economics Indonesia expressed optimism in the Bali Special Economic Zone for Health, stating that it has the potential to compete with neighbouring countries. He hopes the International Hospital in Bali can offer facilities comparable to those abroad so it can attract not only domestic visitors but also foreigners. He added that Bali already has a strong attraction for tourism, and combining it with health facilities can be a “plus point” that shows Indonesia’s tourism potential for the international community

Omicron cases have tripled in a week, with imported cases occupying 90%. The Health Ministry reported that most of the cases were Indonesian nationals who have been fully vaccinated, and those positive for Omicron were mostly travellers returning from Turkey, followed by those returning from United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The government again urged the public to hold off on overseas leisure trips

Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator said that Indonesia will enter a state of “high alert” if bed occupancy rate reaches 20-30%

Batam Culture and Tourism Office has prepared hundreds of tourism activities for 2022, with multiple events happening each month. Batam authorities has stated that the city will focus on domestic tourists as they await the reopening of international borders

Indonesian President and Singapore PM to meet in Bintan, Riau on 25 Jan to discuss G-to-G agreement on opening cross-border tourism between the two countries. Singapore is currently the largest contributor of foreign tourists to the Riau Islands, especially Bintan. Head of the Bintan Tourism Department expects the border to open by end of Jan. He also hopes that the government would reopen sea access for foreign tourists to support the recovery of the tourism sector

Bali’s Badung Chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association to push tourism promotion post year-end holidays, targeting countries with low COVID-19 risks such as Australia. Head of the association stated that they will contact authorities of the low-risk countries to open discussions on resuming direct flights to Bali

Tourism Minister has stated that the government will ensure Indonesia is ready to hold the planned domestic and international events amid the rise of Omicron cases, including tightly implementing safety protocols

Jakarta Deputy Governor stated that micro-lockdowns might be imposed in the city to curb COVID-19 transmissions. As of 9 Jan, there were 1,885 active cases in Jakarta, in which 407 were positive for the Omicron variant. Of those, 350 had traveled overseas while 57 were local transmissions

Tourism Minister predicted that the Mandalika MotoGP could boost local economy by 20-30%

Tourism Minister said that 90% of rooms in Lombok have been booked ahead of the Mandalika MotoGP so far, with expected 100% occupancy during the event. The ministry is preparing 300 homestays, as well as collaborating with private businesses to provide temporary accommodations, such as camping grounds and camper vans. The ministry aims to attract 100,000 visitors to Lombok during the event, with mostly domestic tourists

Construction of North Bali International Airport is estimated to cost 50 trillion IDR and create 200,000 jobs, according to the feasibility study and business plan submitted to the Ministry of Investment. The new airport is expected to push tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and MSMEs in North Bali, and close the welfare gap between North and South Bali

Garuda Indonesia has partnered with PT Liga Indonesia Baru, the operator of national soccer tournaments. Garuda will be the official airline of the company until 31 Dec 2024 and will provide flight services for all management, athletes, contingent, and supporters during various tournaments held all over Indonesia

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association has asked the government to open Bali as an alternative accommodation area during the Mandalika MotoGP event due to the lack of rooms available in Lombok. Secretary-General of the association also asked the government to ease regulations for transfers between Bali and Lombok. He added that it is important to create a “good impression on international visitors” as this is the first large-scale event of this kind to be held in Indonesia. Tourism Minister also plans to set up 200 cabins and tents around the venue to help with accomodations

Indonesian VP has encouraged development of tourism in Palu area, such as Taipa Beach, to boost local economy. He urged the management of tourist attractions to prioritise “sense of security and comfort” for visitors

Still no regular international flights scheduled to land in Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, 3 months since reopening. A majority of foreign tourists in Bali arrived through Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport or through charter flights landing in Bali

14 buildings in Jakarta were named cultural heritage sites in 2021. Jakarta Culture Agency Head said that this is part of the effort to preserve Jakarta’s cultural assets and urge the public to join in maintaining their sustainability

Tourism Minister stated that the ministry needs to have responsibility as the tourism sector has a large carbon footprint, contributing 8% to the global greenhouse emission. The Ministry has taken part in calculating carbon footprint in the tourism and creative economy sector using new start-up app, Jejak.in

Tourism Minister reported that authorities will prioritise the provision of tourist accommodation for Mandalika MotoGP. He added that the event is an opportunity for innovation in regards to the development of homestay accommodation for tourists, especially in tourism villages. The event is expected to offer “long-term sustainable benefits to the locals”, including boosting employment and the tourism sector

4 more companies, including Booking.com and Airbnb, were appointed by the Directorate General of Taxes to be subjected to the Trading Through the Electronic System’s VAT regulation, requiring the businesses to collect a VAT of 10% of the value of the money paid by the buyer, which could possibly result in a rise of prices

9 cruise ships have submitted their 2022 schedules to dock at Lombok’s Gili Emas harbor, which are now awaiting approval from the central government, Head of the Port Authority Office reported. He added that proposals have been made for passengers to quarantine at the cruise ships for efficiency and to eliminate the need for centralised quarantine in hotels

Government survey on 22,000 people has shown that over 85% of Indonesia’s population have antibodies against COVID-19, though epidemiologists are unsure whether this could help contain new waves of infections as Indonesia’s vaccination rate is still lower than many other countries and it is still unclear how different vaccine brands affect antibody levels or how long antibodies last

Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport served 3,770,944 domestic passengers throughout 2021, up 3% YoY. Highest traffic occurred in Dec with 673,177 passengers, up 56% YoY

Indonesia recorded 533 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily number since 4 Nov, of which 267 cases were recorded in Jakarta. The government has stated that tightened measures will be enforced if cases keep reaching 500-1,000 daily. Proportion of positive turn out in testing reached 0.26%, up from last week’s 0.1% but still within WHO’s recommended rate of below 5%

PPKM Java-Bali Coordinator believes that “Presisi” quarantine monitoring app has helped to discipline the public and prevent entry of the Omicron variant. He added that 90% of Omicron transmission originated from overseas arrivals

Indonesia has imposed entry ban on 14 countries with confirmed community Omicron cases, those with proximity to countries with community cases, or those with over 10,000 Omicron cases, including: South Africa, Botswana, Norway, France, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, UK and Denmark. Foreign nationals are not permitted to enter Indonesia if they have lived in or visited said countries within 14 days

Quarantine exemption to be given for Indonesians arriving from abroad under “urgent circumstances” from 7 Jan, including those needing urgent medical treatment or under “circumstances of grief” such as death of immediate family members. Quarantine exemption for foreign nationals could be given for representatives’ leaders, diplomatic or work visa holders from ministry-level institutions or above, Travel Corridor Arrangement travellers, G20 delegates, and respectable members of international societies

Bed occupancy rate in Jakarta has increased from 4% to 7%, and ICU occupancy to 5% due to an increase in COVID-19 cases and the spread of Omicron

Denpasar Tourism Office reported that hotel occupancy rates in the area increased to 60% and tourist visits increased by 45% during the year-end holidays

Denpasar to tighten supervision and implementation of health protocols at tourist attractions, hotels, and malls to prevent the spread of Omicron in Bali

Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport served 406,682 passengers during the year-end holidays (17 Dec-4 Jan), up 56.05% YoY. Peak of arrivals occurred on 19 Dec with 28,975 passengers, and the peak of departures was on 2 Jan with 24,731 passengers leaving Bali

COVID-19 Handling Task Force spokesperson stated that the government will not completely restrict international travels amid Omicron spike due to consideration of Indonesian migrant workers’ citizen rights and diplomatic relations. He added that travel restrictions are not an effective way to curb transmissions if the tracing rate is still low and if the proportion of imported cases compared to local cases is under 1%

Deputy of Marketing for the Tourism Ministry recommends staycations as a safe tourism option during the pandemic, as they tend to involve only a small group of family or friends, usually using private vehicles. She also recommended homestay staycations, adding that tourism should not only be about “visiting the place” but also about the experience and “taking the local wisdom”

Tourism Minister predicted that domestic tourist mobility could reach 260-280 million in 2022. He believes that the tourism and creative economy sectors will offer great contributions to the economic revival in 2022, including job creation, and hopes that health protocols should continue to be improved in order to support that. He again urged the public to not travel abroad and spend holidays domestically instead, and added that quarantine exemption will not be given to anyone returning from overseas

Tourism attraction “Ngopi in The Sky” in Yogyakarta, a coffee brewing experience at an altitude, was suspended due to safety concerns as the crane used to lift passengers to the sky has not been authorised for use in the attraction, as well as its risky location near the shoreline. CEO of Teras Kaca, the company behind “Ngopi in The Sky”, noted that the attraction has been operating on a trial basis since 2 Jan and has attracted not only domestic but also foreign tourists

Hotel occupancy rate in Bali steadily increased during the year-end holidays, reaching 65%, but has gone back down again since 2 Jan, Bali Regional Board of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association reported. Deputy Head of Environmental Culture and Public Relations of the board said that domestic arrivals in Bali has not reached the predicted 15,000-20,000 per day but only reached around 13,000 per day due to a hike of prices in airline tickets and stringent policies such as full-vaccination requirement for children over 12

Angkasa Pura II recorded a 13% decline in air traffic during year-end, a week after the Transport Ministry banned the addition of around 30,000 extra flights during the holidays. Passenger traffic rose by 15% despite the ban at around 2.34 million passengers, up from 2020’s 2.28 million

Java-Bali PPKM to be extended until 17 Jan. Jakarta up from Level 1 to Level 2 amid rise of Omicron cases, while Bali stays at Level 2

Indonesia welcomed 153,200 foreign visitors in Nov, an increase of 6.4% YoY and the first growth during the pandemic, but still far below Nov 2019’s 1.3 million

Tourism businesses that don’t utilise the PeduliLindungi app will be penalised with temporary shutdown or permit revocation, Secretary of Bali’s Buleleng COVID-19 Handling Task Force announced after finding out that most Buleleng hotels were lax in utilising the app

Angkasa Pura I recorded 11,271 passengers on 81 flights during the New Year holiday, and expects up to 15,000 passengers departing Bali by the end of the holiday period

Tourism Minister stated that year-end tourists have helped support economic and tourism recovery, with Jakarta and Bali tourism attractions seeing high volumes of visitors. He added that traveller confidence has increased in 2021 as the pandemic was brought under control and vaccination rate increased. Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association reported an increase in hotel occupancy rate on New Year’s Eve, with Bali’s hotels also seeing 55% occupancy rate during the Christmas period. Tourism Minister stated that domestic tourists amount for 95% of the occupancy rate and believes that the year-end occupancy rate will increase by 5-10%

Tourism Minister plans to design tour packages to uninhabited islands in South Sulawesi as public demand for marine tourism to islands rises

PPKM outside Java-Bali extended until 17 Jan despite a decline in COVID-19 cases

Indonesia successfully held 42 out of the planned 64 in-person exhibitions in 2021, owing to the easing of restrictions in Oct. Stakeholders are optimistic about MICE prospects and the recovery the business events industry in the coming years

Central Statistics Agency of Indonesia reported 3.5 million domestic air passengers in Nov, up 19.81% MoM. Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta saw an 18.28% increase and recorded 975,000 passengers which amounted to 29.90% of the total domestic passengers, the highest number out of all the airports. The total during Jan-Nov hit 26.1 million, down 9.26% YoY

Government’s decision to shorten quarantine period was issued following clinical review that suggests the incubation period of the Omicron variant is shorter than the Delta variant at around 3-5 days, the Presidential Staff Office announced

Indonesia has shortened the quarantine period for Indonesians returning from abroad, with those arriving from countries currently under entry ban due to high Omicron risks undergoing a 10-day quarantine and those from other countries undergoing a 7-day quarantine, cut from the previously announced increased periods of 14 and 10 days respectively

Indonesia has prepared additional entry points and quarantine centres for international travellers, including in Surabaya’s Juanda Airport, Kalimantan’s land cross-border checkpoints, as well as Batam and Tanjung Pinang Ports

From 1-31 Jan, Indonesians returning from overseas must quarantine for either 10 or 14 days, depending on their origin country. Those returning from countries who have confirmed community transmission of the Omicron variant, from countries adjacent to those with confirmed community transmission or with more than 10,000 Omicron cases must quarantine for 14 days. Travellers from all other countries must quarantine for 10 days

Angkasa Pura I reported that peak of post-holiday traffic on 2 Jan sees 16,137 travellers departing Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, further increasing from the 11,271 on 1 Jan

Bali to construct the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub with completion targeted for mid-2023, consisting of not only a tourism zone but also a yacht terminal zone, fishery zone, liquid bulk and container zone, as well as the existing Benoa port, which would become a home port for cruises and expected to increase tourist cruise connectivity between Indonesian ports

Dozens of unvaccinated domestic tourists have been caught while entering Bali through Jembrana’s Gilimanuk Port since the Candle Operation started in the beginning of the holiday season to secure borders from potential COVID-19 transmissions. Head of the Jembrana Health Agency reminded tourists to get vaccinated before travelling and to complete all travel requirements in order to avoid crowds at the port’s document screening area. He added that an average of 80 people per day from outside Bali have been vaccinated during the period of the Candle Operation

Head of West Nusa Tenggara’s Department of Transportation estimates that the spectator quota for the Mandalika MotoGP might be capped at only 50,000 out of the total 200,000 capacity of the venue due to the ongoing pandemic. The predicted quota is still 25,000 more than the total spectators of the 2021 Mandalika World Superbike event

Jakarta to restrict operating hours for tourist attractions and museums on 31 Dec-1 Jan, allowing for only half-day operations (9 a.m to 3 p.m.), while some tourist attractions like Setu Babakan Betawi Cultural Village and the Fatahillah Square will be closed

Tourism Ministry to collaborate with the Central Board of Indonesian Village Government Association in developing tourism and creative villages to make Indonesia’s tourism competitive, sustainable, and able to benefit the locals. The Tourism Minister urged the board to involve the younger generation in the villages in expanding the economic opportunities and increasing revenue, as well as to develop agrotourism in the villages

The Indonesia Tourism Forum stated that 6 health tourism sectors in Indonesia, comprising medical, food and nutrition, beauty, sport, nature, and spiritual and education, can be developed further to compete with neighbouring Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. The Forum patron said that while the other SEA countries are more advanced in the medical sector, Indonesia can thrive with the wellness and health tourism sector that draws from local wisdom, as well as gain an advantage in halal health tourism

21 new imported Omicron cases have been reported in Indonesia, mostly from Turkey and UAE travellers, bringing the total of Indonesia’s Omicron cases to 68

Restaurants and entertainment venues to close at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve to minimise crowds. Officers will be deployed to monitor business premises, check health protocols, ensure venues close according to the set operating hours, and patrol residential areas to raid celebrations that violate regulations, including using firecrackers or fireworks

Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association reported that 1,700 hotels have stopped operations due to low income caused by the government's tight restrictions, resulting in the inability to pay operational fees. Hundreds of hotels are also seen being sold on online marketplaces due to bankruptcy, with some even cutting prices by billions of Rupiahs in order to sell them quickly

Tourism Ministry plans to develop package tours for the Mandalika MotoGP event to boost tourism in the Gili Islands. The plan would involve accommodations in Lombok and Gili Islands like tourism villages, glamping venues, homestays, cruises, as well as increasing connectivity between the islands and Mandalika via motorboats and shuttles

Ministry of Tourism has set a target of 1.8-3.6 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2022, lower than the total of 4.05 million foreign arrivals in 2020, as border-opening policy is still an obstacle. Tourists from India, Japan, and Australia are the target market for Bali, while tourists from Malaysia and Singapore are the main target for Batam. The ministry aims to maximise foreign exchange reserves withdrawal from MICE travellers and added that MICE accounts for 23% of the total of foreign tourists while leisure travellers occupy 63-65%

Tourism Ministry has held a meeting with the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia to discuss future plans, especially in increasing cooperation in the tourism sector. Director of Tourism Marketing for Asia Pacific for the Ministry of Tourism also revealed that as many as 40% of visitors from India come to Bali for weddings and honeymoons. The ministry will continue to focus on that segment, as well as adventure and leisure, once tourism restart

11,986 tourism businesses across Indonesia, including hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and souvenir shops have been CHSE (cleanliness, health, safety & environmental sustainability) certified as of Nov

Indonesia has reported its first locally-transmitted Omicron case, a domestic traveller from Medan to Jakarta who tested positive prior to his return to Medan. The man had no international travel history or any contact with recent international travellers

Tourism Minister hopes “Zerocov” air sanitation device, a local invention, can help revive the tourism sector, especially the hotel and MICE industry. The device would have a test-run during the G20 event on World Tourism Day 2022

Tourism Minister has decided to hold off on VTL plans due to the rise of Omicron cases, adding that the ministry will focus on implementing the relatively safer travel bubble program, which is being expanded in accordance with the planned international events in 2022. The Indonesian Tourism Industry Association has asked the government to consider allowing tourists on package tours to bypass quarantine restrictions following the announcement. Head of the association said that the government has been very indecisive on the policy on package tours despite the demands from tourism firms, and added that if the government decided to allow the tours, then tourism firms should be informed 2 months in advance to allow for preparations

5G telecommunication network services will be provided at 2022 Mandalika MotoGP. A mobile unit from the Lombok monitoring centre of the Communication and Informatics Ministry will also be deployed to coordinate with Denpasar, Banyuwangi, and Surabaya centres to ensure flight safety amid heavy traffic during the event

Bali International Hospital expected to start operation by mid-2023. Jokowi stated that 2 million Indonesians travel abroad every year to receive medical treatment, including to Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and the US, causing Indonesia to lose a potential 97 trillion IDR in revenue. He hopes that the new hospital, a collaboration with US’s Mayo Clinic, can transform Indonesia into a medical tourism destination, boost visits to Bali, and reduce outbound travel for healthcare purposes. The area surrounding the hospital will also be transformed into a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for health

Tourism Minister revealed that realisation of tourism investment in 2021 increased to 14.9 trillion IDR, a 3.36% contribution to the total realisation of national investment. Foreign exchange value of tourism is expected to reach $0.47-1.7 billion USD in 2022

Indonesia to impose “micro lockdown” in 5 popular year-end vacation destinations, namely West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, Bali, and Lombok. The rules will follow those of the Micro PPKM in Feb 2021, with restrictions implemented according to situations in the smallest administrative units (neighbourhoods and wards), alongside the tightening of the 3T (testing, tracing, treatment)

Indonesia to open Surabaya’s Juanda Airport for selected international flights to reduce Jakarta’s burden in providing quarantine facilities, though COVID-19 Handling Task Force spokesperson assured that there are still enough rooms for travellers entering through Soekarno-Hatta Airport, with over 45,000 beds available in government’s centralised quarantine facilities and hotels

Jasa Marga reported that 1,422,094 vehicles left the Greater Jakarta area through the 4 main toll gates between 17-25 Dec, up 5% MoM

Full vaccination is now a requirement to board ferries from East Java to Bali, along with negative antigen test taken 1x24 hours or PCR test 3x24 hours prior to departure

Citilink has been awarded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports for its contribution in supporting Indonesia’s sports tourism development through the “Citilink Healthy Living Series 2021” programme, which promotes sports tourism at super-priority destinations such as Mandalika, Borobudur, and Bali

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture optimistic that national vaccine coverage will reach the targeted 70% by year-end

Direct international flights can enter Indonesia from only 3 entry points: Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Riau’s Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport, and North Sulawesi’s Sam Ratulangi Airport. Batam Port and Tanjung Pinang in Riau, as well as Nunukan in North Kalimantan act as international sea entry points for Indonesian citizens, with international visitors also allowed in by cruise or yachts through Bali and Riau ports

Ministry of Transport will perform random checks during the year-end holidays on mobility and health protocols in tourists sites, shopping centres, and malls, including reviewing security and service post facilities

Angkasa Pura predicts 24 Dec to be the peak of Christmas traffic, with an increase of 20-25% in passenger traffic expected at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Terminal 1A has been reactivated for domestic flights and Terminal 2F for international flights in anticipation of the surge and to avoid congestion at Terminal 3

The Government’s multimillion dollar plan for development of luxury tourism attractions at Komodo National Park has created tensions with conservationists who fear the disturbance of the Komodo dragons’ habitat, with UN officials also voicing concerns

Human resources firm Mercer has forecasted that the median pay hikes in Indonesia could reach 6.5% in 2022, an increase from 5.3% in 2021 but under the 6.9% in 2019. Indonesia’s forecast is higher than Asia-Pacific’s average of 5.4%. Mercer Career Products Manager in Jakarta is optimistic for the future of Indonesia’s job market and stated that employment recovery is speeding up with the reopening of economic and social activities

COVID-19 positivity rate during 12-18 Dec was 5.401% at sea entry points and 1.3% at land entry points, higher than that of air entry points at only 0.48%, according to the government spokesperson for COVID-19 handling. Three more Omicron cases have been found in Indonesian citizens arriving from overseas, 1 from Malaysia and 2 from Congo, bringing the total to 8 cases

Bali Restaurant and Hotel Association has decided to cancel the planned rally against current travel restrictions. Deputy Chief of Cultural and Public Relations from the Bali Restaurant and Hotel Association stated that “after meeting with the Governor and communicating with the Tourism Minister regarding our issue, we’ve realized that we have similar perceptions and goals”

Bali Vice Governor stated that Bali’s tourism development strategy for 2022 would be to increase resilience and competitiveness. He expects the 3.7 trillion IDR tourism grant to be realised soon and stated that as there are no signs of recovery by year-end, funding needs to be provided in soft loans. The other strategy is to increase the ratio of demand over supply, by improving hotels, restaurants, spas, road infrastructure so the “products' quality and human resources will be ready to compete in the global era of post-COVID 19"

2022 Jakarta Formula E World Championship to be held in Ancol, North Jakarta on 4 Jun, with the circuit named the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit (JIEC). The event is expected to revive the tourism sector in Indonesia, especially Jakarta

Hotel occupancy in Gili Trawangan predicted to not go over 10% during the year-end holiday, a drastic decrease from the 90% in the same period pre-pandemic as the region is still heavily reliant on domestic tourists

The government has allocated 13.8 trillion IDR for the tourism industry in the 2022 State Budget, comprising 3.7 trillion IDR for the tourism sector and 10.1 trillion IDR for tourism infrastructure in 2022

Three locations will be converted to quarantine facilities following the government’s proposal to increase the quarantine period from 10 to 14 days for international arrivals

Surabaya’s Juanda Airport is being prepared to reopen as an entry point for foreign travellers but is still waiting for the circular from the Ministry of Transport to be issued, according to Juanda Airport Public Relations Manager. The airport has served 5.2 million passengers in 2021 up until Nov and 25,000 passengers per day until mid-Dec

2,814 foreign arrivals landed at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on 22 flights from Malaysia, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, South Korea, Turkey, and Singapore. Commander of COVID-19 Air Travel Task Force at Soekarno-Hatta Airport stated that the number is down from last week

The government has issued several policies for the year-end holidays, including: • The Lilin Operation (Police operation to ensure safety during Christmas worship) will be enacted from 24 Dec-2 Jan, along with an additional 7 days pre-operation and 7 days post-operation activities • Officers will be increased to anticipate mobility in public areas like malls, restaurants, tourist attractions, and highways • Airport inspection and screening to be made faster and waiting time for PCR results will be reduced to prevent buildup of crowds of travellers at land, sea, and air entry points • Use of PeduliLindungi application will be tightened and legal consequences for disobedience will be issued

150,000 tourists are expected to visit Lombok for MotoGP, exceeding the available 16,000 rooms in Lombok for accommodation. Central Lombok District will prepare a cruise ship to lodge 2,000 tourists and speed boats for Bali-Lombok crossings will be provided for spectators staying outside of Lombok. Homestays in tourism villages around the Mandalika Special Economic Zones will also be upgraded to two-star hotel standard

Tiket.com sees a 40% growth YoY, with business performance in Q4 up 80% from Q3. The company regarded the growth as a sign that the “wheels of Indonesia’s tourism industry are turning again”, backed by high vaccination rate, and that the people are gaining more confidence to travel

Indonesia’s GDP growth estimated to increase over 5% in Q4, owing to the easing of mobility restrictions and recovery of the global economy. Finance Minister stated that domestic economic recovery has strengthened since the rise of Delta cases in Jul-Aug

Bali Vice Governor has asked the central government to increase domestic flights to the island as most are already fully booked for the year-end holiday, which could cause tourists to postpone their trip. He also hopes that travel policies could also be revised soon to attract more international visitors as they are a major contribution to Bali’s economy, adding that “domestic tourists tend to stay around the southern part of the island while international tourists tend to spread evenly across the island,”

Bali’s Nusa Penida to tighten crossings to and from the islands from 24 Dec, requiring travellers to present second dose vaccination proof

Health Ministry has confirmed that all 3 Omicron cases were imported. First case, a janitor at Wisma Atlet Kemayoran, contracted it from an Indonesian returning from Nigeria on 27 Nov who was quarantined at the facility. The other two cases were Indonesians returning from South America and England. 250 close contacts have been tracked, with 10 tested positive for COVID-19 and undergoing whole genome sequencing to find out whether the cases are of the Omicron variant

The number of international arrivals to Soekarno-Hatta Airport has increased to 4,000 in Dec compared to 1,000-2,000 in Oct. Entikong cross-border post saw over 300 visitors in the first 10 days of Dec, compared to 100 in Nov. Batam Center Ferry Port saw an increase to 200-400 foreign travellers in Dec, compared to 100-200 in Nov

Hotel occupancy in Bali has reached 60% in Dec and is expected to reach 70% by year-end, a significant increase from the 15% in Nov, Head of the Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association in Bali revealed. He added that visitors are “purely domestic [tourists]”

Hotel occupancy in Bali’s Nusa Dua area from 1-18 Dec has reached 50.37%, an increase from Nov’s 33.03%, Oct’s 26.63%, and Sep’s 10.94%. Managing Director of The Nusa Dua believes that the rise in occupancy is due to the increasing tourism activities held in the area, such as international sporting and MICE events

COVID-19 Task Force and Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) have coordinated to regulate hotel quarantine prices for international arrivals, ranging from a min. of 6,750,000 IDR for 2-star hotel to a max. of 21,000,000 IDR for luxury hotels for 10-days quarantine. PHRI revealed that out of 16,500 hotel rooms allocated for quarantine, 70% are currently occupied

Tourism Minister stated that visa application quota will be increased by 250 each day exclusively for those whose purpose is to visit Bali

Free centralised quarantine facilities will now only be provided for Indonesian migrant workers, Indonesian students studying abroad, and state civil apparatus or government employees returning from official travel. Others will have to quarantine in recommended hotels and bear their own costs

Jakarta Deputy Governor urged the public to not travel abroad or outside the city during the year-end holiday, especially with the Omicron variant reported in Indonesia, and stated: "No matter how good the regulation is, no matter how many officers there are on the field, and no matter how heavy the penalties are, it all comes back to the people,”

Bali government revealed that average domestic arrival has risen to 25,000 per day as Christmas approaches, with around 13,000 passengers arriving by air and as many driving from Java to Bali via ferry

Tourism Minister estimates that Bali could receive up to 30,000 domestic tourists per day in the following week, 15,000-20,000 by air and up to 15,000 by land. He added that 14,000 people arrived in Bali on 18 Dec. Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, as well as Gilimanuk and Padangbai Ports have been ordered to implement strict monitoring, and the minister urged the public to holiday with “full responsibility”

PPKM outside of Java-Bali has been extended until 3 Jan

The government is considering extending the quarantine period for Indonesians arriving from overseas from 10 to 14 days amid rising concerns about Omicron along with an increase of international travels among Indonesians. Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator again stressed that people are strongly urged not to travel abroad unless it is essential

Large crowd was seen in Soekarno-Hatta Airport’s arrival area, waiting for hours for the process to quarantine at the free Wisma Atlet Hospital. Many travellers reportedly refused to quarantine at hotels due to steep prices, going up as high as 19 million IDR per person

Indonesia has extended its ban to travellers from the UK, Norway and Denmark due to their rising Omicron cases, and removed Hong Kong from the list

Tourism Minister has inaugurated the KM Kirana VII ferry, which will serve the Surabaya-Lombok route through Bali. The ferry is anticipated to revive tourism in Bali and Nusa Tenggara area, and also will support travel for MotoGP and G20 Summit

Hotels in Lombok already reported a high volume of bookings for Mar, even though MotoGP tickets are not yet on sale. Some hotels see bookings as high as 90% of their capacity, resulting in price hiking. Homestays in the area are also reportedly mostly booked

Tourism Minister stated that the ministry’s survey revealed foreign tourists’ interest to visit Bali in Q1 2022 reached 57%, and added that adjustments in visa convenience, direct flights, and flexible quarantine should be made

House of Representatives aims to pass bill on Indonesia’s capital city relocation from Jakarta to East Kalimantan by Feb 2022

COVID-19 Handling Task Force encourages the public to spend the year-end holidays with family only to prevent crowds, and also advised citizens on restricting mobility. Tourism destinations will also be restricted to 75% capacity during the year-end holidays

North Jakarta Mayor said that no provincial policy has been issued to close tourist attractions as anticipatory measures following reports of Omicron cases, and PPKM Level 1 restrictions will continue as planned

Indonesia has reported its first Omicron case on 16 Dec, a worker at the Wisma Atlet Hospital. Two other workers there tested positive for COVID-19, but not of the Omicron variant. Health Minister added that there are 5 other suspected Omicron cases, 2 Indonesians who returned home from the UK and the US under quarantine at Wisma Atlet, and 3 Chinese visitors under quarantine in Manado

Ministry of Transport has tightened railway protocols for year-end, requiring full vaccination and negative RT-PCR taken 3x24 hours or antigen test taken 1x24 hours prior to departure for intercity travels. Capacity will be limited to 80% for intercity trains, 70% for regional trains, and 45% for commuter trains

Tourism Minister held a meeting with Portugal’s Ambassador to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in tourism and creative economy sectors, which may include the development of tourism products, sharing the market demands of both countries, and sharing best practices on sustainable tourism development and tourism marketing, especially online and offline branding communications

Government to lock down Wisma Atlet Hospital, one of the centralised quarantine facilities, for 7 days after a worker tested positive for the Omicron variant

An MoU on the infrastructure and facilities construction plan of the North Bali Airport has been signed between PT Waskita Karya (Persero) Tbk and PT BIBU Panji Sakti. The cooperation between the two would include the constructions of runway, passenger terminal, parking space, and more

Tourism Ministry and Bali government to further discuss steps on Bali’s tourism revival in early 2022, including direct flights to Bali, visa and quarantine requirements, evaluation of the countries allowed to enter, and suggestions on Bali as foreign entry point and quarantine location

An average of 22,000 domestic tourists, 12,000 by air and 10,000 by land, visit Bali each day ahead of year-end holidays, Bali Chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association revealed

Tourism Minister stated that visits to tourism villages increased by 30% during the pandemic according to data from Grab, and he urged localities to develop tourism villages and homestays to help provide employment and revive economy

Bali’s Deputy Head of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association urged tourism stakeholders to be patient in the face of the 2-year economic slump and refrain from organising protest rallies so the “good image of Bali” can be maintained

Indonesia’s parliament approved a 6.9 trillion IDR injection to railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) as additional capital in 2021-2022, 4.3 trillion IDR of which will be used to finance Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project

PT Pelabuhan Indonesia to recommend Bali’s Benoa Port for pilot cruise resumption in Indonesia which is expected to start in 2022

Finance Minister stated that Indonesia’s economy has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels within 1.5 years, a faster recovery than the 1997-1998 crisis. Unemployment rate in Indonesia has also decreased from 7.1% to 6.5% in the last 12 months

Bali Tourism Agency reported that only 45 international tourists, who came through Benoa Port by yachts, have visited Bali in 2021. The number dropped significantly from 1,050,504 international visitors in 2020 and 6,275,210 in 2019

Some delegates cancelled their in-person participation for the Bali G20 event on 1 Dec due to concerns about the Omicron variant. The event was supposed to welcome 140 delegates from 18 countries, but was only attended by 80 delegates from 10 countries

Asian Development Bank has predicted Indonesia’s 2021 GDP to grow 3.5%, and estimated 2022 growth to be 5%, higher than the previous forecast of 4.8%

Bali’s starred hotels see increase in occupancy nearing year-end with 5-star hotels’ occupancy rate increasing to 20.65% in Oct compared to 11.61% in Sep, 4-star hotels’ rate increased to 18.26% from 9.33%, 3-star hotels’ increased to 13.93% from 7.32%, 2-star hotels’ increased to 12.14% from 8.5%, and 1-star hotels’ rate saw the biggest jump, increasing to 25.38% in Oct from 6.74% in Sep

PT Angkasa Pura I revealed that Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport served 266,249 domestic passengers between 1-12 Dec, up 36% MoM, comprising 137,288 passenger arrivals and 128,961 departures. Stakeholder Relation Manager of the airport operator said that the trend of passenger traffic is still the same as Nov, with spikes seen on weekends (Fri-Sun)

Ministry of Health stated that G20 events will be held under a bubble system, with delegates only allowed to travel between the hotel and the venue. Each delegate will also be accompanied by a liaison officer to prevent them from going outside the bubble area. Everyone involved in the events will be subject to daily antigen COVID-19 test, with members of committees required to take PCR test one day after their event ends. No COVID-19 cases have been detected so far after several pre-events

COVID-19 Handling Task Force spokesperson stressed that quarantine policy and testing are vital to maintain current pandemic situation, urging each citizen to “be a good example for fellow Indonesians so that the policies that have been prepared to prevent the importation of cases, especially the Omicron variant, can be implemented properly”

Health Minister reported that 188 international arrival has tested positive for the Delta variant in the past two weeks, including 98 from Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta Airport and 53 from Batam Port

PPKM Java-Bali extended from 14 Dec-3 Jan 2022. Jakarta back to Level 1 while Bali stays at Level 2

Minister of Tourism stated that the widespread utilisation of PeduliLindungi app still faces issues, including some visitors not yet downloading the app or updating vaccination status, some visitors not having smartphones to download the app, and some venues having bad internet connection resulting in users not being able to check-in. These lead to long queues and some visitors returning home after not being able to enter tourism destinations or other venues where checking-in through the app is required

Health Minister revealed that the healthcare system reforms, including increasing hospital beds as well as improving medical service and equipment quality, is in part to reduce outbound medical tourism, stating: “"[This is] so that we will not have 600,000 Indonesians going to [other] ASEAN countries just to have medical check-ups”

G20 delegates will enter Indonesia through a special flight route separate from general passengers, Head of the Communications Bureau of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment explained. Check-in points at airport such as customs, immigration, and health checks will also be in a separate venue to avoid crowds

Minister of Tourism hopes that the Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair 2021 could boost tourism recovery and employment, adding: “We hope this will improve public trust in tourism”

Ministry of Transport survey has shown that 11 million people are expected to travel during the year-end holidays following the cancellation of the nationwide Level 3 PPKM

Bali not confident in implementing the government’s odd-even plate number traffic restrictions in tourism destinations during the year-end, looking back to the issues that authorities faced during the last Emergency and Micro PPKM. Police are still waiting for further instructions from Bali Governor on how the rule will be implemented in Bali

Indonesia and Greece to strengthen bilateral cooperation in tourism and creative economy, with Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism stating that joint tourism activity and promotion programs, as well as tourism industry capacity improvement will be planned

Indonesia became the only ASEAN country to be on the Level 1 (low-risk) category on the US’s CDC Travel Recommendation List

Bali Tourism Board plans to hold a protest rally in early Jan 2022 if the government does not respond to the open letter sent on 19 Nov by year-end, which asked to government to revise the current travel policy that is hindering international travellers from visiting Bali

Indonesia’s Oct retail sales grew 6.5% YoY, the first positive for 4 months

Gili Islanders suffer due to the pandemic, as the islands are reliant on foreign tourists. Gili Hotel Association reported that only 20-30 properties remain open out of around 800 hotels available on the islands

Bali welcomes government’s decision to cancel Level 3 PPKM with Bali’s Vice Governor expecting a 50% rise in tourist arrivals and hotel occupancy during the year-end holidays

COVID-19 Task Force Spokesperson noted the importance of readiness in implementing year-end restrictions as Indonesia has never managed to get through long holiday periods without a spike in cases

Ministry of Tourism’s Marketing Deputy believes that the staycation trend is one sign of tourism industry revival amid the pandemic, and a way to boost the economy

Ministry of Education urges acceleration in implementing 100% face-to-face learning to prevent a decline in children’s learning outcomes

Bank Mandiri research has shown that by the end of Q3 2021: • Bali’s average hotel occupancy rate was only 9.7%, compared to 59.6% pre-pandemic • Indonesia’s domestic air travellers totalled 19.5 million, down 16.5% YoY. International arrivals by air was only 3% of pre-pandemic levels • Indonesia’s train passengers have only reached 32% of pre-pandemic levels

Ministry of Tourism hopes the Grand Final of the Esports President Cup 2021 in Bali can boost tourism and support the ministry’s efforts to drive sports tourism as one of the means to revive the tourism industry, proven effective by recent sporting events like the Indonesia Badminton Festival and Mandalika World Superbike event

Indonesia and South Korea to establish Tourism MoU and extend Creative Economy MoU in order to strengthen bilateral cooperation in both sectors. Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism stated that the next step would be to draft action plans and sharing best practices from South Korea

Ministry of Marine Affairs said 15-30 sunken ship sites could potentially be developed into diving tourism attractions. Head of the ministry’s Research Center for Coastal Resources and Vulnerability said that marine tourism is the largest segment in the tourism sector, and thus tourism development must be included in integrated coastal area management to help preserve the ecosystem and promote blue economy

Ministry of Tourism is preparing side events for the G20 Tourism Working Group, including Apresiasi Kreasi Indonesia (Appreciation of Indonesian Creations), Indonesia Wellness Festival, Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) Global Conference, dan Akselerasi Ekonomi Kreatif (Acceleration of Creative Economy). 27 excursion packages and 19 post tour packages in locations like Bali, Lombok, Labuan Bajo, Yogyakarta, and Danau Toba are also being prepared for the G20 delegates

25 delegates arrived in Bali on 7 Dec for the first out of a series of G20 events and meetings throughout Indonesia’s Presidency from Dec 2021 to Oct 2022

Bali Governor asks for an increase in flights to Bali as the number of domestic visitors continue to rise

Bali Tourism Board reported that many events near year-end were cancelled due to the inconsistencies of government’s restriction and PPKM policies

The National Commission on Human Rights warned the government to consider residents’ livelihood in regards to regional tourism development projects, as the projects might affect the residents’ daily resources or commodities. The Commission’s Deputy Chair for External Affairs stressed that the government should mitigate issues and ensure that the projects would benefit the locals, stating: “We need to intensively consult residents affected by tourism development to prevent them from falling into the poverty trap due to the project”

Indonesia MICE Outlook 2022 was held last week in Bali, with stakeholders expressing optimism in Indonesia’s MICE industry owing to 30 international events scheduled for 2022 and strong enthusiasm for domestic meetings

Indonesia’s consumer confidence index rose from 113.4 in Oct to 118.5 in Nov, the highest since Jan 2020

Chairman of the Bali Tourism Board proposed to the government to allow year-end outdoor events, suggesting parameters such as 50% capacity and mandatory antigen tests

Secretary General of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association believes that G20 events will bring significant benefit to Bali’s hotels, estimating that the events will more than double hotel occupancy. He stated that Bali’s recovery should rely on domestic and international MICE events because it can bring impact to the leisure industry, further noting that MICE should contribute 70% to the tourism industry while leisure occupy the other 30%

Head of Bali’s Gianyar Chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association refuted Indonesia’s Vice President’s claim that Bali’s hotel occupancy is full, stating: “Where’s the data? Is it valid?” He stated that the claim might point to high occupancy in Nusa Dua due to recent sport and ministry events, but asserted that the Gianyar area “is far from crowded”

Indonesia has cancelled the nationwide Level 3 PPKM for the year-end holidays to make a more balanced policy for each area in Indonesia. Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator explained that the recent low number of cases and high vaccination achievements were some reasons for the cancellation of the policy. PPKM Levels will follow assessment of the pandemic situation in each area with year-end restrictions still in place, including: • Fully-vaccinated domestic travellers must present a negative ART taken within 24 hours of departure. Partially-vaccinated people or those unvaccinated due to health reasons are not permitted to travel • Children travelling by air must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure, or a negative ART taken within 24 hours for those travelling by land or sea New Year’s eve celebrations at hotels, malls, tourist attractions, and other public places are prohibited • Malls, restaurants, cinemas, and tourist attractions may open to 75% capacity, with only people indicated as “green” on the PeduliLindungi app can enter (fully vaccinated, not a COVID-19 patient or close contact, or have a negative COVID-19 test) • Social cultural events are limited to 50 people

Minister of Tourism stated that “tourism is now kept alive by domestic tourists”, though no exact number of domestic tourist mobility was revealed. The ministry aims to attract up to 2 million international tourists in 2022

6,500 delegates for the Bali G20 Summit including world leaders, ministers, and press are scheduled to visit leading tourism destinations in Bali such as Garuda Wishnu Kencana, Carang Sari Village, Kintamani, Mount Batur, Ubud Area, and Tanah Lot

PCR devices capable of detecting the Omicron variant have been installed at 6 entry points for international travellers and could test 500-600 samples per day

PPKM outside Java-Bali extended from 7-23 Dec. Level 1 areas have increased from 51 to 129 districts and cities, Level 2 areas have increased from 175 to 193, and Level 3 areas have decreased from 160 to 64 districts and cities. At least 9 provinces outside Java-Bali still have a vaccination rate of less than 50%

RedDoorz’s bookings have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels following Indonesia’s national vaccination drive and easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Average room occupancy has risen to 57% compared to last year’s 20%, with expectations to rise to 70% next year. RedDoorz’s Vice President of Operations is “optimistic about the opportunities in 2022”, especially with the G20 Summit taking place in Indonesia. The company aims to operate 100 SANS Hotel properties by the end of 2022, with 23 now already in operation

Three leading tourism areas; Malang, Batu City, and Lumajang, along with 12 tourism villages were affected by the Mount Semeru eruption. Ministry of Tourism to carry out recovery efforts, starting from assessment of damage, loss, and available resources on-site

West Nusa Tenggara might not be able to accommodate the expected 200,000 guests at MotoGP 2022, as average occupancy of hotels and homestays during the World Superbike reached 95% with 20,000 guests. Accommodations in Bali and Labuan Bajo are expected to be alternatives for MotoGP guests. The government will also determine hotel price standardisation to avoid a surge in prices, which was a problem during the World Superbike event

Head of Bali’s Badung Chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association stated that hotel occupancy rate in Badung is currently only 35% though domestic visits are expected to increase during year-end holidays

least 13 people have died and thousands are displaced after Mt Semeru in East Java erupted

The President has conveyed 3 points of importance for Bali’s economic revival: 1. Diversification of the economy is needed so Bali does not depend on one sector 2. Bali’s tourism industry must accommodate the paradigm shift in travellers post-pandemic and prioritise health and safety 3. Bali’s tourism must transform from mass tourism to social, culture, and environmentally-based green tourism that is in line with Balinese values and philosophy

Minister of Tourism has launched the Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2021 to boost tourism, especially in the events sector

North Sumatra’s Kualanamu International Airport seeks to compete with Singapore’s Changi and Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airports as regional hubs. French and Indian-owned GMR Airports Consortium and local operator Angkasa Pura II will form a joint venture, Angkasa Pura Aviasi, to operate the Kualanamu Airport under a 25-year strategic partnership worth $6 billion USD, in hopes of increasing annual traffic from 10 million pre-pandemic to 54 million, rivaling Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta. They also hope to draw a high number of passengers travelling between South Asia, North Asia, and Australia. GMR Airports has also dedicated $3.89 billion USD for the airport’s expansion project

Indonesia, particularly Bali, has been appointed as the host for UNWTO’s World Tourism Day on 27 Sep 2022. Yogyakarta’s Nglanggeran village has also been recognised by UNWTO as one of the Best Tourism Villages in 2021

Malang’s Abdulrachman Saleh Airport and Surabaya’s Juanda International Airport to continue operating normally despite proximity to the recently-erupted Mount Semeru. Intensive monitoring will be conducted to ensure flight safety

More of Bali’s accommodations has leaned into the green tourism trend, with those implementing sustainability initiatives seeing higher occupancy rate than competitors

Telkom Indonesia to introduce the Tomps application which could be used to digitally monitor and supervise development projects in Super Priority Tourism Destinations

Bali to tighten surveillance on air, land, and sea entrances for Indonesian and foreign nationals amid concerns over the Omicron variant and in preparation for the G20 Summit in 2022

Bali to ban fireworks for New Year’s Eve celebrations in Badung region, in line with government’s year-end restrictions

Badung Tourism Agency has proposed to the government to keep allowing domestic tourists to visit Bali despite partial lockdown, stating that the domestic market is “our only hope” as Bali’s economy keeps struggling

The National Development Planning Agency to divide three Gianyar sub-districts in Bali: Ubud, Tegallalang, and Payangan into 3 tourism zones: • Zone 1 will be the Main Zone which includes the villages of Ubud, Peliatan, and Mas. Tourist attractions in the zone include Monkey Forest, Puri Lukisan and several museums. The Main Zone will focus on city tours and performance arts. The IB Zone: Singakerta, Lodtunduh, Sayan, Kedewatan, Petulu, Keliki, Tegalalang, and Melinggih Kelod will be the supporting areas to the main zone • Zone 2 will be the Cultural Tourism Development Zone which includes the villages of Kenderan, Kedisan, Melinggih, Kelusa, and Bukian • Zone 3 will be the Natural Tourism Development Zone which includes the villages of Pupuan, Sebatu, Taro, Beresela, Puhu, Buahan, Buahan Kaja, and Kerta

442.7 billion IDR has been allocated for 2022 for construction and development of transportation facilities and infrastructure in the Five Super Priority Tourism Destinations, aiming to ease travels to and from the destinations by increasing airports’ passenger terminal capacity, adding international and domestic flight routes, expanding train infrastructures, constructing sea ports, and increasing road safety

The number of passengers at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport in Nov grew 20% MoM, serving 276,468 domestic passenger departures and 279,160 domestic arrivals, the highest number in 2021. The number of flights to and from the airport increased 21% MoM with 2,185 flights departing and 2,184 arriving. 316,774 passengers traveled between Jakarta-Bali, making it the busiest route, followed by Surabaya-Bali route with 72,614 passengers, and Ujung Pandang-Bali with 38,188. Lion Air carried the most passengers with 81,459, followed by Citilink with 64,975, and Batik Air with 53,505 passengers

The Bali Tourism Alliance has urged the government to provide stimulus to Bali’s tourism workers, especially with the complicated entry requirement policies for international visitors and additional year-end restrictions that will further halt the tourism industry

Indonesia to launch the Kerthi Bali Economic Road Towards a New Era of Bali: Green, Resilient, and Prosperous, as well as the Ulapan Tourism Area Development Master Plan. The economic roadmap will outline economic recovery and transformation strategies and accommodate post-COVID changes to the Bali economy, including accelerating digitisation, developing quality tourism, and implementing sustainable development. The Ulapan Tourism Development Plan is a step towards cultural-based, sustainable quality tourism in Bali through the development of 3 zones in the Ulapan region: Zone 1 - Experiencing the Spirit of Ubud, Zone 2 - Living in the Ubud Culture, and Zone 3 - Enjoy the Nature of Paradise

BNI Bank held the Xpora Virtual Golf Tour in Bali on 27-28 Nov in hopes of raising enthusiasm for sport tourism in Indonesia, which could create a multiplier effect that can revive the economy. BNI Corporate Secretary stated that through the event they hope to help Bali’s tourism and that “hotels will be filled again, travel/tourism transportation will come back to life, and local SMEs will return to their activities”

Ministry of Transportation to provide 4 Bottom Glass tourist boats to Super Priority Tourism Destinations of Likupang and Labuan Bajo

Deputy Head of the Association of The Indonesian Tours And Travel Agencies (ASITA) predicted that the year-end Level 3 PPKM would not hinder the tourism sector and instead, the public is taking advantage of the period before the restrictions to travel. He believed that traffic will pick up again in Jan-Mar after the restrictions are lifted, when usually it is considered a low season for travel. He also urged tourism businesses to always prioritise and ensure safety to prevent COVID-19 clusters

Central Lombok District Deputy Head strives to improve tourism villages to be at international standards as the district has become an international tourism destination with the designation of the Mandalika Special Economic Zone as a Super Priority Tourism Destination

Quarantine period for travellers arriving from countries other than the 11 countries on the temporary entry ban will be further extended from 7 to 10 days from 3 Dec. All travellers must take RT-PCR test on arrival and on the day before quarantine ends

Bali Governor stated that domestic arrivals have reached around 20,000 per day, comprising 9,000-12,000 visitors by air and around 10,800 by land. He also stated that 89% Bali residents have received 2nd dose of vaccination, second highest in Indonesia after Jakarta

Indonesia’s Immigration has issued 153 tourist visas since Oct, mostly from France, India, and Sweden

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment stated that average tourist spending in Bali at $125 USD per night is still considerably lower than that of Kuala Lumpur with $142 USD, Phuket with $247 USD, and Singapore with $272 USD per night. The minister highlighted that COVID-19 has caused a paradigm shift from quantity-based to quality-based tourism and thus, urged Bali to focus on the quality of tourism

No Omicron cases have been detected in Indonesia as of 1 Dec

Monitoring on mobility will be tightened during year-end holidays, especially the “movement of private vehicles that are generally more difficult to control”. Public transportation will be restricted to a max of 70% capacity for each vehicle, with transport operators only permitted to operate 50% of their fleet

Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy urges tourism stakeholders to utilise technology to adapt to changes in tourism trends during the pandemic, including shifting to digital payment or holding virtual tours

Minister of Tourism hopes the 2021 Indonesia Tourism Awards can increase the potential and attractiveness of various destinations and revive enthusiasm for Indonesia tourism

A total of 15,720 international visitors have entered Indonesia by air in Oct, with 13,700 entering through Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport, 1,952 through Manado’s Sam Ratulangi airport, 37 through Surabaya’s Juanda airport, 2 through Bali’s Ngurah Rai, and 37 through other airports. A total of 151,000 foreign visitors arrived by air, sea, and land, an increase of 21.73% MoM but down 0.83% YoY

Ministry of Transport proposes distributing car stickers for those travelling between provinces to signify that the driver and passengers have been vaccinated and tested negative for COVID-19, in order to simplify checks at highway rest stops, checkpoints, and provincial borders

Indonesia welcomed 126,500 foreign tourists in Sep 2021, an increase of 1.41% MoM but a decline of 15.08% YoY. Foreign tourist arrivals in Sep dominated by Timor Leste at 57.7% and Malaysia at 31.5%

PPKM in Java-Bali extended until 13 Dec. Bali stays at Level 2, while Jakarta has gone up from Level 1 to Level 2 due to an increase in the rate of COVID-19 transmission

New rule from the COVID-19 Task Force states that vaccine certificates and negative COVID-19 test results will be required for domestic travel between 24 Dec-2 Jan 2022. PCR test should be taken max 3x24 hours and ART 24 hours prior to departure. Government will also limit land, air, and sea vehicle capacity at 50%

East Nusa Tenggara tourism stakeholders to target Jakarta and Bali markets in hopes of boosting domestic tourism, as well as reviving international demand, as both cities are gateways for foreign travellers. The province is offering adventure activities and packages, and is in talks to collaborate with the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies for a camper van travel package scheduled to launch in Jun 2022

Semarang regency, one of the supporting clusters of the Borobudur Super Priority Destination, steps up infrastructure development and establishes investment opportunities to boost tourism. Head of Semarang Regency Tourism Office highlighted the importance of tourism promotions and suggested leveraging events such as Gedongsongo Festival, and the 3 upcoming 2022 events in Kampoeng Kopi Banaran, comprising of the first music concert in the middle of coffee plantation titled Dynamic Fest in Jun, Black Market Festival during coffee picking season in Aug, and followed by Indonesia’s first International Motor Show at year-end

Bali hotel occupancy less than 10% in Sep, though Minister of Tourism said unofficial industry figures put the number higher

Indonesia to prioritise COVID-19 control over tourism ahead of a series of G20 meetings starting Dec, which will mostly be held in Bali. Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy said that G20 Bali Summit in Nov 2022 will attract nearly 70,000 delegates and states: “We don't want to risk this event [by] rushing to remove quarantine [rules]”

Indonesia looks to make tourism greener and more sustainable as a part in implementing the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals. Minister of Tourism said that Indonesia’s tourism will shift "from a quantity basis to a quality basis" with "personalized, customized, localized and smaller" trips. Renewable energies in tourism destinations and carbon offset activities, such as mangrove planting, will be introduced

Mount Rinjani trekking route closed until end of Mar 2022 due to extreme weather

Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy states that the revival of Indonesia tourism relies heavily on domestic tourists

Bali’s Klungkung Regent said tourist attractions in Nusa Penida are filled with domestic tourists ahead of year-end holidays. He also opened the 2021 Rally Sepeda Hidup Sehat (Healthy Living Bike Rally) Series held there as one of a series of programmes to develop sport tourism in the Five Super Priority Tourism Destinations

Bali’s domestic arrivals at Ngurah Rai Airport shot to above 11,000 on 24-26 Nov due to the easing of testing requirements, before dropping again to below 10,000 since 27 Nov due to year-end PPKM policy

Mandalika World Superbike has created a multiplier effect in Lombok, with hotel occupancy in the area reaching 95% and transportation rental services gaining 70 million IDR revenue per month compared to 10-15 million IDR per month before the event

Indonesia to tighten border control and only allows international visitors to enter through 5 airports: Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta, Bali’s Ngurah Rai, Batam’s Hang Nadim, Riau’s Raja Haji Fisabilillah, and Manado’s Sam Ratulangi

Head of Public Relations of the West Nusa Tenggara Police stated that the MotoGP 2022 event at Mandalika circuit is expected to draw 6 times more spectators compared to Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (IATC) and World Superbike (WSBK)

Indonesian Embassy held an Integrated Promotion on Tourism and Trade in Phnom Penh, promoting West Java as a tourism destination with the Virtual Familiarisation trip. The event aims to explore cooperation between tourism associations, operators, and travel agents of Indonesia and Cambodia

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy said that the Omicron variant will affect the traffic of both foreign and domestic tourists, directly affecting the tourism sector. He urged all tourism businesses to be vigilant

3rd wave of COVID-19 possible during year-end holidays, as herd immunity is not expected to be established by Dec and with the emergence of the Omicron variant. Cases are predicted to be between 70,000 (moderate scenario) and 400,000 (worst-case scenario)

Bali Governor asks for tourism workers’ patience amidst the emergence of the Omicron variant, as borders tighten and foreign arrivals are hindered. The governor hopes domestic arrivals can be maintained as a step towards tourism and economic recovery

Indonesia has released new policies in response to the Omicron variant: • Foreign nationals with travel history to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi, Angola, Zambia, and Hong Kong (China) within the past 14 days will be denied entry. The list of countries will be periodically evaluated • Indonesians who return home from or with travel history to the 11 countries on the temporary entry ban will be quarantined for 14 days • Quarantine period for foreign nationals and Indonesian travellers arriving from countries other than the 11 countries on the temporary entry ban will be extended to 7 days

G20 delegates exempted from travel restrictions in response to the Omicron variant

Indonesia will ban travellers from 8 countries from 29 Nov: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini and Nigeria

The government has urged people not to travel to their hometowns over the year-end holidays

EHang 216 Flying Taxi made its demo flight in Bali, while awaiting the issuance of regulations for it to officially serve passengers. The vehicle is able to reach remote areas and is expected to be a new means of tourism revival, medical rescue, logistics, and an effective, safe, and affordable air transport

Minister of Communication and Information reported that Indonesia is in the list of five countries with the largest decline in COVID-19 cases. He claimed that since the peak of the spike, cases have dropped by 99.3% and have remained low for around 3 months

All of Denpasar considered a green (low-risk) zone for the first time since the pandemic started, with an average of 2 active cases per village across 43 villages

Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency states that Bali’s recovery might be the key for Indonesia to drive the tourism industry and revive the people’s income. It could also demonstrate Indonesia’s capability on handling the pandemic

Central Lombok, West Lombok, and Mataram City reported significant revenue gain from Mandalika World Superbike (WSBK) event, while North Lombok’s tourism remain quiet and didn’t see much impact

Bank Indonesia predicts that GDP will grow by between 4.7-5.5% in 2022 as a result of the rebound in domestic demand and global economic activity

FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Asia Cup 2022 to be held on 12-24 Jul 2022 in Jakarta, with participation from 16 teams

Road to Asian Venture Philanthropy Network Conference & International Events was held in Bali on 25-26 Nov to welcome and prepare for the AVPN Global Conference that will be held on 21-24 Jun 2022. The events are expected to revive the MICE and tourism industry in Indonesia

Around 4.2 million civil servants and 2 million workers in state-owned companies, and many more in private firms will be banned from taking leave during the Christmas-New Year period as a measure to avoid spike in COVID-19 cases

Hotel occupancy rate in Sorong, West Papua has risen to normal levels. Hotel staff who have been laid-off at the beginning of the pandemic has been gradually called in to return to work since beginning of Nov

Head Alliance of Bali Marginal Tourism (APPMB) disagrees with government’s policy on tight year-end restrictions, worrying that it will cause mass cancellations for visits to Bali and claiming that the policy does not support tourism businesses’ efforts to revive the industry

Jokowi states that Geoparks might fit current tourism trends, namely ecotourism and wellness tourism, and have the potential to be attractive tourist destinations. He emphasised that innovative ideas are needed to balance nature conservation with economy. Indonesia has 6 UNESCO-recognised global geoparks

Digital tourism considered a promising opportunity and a way to improve tourism services in Bali. A Regional Regulation has been drafted on the establishment of regional companies for organising digital cultural tourism in Bali

Domestic tourists prefer to stay in Nusa Dua and Canggu over Seminyak, Legian, and Kuta, with 35% of Bali’s villas still unable to resume operations until the end of 2021. Accommodation operators face problems as at least 50 million IDR is needed to renovate and prepare properties for tourists after 1.5 years of inactivity

PPKM outside Java-Bali extended until 6 Dec

Series 4 of the Indonesian Football League 1 Competition to be held in Bali in Jan 2022 in order to revive the tourism industry

PPKM Level 3 rules for year-end holidays (24 Dec-2 Jan 2022) confirmed to be as follows: • Travelling or returning to hometown is discouraged if not for urgent reasons. Travellers must use PeduliLindungi app and take COVID-19 tests when departing and returning Transportation hubs, ports, stations, highways will be tightly controlled • Christmas worships will be held in hybrid manner, with in-person attendance at a max 50% of church capacity • Shopping centers, cinemas, and in-mall F&B establishments permitted to operate between 9 am - 10 pm, with 50% capacity. • Visitors must use PeduliLindungi app and be in the yellow or green category to enter. Celebrations inside malls are prohibited. • Odd-even traffic rules will be applied on roads to priority tourist attractions, which can operate at a 50% capacity, with only visitors in the yellow or green category of PeduliLindungi app allowed to enter. Celebration or parties prohibited. • Civil servants, state-owned enterprise employees, military and police prohibited from taking leave with others encouraged to take leave after the period • Schools prohibited from issuing additional days off on top of government-mandated holidays on 25 Dec and Jan 1

Mandalika locals benefited from the World Superbike (WSBK) event, especially in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and hope the condition continues to improve even after the event. Jokowi promised that major events will continue to be held every year to boost the local economy

Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy promotes the “4 AS” to be the core values for tourism and creative industries to revive their businesses and the national economy, which stands for Kerja KerAS (hard-working), CerdAS (smart working), TuntAS (thorough), and IkhlAS (sincere)

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy expressed appreciation to Kole Sawangan Tourism Village for its readiness to welcome tourists, stating its worthiness to be branded as one of Indonesia’s top priority tourism destinations. The village is expected to revive the local economy through job creation in the tourism sector

NTT loosened COVID-19 testing requirements for travels within the region, considering the high necessity of transportation between islands that locals rely on. Fully vaccinated travellers using air or sea transport do not need to be tested, while those who have only received one dose still require an antigen test

Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy proposes changes in entry policies including: • Opening borders to low-risk (level 1-3) countries including Australia • Allowing not only direct flights, but flights that transit in low-risk countries • Allowing tourists to enter based on their current residency and not on passport origins • Cooperating with Ministry of Law and Human Rights to increase visa quotas and abolish the guarantor provision requirement

Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy suggests reevaluation of policies to make Bali more attractive to foreign visitors and able to compete with neighbouring countries. Demands have increased for the India market, with airlines and Indonesian tourism businesses preparing tour packages for fully vaccinated Indian tourists. However, Mutual Recognition Arrangements still need to be set between the two countries to obtain flight permit for tourism purposes

South Korean Consul General for Bali hopes Bali-Korea cooperation increases, especially in the tourism sector, as Bali is in the top 7 destinations most visited by South Koreans

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy inaugurated the Gallery of Indonesian World Record Museum (MURI) Revitalization Project. The collaboration between the ministry and MURI aims to develop special interest destinations by showcasing their uniqueness

Mobility in Indonesia on a steady incline since Sep, reaching levels from before the pandemic

Mandalika WSBK drew the biggest crowd for any event in Indonesia since the start of the pandemic, with over 20,000 spectators during the final on 21 Nov and 15,000 during the free practice session on 29 Nov

Local tourism workers disappointed over lack of international flights arriving in Bali. Indonesian Tourist Guide Association’s Mandarin Chinese-speaking division dropped from 1,500 guides to around 100 during the pandemic due to lack of work. Garuda Indonesia executive stated that it will open Haneda-Jakarta route that transits in Bali on 5 Dec, offering hope for locals

The Bali Bangkit Forum, composed of 34 tourism stakeholders, sent an open letter to the President on 19 Nov stating that they have been “suffering for nearly two years” and urged Jokowi to “truly reopen Bali” in order to revive the economy. They suggested easing the requirements for tourists to enter Bali, including: • Simplifying Paid E-visa application for individual travel purposes or reopening Visa on Arrival and Free Visa applications, especially for those from low risk countries. • Applying a no-quarantine policy for international tourists or designating Bali as “Quarantine Island”, allowing tourists to freely pick any CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, Environment Sustainability) certified hotels as accommodation during their stay. • Allowing passengers to arrive on transit flights. • Expanding the list of countries that are allowed to enter Bali, especially Australia, European countries, and other countries with low COVID-19 risk. • Reducing insurance coverage for international tourists to $50,000 USD

Indonesia to boost domestic wellness tourism industry starting with Surakarta, Yogyakarta, and Bali. Wellness tourism has become increasingly popular during the pandemic and is expected to grow further with industry value predicted to increase to $919 billion USD by 2022 and over $1,672 billion USD by 2030. Indonesia is currently ranked 17th among the top global wellness destinations, generating 1.31 million jobs and $6.9 billion USD in revenue

Indonesia will offer cash assistance of 600,000 IDR to tourism workers in 3 instalments

Cultural Landscape of Bali ranked 18th in Design Bundles’ list of 30 Most Popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2021, based on data from UNESCO and Instagram

Bali to host 14th IESF (International Esports Federation) Esports World Championship on 20-27 Nov ‘22, expecting participation from over 120 countries with over one million participants

EU member states are advised to lift entry ban on Indonesian residents following the country’s addition to the list of epidemiologically safe third countries. Indonesia has shown a significant drop in COVID-19 cases, showing one case per 100,000 residents in the last 7 days

Indonesia’s COVID-19 Task Force urges tourism businesses to be disciplined in following PPKM policies to avoid a spike in cases following year-end holidays

COVID-19 pandemic causes shift in tourism trend, with travellers preferring nature-based tourism and open spaces. Head of Public Communications of the COVID-19 Task Force encourages tourism businesses to be innovative and accommodate the shifting trend in order to bounce back after being hit by the pandemic

Hotels in Mataram City fully booked ahead of the Mandalika World Superbike (WSBK) event. Out of 4,077 hotel rooms in Mataram, only 2,777 are available to use with the rest being utilised by a local mining enterprise as isolation facilities. Implementation of WSBK and Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (IATC) event boosts tourism and economy in Mataram city, with expectations to generate 500 million IDR and 7,945 jobs

PeduliLindungi app has been used over 170 million times, with daily average reaching over 3 million usage. Coordinator for the enforcement of PPKM in the Java-Bali region urged vigilance as people’s discipline in using the app declines alongside the decline of COVID-19 cases

PPKM Level 3 to be implemented across all regions from 24 Dec to 2 Jan to restrict mobility and prevent a spike in cases. Celebrations that result in mass congregations will also be banned. Places of worship, shopping centers, restaurants, and cinemas will operate on a maximum 50% capacity with shopping centers closing at 9 pm

Bali to limit foreign arrivals to a maximum of 1,500 tourists per day during the year-end holiday season to prevent a 3rd wave of transmission, though no international flights have landed since 14 Oct reopening

Indonesia’s participation to Vaccinated Travel Lanes still under review as Jokowi urges ministries and agencies to analyze pandemic situation in other countries before initiating any travel agreements

Bali tightens CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety & Environment Sustainability) protocols at 94 tourist attractions to prepare for year-end tourist arrivals

Acting Head of the Bali Tourism Office stated “efforts need to be made to achieve sustainable and quality cultural tourism in Bali”, emphasising the importance of the five pillars to build Bali tourism: academia, business, community, government, and media

PPKM in Java-Bali extended until 29 Nov as cases arise in 29% of districts and cities compared to the previous week, with mobility rising to the rates of the Eid al-Fitr holidays in May-June 2021. 26 districts and cities are currently at Level 1 PPKM, 61 are at Level 2, and 41 are at Level 3

Indonesian Government’s latest CHSE Event Protocol (CERPEN) campaign aim to revive tourism and event businesses by distributing CHSE guidebook to public and local media in Mandalika

Denpasar’s Head of Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) said foreign tourists are choosing Thailand over Bali due to Thailand having no quarantine restrictions

Bali Vice Governor considered the lack of direct long-distance flights and limited e-visa quota (1,500 per day) to be behind foreign tourists refraining from visiting Bali. As many as 20,000 passengers from major flights were unable to visit Bali in Nov due to restrictions on transit flights

The Bali governor has requested the government reduce the quarantine to one day for international visitors. He also clarified that some Japanese visitors will arrive into Bali by Garuda Indonesia later in Nov

The government has said that a bubble system for the Indonesia Badminton Festival which will be held in Bali, can be used as a model for other international sports competitions. Athletes are limited to certain areas

The government will not implement restrictions over the Christmas and New Year holidays, except by cancelling the joint leave day

: Jokowi has said that he will meet with the Singapore PM to discuss when the 2 countries can reopen to one another, which could be between Bintan-Singapore or Bali-Singapore. Indonesia will not “rush towards an endemic state”, and the move will happen when it is “really ready”

Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI) to provide credit guarantees worth up to 100 billion IDR to Bali tourism businesses. LPEI Managing Director stated that banks are getting increasingly confident to extend credit to tourism businesses with COVID-19 cases decreasing and tourism recovering

Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to open up a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between the two countries, Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur-Bali. The details have yet to be released

The Indonesian Ulema Council has ruled that cryptocurrency is not permitted under Islam, but digital asset trading would be permitted

Some hotels in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) have reported 100% occupancy on the weekend, ahead of the Mandalika World Superbike (WSBK) event

Mandalika Circuit inaugurated ahead of the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (IATC) motorcycle-racing event and the Mandalika World Superbike (WSBK) event in mid-Nov

Google Mobility Data has shown that more Indonesians are visiting shopping malls and supermarkets, bouncing back to pre-pandemic levels

The first Gran Melia property in Lombok will open in 2024

The government is planning to allocate $300.1 million USD into the high-speed Jakarta-Bandung railway, so that its construction can continue

The Tourism Minister has stated that it wants to focus on “quality and sustainability type of tourism”, with the ”concept of personalise, customise, localise and smaller, much, much smaller in size tourism”. They want to extend the length of stay as part of this endeavour. The government is aiming to welcome 8-10 million international tourists by 2024, but say that it will take time to reach this level

The Tourism Minister has said that chartered flights in Bali could be a possibility, with scheduled flights after that. He also noted that there is a “lot of demand for the live on boat quarantine” scheme. He stated that with Indonesia set to host the G20 summit, the country has to be “very, very absolutely sure that the opening up of Bali would be done … on a safe and secure basis”

Indonesia has extended its PPKM implementation outside of Java-Bali from 9-22 Nov. 5 are at level 2, and the rest at level 1

The preparations for the World Superbike in Mandalika is now 100% complete. Ticket prices for the domestic market have also been adjusted to be more affordable

Tourism stakeholders in Bali have complained that government finance measures are not helping SMEs, and that the credit guarantees only benefit larger companies

Indonesia and the UAE have agreed to mutually recognise one another’s vaccination certificates, and to strengthen further their travel corridor agreement

The Bali Tourism Board has urged the government to reduce quarantine for international vaccinated visitors to just 1 day. They also reported that hotels have yet to receive international visitor bookings, and questioned the validity of the statement from the Bali governor that 20,000 hotel reservations have been made

20.35% of Bali’s working population have been impacted by COVID-19, and there are almost 49k unemployed people

: Indonesia’s GDP for Q3 2021 grew 3.51% YoY, a slowdown from Q2 2021’s growth of 7.07%. Bank Indonesia expect FY 2021 to have growth of 3.5-4.3%. The country’s unemployment rate in Aug 2021 stood at 6.49%

Tickets for the Superbike World Championship (WSBK) on 19-21 Nov are being sold at a price point much too expensive for local residents to be able to attend, Coconuts Bali has said

Bali tourism players such as Tanah Lot and Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park are feeling more optimistic about domestic tourists arriving, now that the RT-PCR requirement for air travellers has been waived

Indonesia and Singapore are working together on a Vaccinated Travel Lane, the Indonesian government has stated

4 international events will be held in Bali from the end of Nov: The 2021 Indonesian Badminton Festival, the 4th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 4) of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and 4 G20 conferences

The quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated inbound air travellers has now changed to 3 days, instead of 5, whilst partially vaccinated passengers must quarantine for 5 days. The government will also offer a Live On Board (LOB) program in partnership with the Association of Leisure Boats Network, which will use 38 boats to provide quarantine facilities, and allows passengers to cruise around during the quarantine. The Tourism Minister stated that Indonesia is in talks with 8 low-risk countries to establish travel lanes, including Austria, Australia, Denmark, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Russia, the Netherlands, and Germany. The government is also preparing Benoa Port in Bali and the ports of Batam and Bintan, to be able to accept international arrivals

The Ministry of Tourism and one of the largest ride hailing companies in Bali have partnered together to support domestic tourism

6 villages in Badung, Bali, are designed new tourism villages

The Tourism Minister has said that the 2021 Mandalika World Superbike (WSBK) event in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) will mark a revival of tourism, with requests for tours already being received. 25,000 spectators will be permitted, and ticket sales have started already

Jakarta’s lockdown status will be downgraded to PPKM Level 1. This will allow 75% of office capacity for non-essential sectors, 100% of hospitality staff are permitted to work, and teaching can take place at 50%. Shops selling essential goods can open until 10pm, and restaurant capacity can expand to 75% and malls at 100%, with children under 12 years old permitted to enter

Bali will remain under PPKM Level 2 until 15 Nov

ASITA Bali has called for the government to stop its indecisiveness and changes for travel, noting that they show “that policy makers are uncoordinated, unequivocal, and inconsistent in making policies that ultimately harm the community”

The Indonesian Tourism Ministry has partnered with AXN Asia to launch a TV series, AXN Ultimate Challenge Indonesia. It will showcase Indonesia in 6 15-minute episodes

Jan-Sep international arrivals to Indonesia were -67% YoY, at just 1,185,482. Room occupancy in Indonesia in Sep was at 36.64%, with North Kalimantan showing the highest rate, and Bali just 9.46%

Traveloka is expanding its “buy now, pay later” technology ahead of its IPO, which is likely to take place in 2022. It is looking at expanding it to Thailand and Vietnam

Travellers in Java and Bali on road trips more than 250km or 4 hours, must show vaccination proof and have a negative test result

The Tourism Minister has said that it has proposed to open up Bali to 8 additional countries: Austria, Australia, Denmark, UK, Switzerland, Russia, Germany and the Netherlands

The Tourism Minister has said that the RT-PCR tests for air passengers has impacted the domestic arrivals to Bali, and that it had reached 10,000 pax, but had dropped down to 7,000 daily

Indonesia is in talks with Australia to open up a Vaccinated Travel Lane and cooperate to mutually recognise one another’s vaccination certificates

Research from Australian company Vacaay has shown that Bali is one of the top 10 searched destinations by Australians

Indonesia and India are discussing mutually recognising one another’s vaccination certificates

Jakarta has reopened some of its public parks, museums and zoos

The Vice Governor for Bali estimates that Bali could receive 10,000-12,000 domestic tourists per day over the Christmas and New Year break, and currently 6,500 are visiting daily

The US has lowered Indonesia’s risk level to Level 1 (low)

A study by Indonesia International Outdoor Festival (IIOUTFEST), the Archipelago Nature Tourism Centre Cooperative Services (KOPISETARA) and the BJB Bank showed 99% of respondents wanted to take adventure trips post-pandemic. Other statistics showed: • 72% spent 1-2 nights on holiday, 24% spent more than 2 nights • 25% spent between 250,000-500,000 IDR on each outdoor trip, 21% spent up to 1 million IDR and 31% more than 1 million IDR • 51% prefer glamping as their accommodation • 72% arrange their own trips by referring to information from social media, OTAs, and travel aggregators

More wildlife has been spotted in national parks since the pandemic

Australia has removed its “do not travel” advisory for Indonesia, and lowered its risk level to 2 from its previous 4

The Indonesian Halal Tourism Association is planning a new campaign, Wellness Tourism for Healthy and Prosperous Life, in Nov. It will offer training and workshops, focusing on wellness tourism

The government has scrapped the collective leave day on 24 Dec, as well as forbidden civil servants from taking leave during national holidays, to limit mobility over the year-end and stop the spread of COVID-19. It is urging the public to stay at home, and those who do travel must be vaccinated and have a negative RT-PCR test for air travel, or a negative antigen test for land travel

All travellers by air, land and sea will need to undergo an RT-PCR test, the government has announced. The cost for the RT-PCR tests will be lowered to 300,000 IDR, something the government has stated is one of the lowest rates in the world. The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment expects 19.9 million people in Bali and Java to travel over the year-end holidays, with 4.45 million of these around Jakarta

All Indonesians must undergo a 5-day mandatory quarantine on return to Indonesia, the government has stated

The Karangasem chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) has said that domestic tourists to Bali are cancelling their travel bookings after RT-PCR tests became mandatory for air travellers. The Bali governor has stated that he is in favour of the requirements

Indonesia has confirmed that the number of cases is increasing over the last 2 weeks, but is still within the safe limit set by the WHO

Jokowi stated during the ASEAN Business Summit that it was crucial for ASEAN to have a vaccinated travel corridor, and urged the region to establish one

Qantas has said that it discussions are underway with the Indonesian government to restart flights to Bali

Indonesia will allocate $645 million USD in its 2022 budget for tourism recovery, with 6.5 trillion IDR for central government spending and 2.8 trillion IDR for regional spend. It will be used to develop the 5 super priority destinations, and for the development of accessibility, attractions and tourist amenities. The Tourism Minister has said that Indonesia will focus on promoting “higher quality” tourism, and will promote the “spirit of sustainability”, and nature tourism

Children below 12 years old will be permitted to travel on all types of vehicles, so long as they have a negative test result

Jakarta has seen its restrictions eased to Level 2 PPKM from Level 3, as the first dose vaccine coverage exceeded 50%. It will run from 19 Oct-1 Nov

The 19 countries which have been selected for international arrivals have been carefully selected, according to the government, and are based on a positivity rate below 5%, and the number of COVID cases

Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to establish a travel corridor for essential business travel, the respective foreign ministers announced. They stated that it would be followed by academics, then tourists. No start date was given

The quarantine for international arrivals has been shortened from 8 to 5 days from 14 Oct. Travellers will need to undergo 2 RT-PCR tests – one on arrival, and the other on day 4 of quarantine. International visitors from 19 countries will be permitted to visit Indonesia via direct flights to Bali or Riau Islands: Bahrain, China, France, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. They will need to have a visit visa, health insurance, hotel reservation and payment proof

Bali’s governor expects 100-200 international tourists per week to visit Bali under the month-long pilot reopening scheme. After the month, the government will assess whether to continue the program

There are no international flight scheduled to arrive into Bali on 14 Oct

The Tourism Minister has stated that Indonesia will develop medical tourism, with 15 class A and B hospitals in Greater Jakarta, Bali and Medan piloting the scheme. It will target the domestic market initially, whose pre-pandemic spend on medical tourism overseas totalled $11 billion USD. It will focus on 8+1 medical treatments, with medical tourism packages which will be launched in Nov. The trade urged the government to ensure that participating hospitals used digital processes, otherwise it would be “difficult to sell”

The Riau governor has said that there are no plans to cancel a travel bubble between the Riau Islands and Singapore, despite news reports stating this was the case

The PPKM outside of Java and Bali has been extended until 18 Oct, with no more provinces under Level 4, 4 under Level 3, 22 under Level 2 and 1 under Level 1

The head of the Tourism Office-Riau Islands has said that the government is aiming for Bintan to be the first travel bubble destination with Singapore, with Lagoi ready to reopen to international tourists. It will first be limited to 100 pax, and should any visitor fall sick, a direct evacuation to Singapore will be arranged

The Tourism Minister has said that Bali’s reopening will be discussed at the Coordinating Ministerial Meeting on 30 Sep. He commented that the conditions in Bali have shown a conductive situation

Many Tanah Lot Temple area vendors are choosing to stay closed, despite the temple being open, due to lacklustre numbers of visitors. The temple expected around 1,000 visitors per day, but are so far averaging at 300

Tourism businesses have been permitted to operate until midnight, with strict protocols in place

Indonesia now has the lowest number of daily infections per capita in ASEAN

Taking selfies without a face mask on is forbidden in tourist areas, the Tourism Minister has reminded visitors

The Bali Tourism Agency has stated that 4,300 domestic travellers are visiting Bali by air, an increase from the lows of 700-800 in Jun/ Jul. The most visited places include the beaches in Kuta, Legian and Pandawa

Bali is looking into collecting levies on the parking of tourist boats and yachts at the pier 12 miles offshore

78 hotels have registered as quarantine hotels for the reopening of Bali tourism

The Ministry of Tourism will collaborate with Pegipegi, with co-branding and data sharing on the CHSE scheme. Users will be able to filter hotels by their compliance with CHSE. Pegipegi will also promote the 5 super priority destinations

Jakarta will allow restaurants to operate until midnight, with 25% capacity

The government have announced that the 2022 public holiday and collective leave calendar will be regulated by the development of the pandemic

Jakarta will open its tourist attractions gradually. The focus is still on Phase 2 sites, including Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), and Setu Babakan. Other sites remain closed, and children below 12 are not permitted

The Bali Tourism Office has said that arrivals to Bali are now averaging around 4,300 per day, compared to Jun/ Jul’s 700-800

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has decreased its 2021 GDP forecast for Indonesia to 3.5%, from a previous 4.5%. Its 2022 forecast has also been downgraded to 4.8% from 5%

The Deputy Governor of Bali has said that ensuring human and natural resources, as well as the welfare of Balinese residents, is essential to maintain sustainable tourism on the island

The National COVID-19 Task Force has attributed the increase in cases in Jul 2021 to domestic, rather than global, factors, including high mobility and social activities over Eid al-Fitr

As of 15 Sep, foreigners are permitted to visit Indonesia for business purposes

The Tourism Minister is looking to develop histourism, tourism centred around legends and dark tourism, as way to use storytelling for tourism promotion

The Ministry of Tourism hopes to create Lake Sentani in Papua province into an icon of Eastern Indonesia, as Lake Toba is for Western Indonesia

The Tourism Minister has clarified that the statement from the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs on not wanting backpacker tourism was more that the country does not want foreigners who do not generate a profit, and disrespect the local environment. However, he said there would be no backpacker ban, so long as they follow the rules

The national positivity rate of Indonesia is below 2%

The Bali Hotels Association (BHA) will hold a Sustainable Food Festival from 27 Sep-16 Oct at 30 member hotels. It will encourage the hotels to showcase their sustainability offerings which are ethically sourced, produced and disposed of

Indonesia recorded just 1,932 new daily cases on 20 Aug, a drop of 98% from their peak in Jul. its average positivity rate is below 4%

The PPKM Level 3 in Bali and Java will run until 4 Oct, with a 2-week, rather than 1-week extension. All regions in Bali and Java are now under Levels 3 and 2. Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya and Yogyakarta will allow a trial of permitting children under 12 into shopping malls

The Langham Jakarta has opened, the first Langham Hospitality Group property in Southeast Asia

Bali’s tourism stakeholders have been encouraged by the government to prepare for a tourism revival post-pandemic

The Deputy Governor of Bali has proposed to the central government that soft loans be extended to tourist stakeholders

On property sites such as Lamudi, there are over 600 hotels in Bali up for sale

Lovina Beach in Bali is still empty, despite reopening under strict protocols

Indonesia has outlined its 3-stage tourism recovery plan. Phase 1 (2021-2022) will see a focus on domestic tourism, and driving digital transformation, as well as ensuring that CHSE protocols are in place. It will also look at travel bubble arrangements and work with government agencies to prepare for the reopening of destinations. Phase 2 (2022-2024) would see tourism villages being promoted to drive community-based tourism. The government will boost the industry’s resilience and facilitate collaboration between e-commerce players and banks. Phase 2 (2024-2029) would be an acceleration phase, with quality tourism promoted, wellness and adventure products, more marketing campaigns and a strengthening of the value chain

Indonesia reported 1,932 daily cases on 20 Sep, the lowest since Aug 2020

The Nest Group Indonesia has launched the Nest Virtual Convention Centre, the first virtual venue

The Head of the Travel Conscious Group (Pokdarwis) has complained about inconsistent government policies

Foreigners with valid visas and residence permits will be permitted to re-enter Indonesia once more, as will those holding APEC Business Travel cards as of 15 Sep

Bali is preparing SOPs for reopening to international tourists, which it hopes to complete by the end of Sep

Around 50 hotels in Bali are interested in becoming quarantine locations, and 5-10 hotels have been proposed as centralised isolation facilities

Singapore Airlines has clarified that it has not yet made plans to reinstate flights to Bali, despite an Indonesian official claiming that its Singapore-Bali flight will reopen in Nov

Medical tourism will be launched un Surabaya on 27 Sep as a pilot project

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs has said that as the R-0 has fallen below 1, hospital bed occupancy and positivity rates have fallen, “we are very confident” that Bali could be reopened by Oct. The government is looking at South Korea, Japan, Singapore and New Zealand as potential source markets first. These visitors would still need to serve quarantine. He cautioned that the country is “not in a big rush to make Indonesia 100% open”. Indonesia will also monitor Singapore’s latest outbreak with regards to opening up the Riau Islands

The National COVID-19 taskforce spokesperson has said that foreigners may be able to visit Indonesia once 50-70% of the target population were fully vaccinated, likely to be in 2022. However, on 14 Sep, the Health Minister said that borders would be reopened once 70% of the population had received their first dose, likely in Nov

Indonesia is in talks with the WHO to become a global hub for the manufacturing of vaccines

Indonesia will permit foreigners with valid Indonesian visas and stay permits to enter the country. Visitors must enter certain gateways only, and have health insurance valid for their stay

Jakarta is planning to redevelop the urban centres in Cikini, Monas and Pasar Baru to focus on urban tourism through their historical sites. The city is creating a tourism package with local hotels and tour guides to promote this

The Riau Island Tourism Office has said that they are preparing an MoU to be sent to Singapore, allowing Singaporeans to visit Lagoi. A tracking system has already been set up for the area, as well as medical system

The government will use vaccination rates as an indicator for assessing the COVID restrictions nationwide. Cities and regencies under PPKM Level 3 will need to vaccinate 50% of their general population and 40% of the elderly population with at least one dose to be able to progress to PPKM Level 2

Jokowi has urged Indonesians to adapt to coexisting with COVID-19

The government is making it a requirement for international travellers to use the PeduliLindungi app to enter Indonesia. Every operator of international transportation to enter Indonesia will also need to use it

The government has set a target for 2022 GDP growth of 5.2%

A new cryptocurrency token, “Baby Bali Token”, has launched, with the aim of helping to boost the tourism industry. It is developing a blockchain marketplace platform for tourism which would allow people to book their accommodation and transport, as well as enjoy promotions

The Bali Indonesian Chamber of Commerce has reported a 10X increase in tourist visits since Bali’s downgrading from PPKM Level 4 to PPKM Level 3. Visitors have increased from 600 to 2,500-4,500 daily

More than 3,000 QR codes for the PeduliLindungi app have been installed across Bali for reopening tourist attractions

The Bali Chamber of Commerce for Accommodation and Tourism Development has said that hotel occupancy on he island is in single digits

The Indonesian Tourism Minister has said that tourism areas should reach 70% vaccination before reopening, and has suggested creating a Phuket, Langkawi and Bali tourism “triangle”

The Tourism Minister has said that Bali’s economic activities are starting to grow once more

20 tourist destinations in major cities across Indonesia are trialling opening up using the PeduliLindungi app, which will be monitored on a weekly basis

A retired Boeing 737-200 plane is being placed in South Kuta as a new tourist attraction

The government has clarified that all international travellers will be welcomed to Indonesia when borders do open, despite the statement from the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs earlier which had said that the country would be selective in allowing quality international travellers in, potentially turning their back on backpackers

Bali has been downgraded to PPKM Level 3, after a drop in new infections

The Tourism Ministry forecasts that there will be 1.5 international arrivals in 2021 by the year-end, generating $0.36 billion USD in foreign exchange. It would be based on reopening 18 priority destinations, and the Riau Islands

Indonesia is questioning the accuracy of RT-PCR tests from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and the UAE, after having many travellers arrive and test positive, despite having negative RT-PCR tests from there

The Ministry of Tourism will focus on domestic tourists in 2021, preparing destinations for strict protocols

STR data has shown that Yogyakarta is catching up with occupancy levels of Surabaya and Solo, with weekend occupancy of 20% since early Aug

Yogyakarta will strengthen its checkpoints for interregional tourists to check their vaccination and test certificates

Borobudur and Prambanan Temple will reopen, using the PeduliLindungi app

The NTB chapter of ASTINDO is positive about the World Superbike competition taking place from 12-14 Nov in Mandalika, as it will present a chance to sell eco-tourism packages

Bali has eased its entrance requirements for those entering by air. From 7 Sep, fully vaccinated travellers from outside Java can use an antigen test, rather than an RT-PCR test

Tourist attractions and shopping malls in Bali have begun to reopen with capacity restrictions. Visitors must also show proof of their vaccination with the PeduliLindungi app

The Association of Indonesian Tourism Industries has reported that Indonesians are “eagerly awaiting for the opening of tourist destinations”

The Health Ministry has said that COVID cases and deaths are declining for the fourth consecutive week. Indonesia’s testing has now reached 3.07 people per 1,000 population per week, higher than the WHO-recommended 1.0 rate. Positivity also decreased to 10%

Ancol Beach Park and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) are set to reopen on 10 Sep to domestic vaccinated tourists

68 Bali hotels have entered bankruptcy, according to the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali chapter

Indonesia’s consumer confidence index dropped to 77.3 in Aug from Jul’s 80.2

Kuta Beach in Bali has now reopened to the public at 50% capacity under a pilot program. Only those who are fully vaccinated can visit

Tourist attractions will be allowed to reopen under PPKM Level 3 as a trial. Children under the age of 12 will not be permitted, and all employees and visitors must be vaccinated

The Tourism Ministry has said that Bali’s reopening would follow the Phuket Sandbox model, and preparations are still ongoing. As for the date, it is still not decided yet, as it is waiting for better COVID control

Agoda has revealed that 42% of Indonesians take short trips, 37% want to explore new local tourist destinations and 30% want to seek experiences as part of their accommodation. 27% see accommodation as the destination, not just a place to sleep

The Indonesian National Police have confirmed that there has been no leak in data from the Electronic Health Alert Card (eHAC) system

The Tourism Ministry has dedicated a budget of 298 billion IDR which will be used to provide accommodation for health workers, and will be coordinated with hospitals and hotels

Bali’s government has asked the government for the 9.4 trillion IDR in soft loans previously promised to help the tourism sector

Indonesia is still aiming to vaccinate 70% of the population in each province by the end of 2021, including West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) which is scheduled to hold the World Superbike event

The Minister of Tourism is looking to develop medical, fitness and herbal tourism products in Bali, Jakarta and Medan, and later in other destinations, too

Only small areas of Java will remain under PPKM Level 4, with the majority under PPKM Level 3. However, Bali will remain under PPKM Level 4, and authorities estimate it may take another week to be able to be downgraded to Level 3. Dining in at restaurants under PPKM Level 3 will not be permitted for up to an hour

The Minister for Tourism has said that they are considering allowing Bali to act as an entry point for international passengers into Indonesia

The Bali Provincial Tourism Office has expressed hope that a reopening pilot on a limited scale could take place for Bali. They also hoped that a plan could be announced at least 30 days before border reopening, to give the trade time to prepare

The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry is aiding 50 house renovations in 2 tourist villages in Papua, to beautify the villages, and improve the residents’ quality of life

The Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister believes that quality tourism workers are the key to developing Labuan Bajo as a super priority tourism destination

Komodo dragons have been officially listed as “endangered”

14 hotels in Denpasar, Bali, have permanently closed down, and 70 have been temporarily closed, the Denpasar Regional Tourism Agency have reported

Bed occupancy in Jakarta’s hospitals has dropped from 90% in Jun to 15%, whilst ICU usage dropped to 31%

The positivity rate has dropped to 4.3% in Jakarta

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas plan to open its 3rd resort on Bali, the Anantara Ubud Bali Resort, slated to open mid-2022

The Ministry of Health has reported that the trend for new cases is declining by 25% compared to the previous week, and that positivity rates have also declined

The government has stated that Bali still has the most “red zones” in the country, with 6 of its 9 regions classified as red zones

Sea transport departures from Bali dropped in Jul by 33.28% MoM in Jul

Private jet firm Indojet Sarana Aviasi has said that the use of private jets has doubled in 2021 vs 2020. 90% of the traffic is domestic, and 10% to international destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia and Australia

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister hopes that the PON National Games XX to be held in Oct 2021 in Papua will revive tourism and encourage the growth of sports tourism

The Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) have said that 48 hotels have been sold, with 41 in Badung

More than 2 million jobs in the creative industry and tourism sector were in danger of being lost, the Tourism Ministry has said

Indonesia is looking into a suspected security flaw in its eHAC app, used by travellers, which may have exposed their personal information

Jokowi has called for “special handling” of Bali’s COVID situation, as it is still categorised as Level 4

Some of the factors which the COVID-19 Task Force look at to decide on a region’s PPKM Level include the number of those infected, if the positivity rate has increased or decreased, and if the Bed Occupancy Ratio has decreased

The Tourism & Creative Economy Ministry has said that Bali’s average hotel occupancy in Jul & Aug is at 10%, its lowest level

16 hotels in Denpasar, Bali, have permanently closed down, and 141 accommodations are temporarily closed, the Denpasar City Tourism Office have reported

The Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Board (BPOLBF) is planning to develop 4 tourism development zones in 400 hectares of the Labuan Bajo Bowosie Forest. These will be integrated with the Komodo National Park and Labuan Bajo City tourism area. The zones will include cultural, leisure, wildlife and adventure, with a cultural centre, tourism research centre, hotels, tourist villages, glamping sites and a cable car

East Flores Regency Government is encouraging the development of sustainable tourism through its tourist villages

The Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association (PHRI) Badung has proposed that Bali can be used as an inbound airport for business travellers visiting Indonesia. They are also proposing that the Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) is trialled with a limited market

The Tourism & Creative Economy Ministry want to implement 3 strategies: innovation, adaptation and collaboration. They are also focusing on upskilling tourism workers with digital skills

Jakarta reopened 610 schools on 30 Aug out of its 10,000, at 50% capacity

More parts of Java will have their PPKM Level reduced to 3, and restaurants in malls will be permitted to serve at 50% capacity, with shopping malls open until 9pm from 31 Aug-6 Sep

Jokowi has warned that trends for cases has declined, but Indonesians must still remain disciplined to avoid another spike in cases. From 31 Aug-6 Sep, more areas will transition to Level 3, including Greater Malang and Greater Solo

The Ministry of Tourism has said that medical tourism will be one of the programs on which they will focus on. They plan to develop Jakarta, Medan and Bali as health tourism destinations

The Indonesian Inbound Operators Association (IINTOA) is urging Jokowi to grant financial assistance for its members, including grants and soft loans

The government is preparing an endemic COVID-19 strategy

Mandalika will host the MotoGP pre-season test from 11-13 Feb 2022

The Aceh Culinary Festival was held online from 27-29 Aug, promoting tourism and culture

Indonesia has warned that an earlier rainy season, starting in Sep, may cause more natural disasters in 2021

The government has said that Jakartan residents’ mobility fell by 30% after the implementation of Level 4 PPKM

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MoTCE) has said that providing soft loans to Bali tourism players was not approved. The Ministry had pushed for 10 trillion IDR of soft loans, but the government will provide just 2.6 trillion IDR for assistance

The Tourism Ministry has said that the vaccination rates of Bali, Bintan and Batam will be closely linked to the opening of travel corridor arrangements, with a 75-80% target. Indonesia plans to complete that target by the end Sep, with 95% of tourism players vaccinated. The Tourism Minister is “optimistic that by the end of the third or fourth quarter, we can begin a trial run to open our borders”

Bali will not be permitted to be used as an inbound destination for essential travellers, a move which the Tourism Ministry has said is to protect the island’s reopening plans. Instead, “the opening of Bali is a symbol of our awakening”, and he hopes that it can be carried out a few months before the G20 kick off in Nov 2022, or at least Q3

Jakarta will allow places of worship to reopen at 50% capacity under its downgrade to Level 3 PPKM

Schools will be permitted to start limited face-to-face learning in Jakarta, with attendance at 50%

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MoTCE) has cut its destination marketing campaigns after its annual budget was cut by 41.3% to $140 million USD. This will impact its overseas marketing campaigns, as well as 19 of its Visit Indonesia Tourism Officers (VITOs). In-person meetings, road shows and domestic and international business trips have also been cut, and fam trips for overseas participants will be put on hold. The VITOs have warned that cutting its budget will mean “losing the competitive edge” against other destinations, as well as market intelligence

Jokowi has confirmed that the government is still pursuing its plan to relocate the capital to East Kalimantan

The use of PeduliLindungi app will be made essential at all airports, ports, terminals and stations from 28 Aug, to be able to comply with health and safety requirements. The app will display vaccine certificates and swab test results digitally, minimising the risk of forgeries

Many regions have now seen their PPKM level lowered, with 10 regencies in Java reaching PPKM Level 2. Greater Jakarta, Greater Bandung, Greater Surabaya, Greater Semarang, and Banten are all designated Level 3

Selayar Islands will develop its marine tourism thanks to its shipwrecks. The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry have given the island facilities such as compressors to fill diving tubes

Cases in Bali have started to decline

The Health Minister has stated 3 strategies to coexist with COVID-19, including technology-based health protocols, testing and tracing programs and treatment. Testing and tracing will no longer be a mass program, but will be applied for suspected patients and people who have been in close contact with positive patients

The Minister of Tourism and the Creative Economy supports the plan to require the use of the PeduliLindungi app for entrance to tourist destinations. He sees that tourist destinations will be reopened gradually

The government has said that herd immunity will be difficult to achieve after the Delta variant has emerged

Indonesia surpassed 4 million cumulative cases of COVID-19 on 24 Aug

Nusa Penida is looking at developing master plans for promoting its 9 attractions

Indonesia will produce 2 types of vaccine in 2022, the Red and White, locally-developed vaccine, in Q2 2022, and a mRNA vaccine in Apr 2022 in conjunction with Chinese companies

The Minister of Tourism and the Creative Economy has urged local hotel owners not to sell their assets and lose out, or else employment opportunities in Indonesia could decrease, and the ministry is working together with these owners to find the solutions to support them

Indonesia will permit more reopening of the economy in Jakarta and Bali from 24 Aug. This includes allowing places of worship to reopen at 25%, shopping malls at 50%

Jakarta’s deputy governor has said that Jakarta has reached “herd immunity” and is a “green zone”. More than 54% of the population are fully vaccinated

Bali, Malang Raya, Solo Ray and Yogyakarta will maintain their Level 4 PPKM status until 30 Aug, but the government expects it to drop to Level 3 in the next few weeks

Bali Tourism Agency has reported that Bali has seen just 500 domestic travellers per day since the lockdown started in Jun 2021. Prior to the Emergency PPKM, it saw 7,000-10,000 per day

The government has urged 10 provinces to intensify testing and tracing: Aceh Darussalam, North Sumatra, West Java, Central Java, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua

The decline in new cases has been thanks to the imposition of PPKM Levels 1-4, the government has said. There has also been a decrease in the hospital bed occupancy

Bali’s Deputy Governor has said that it hopes that Bali could become a quarantine destination for those who want to enter Indonesia. The COVID-19 Task Force is considering the suggestion

The visitor capacity at shopping malls will be increased to 50% from next week, and dine-in will be permitted at 25% capacity, with a maximum of 2 per table

The government has warned that there could be an increase in cases over the next 3 weeks, after seeing an increase in mobility amongst the general public

Indonesia’s draft state budget assumes that Indonesia’s economy will mostly reach pre-pandemic levels only in 2022, with a GDP 2022 growth of 5.5%

West Sumatra has proposed 9 new geosites, some of which will be proposed to be included in the UNESCO Global Geopark Network

Jokowi has ordered that the price of PCR tests be lowered to 495,000 IDR in Java and Bali, and 525,000 IDR in other provinces

The Tourism Minister has said that domestic tourism should be optimised, whilst international borders are closed. He wants to achieve a growth of 2.39% between now and the year-end through the 3 Gs: Gercep (move fast), Geber (move together), Gaspol (optimize every potential)

Indonesia will continue with its infrastructure project on Rinca Island in Komodo National Park, despite UNESCO calls for it to be stopped

Indonesia recorded 15,768 cases on 18 Aug, the lowest since 23 Jun

Jakarta’s positivity rate has fallen below 10%, and is moving towards the WHO goal of 5%, the governor has said

The Grand Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur has been turned into a quarantine facility for asymptomatic patients, and will be able to accommodate 250 patients

The Minister of Tourism sees mega shifts for the tourism industry including technology, regulation, economic and environmental areas. Macro shifts include the tourism industry being shaped by hygiene, low-touch, less crowded and low mobility. Micro shifts include social solidarity and stay-at-home lifestyles. They are also considering introducing vaccine tours to Bali, which would allow foreigners to receive the Sinovac vaccine on a 14-day tour

The Minister of Tourism has stated that Indonesia is still in travel bubble talks with the UAE, Qatar, Singapore, China and the Netherlands. The preparations and policies for the Bali Travel Corridor Arrangement is still underway

PPKM Level 4 has been extended from 16-23 Aug for Java and Bali

Indonesia’s digital economy grew by 11% in 2020 to $44 billion USD

Jokowi in his State of the National Address, has said that the government’s tightening and loosening of lockdowns may be interpreted as inconsistent, but is the right path to strike a balance between the economy and public health. He forecast that Indonesia’s GDP will see growth of 5-5.5% in 2022 vs 2021’s 3.7-4.5% growth

Mt Merapi erupted on 16 Aug, with clouds of ash spreading 3.5km

Jakarta has only 7 RTs which are classified as red zones, 349 as orange zones and 24,011 are green, meaning that overall Jakarta can be considered a green zone

The National Hospital will support medical tourism development with the Bali Medical Tourism Association (BMTA)

The central government has criticised the Bali government for its handling of COVID. They urged Bali to focus on optimising a centralised quarantine program for asymptomatic patients at government facilities, optimising tracing and testing and reducing religious activities

The number of fully vaccinated medical workers in Jakarta who contracted COVID-19 increased 5X in 3 months, the majority from the Delta variant

The Health Ministry has defended its relatively high price for RT-PCR tests after receiving criticism

The government has clarified rules for entering Indonesia, including that Indonesian citizens arriving from abroad may enter, but foreigners are not permitted, except those under the Travel Corridor Arrangement or with express permission. International travellers will need to be fully vaccinated, and those arriving into the country who are not will be vaccinated at quarantine sites once they have received their 2nd negative RT-PCR test result during quarantine, including for diplomats, those aged 12-17 years old and Permanent or Limited Stay Permit cards

Tiket.com has seen a 7X increase YoY in transactions in Q2 2021. Demand was boosted by the Idul Fitri holiday, as well as the government’s easing of restrictions. It saw a 4X increase in flight tickets, and 6X in accommodation bookings

The Tourism Minister sees 3 strategies to restore tourism: innovation, adaptation and collaboration

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) will collaborate to launch an anti-radicalisation program, focusing on developing tourism and the creative economy to stop radicalism. These involve tourist villages, and skills development, and two areas will be focused on initially: East Java and West Nusa Tenggara

Indonesia is preparing guidelines for co-existing with COVID-19, with long-term strategies

Indonesia has extended its PPKM measures in Java and Bali until 16 Aug, but will ease them in 26 areas. Malls will be permitted to reopen at 25% capacity for vaccinated people Restrictions in areas outside Bali and Java will be extended until 23 Aug, as cases increased in these areas

The government has excluded the daily death numbers from its indicators to designate a region a certain PPKM Level, saying that it has “distorted” assessments

The Tourism Minister has encouraged local games developers to include icons from Indonesia’s tourism and culture, including the five priority tourism destinations

The government will prepare a revision of its Environmental Impact Analysis for Komodo National Park to UNESCO by Sep 2021

The CHSE certification program has now seen 4,771 applications, and the Ministry of Tourism is targeting 8,000

The Bank of Indonesia has urged Bali to stop relying on the tourism sector post-COVID

Indonesia’s retail sales slowed in Jun, with an increase of 2.5% YoY vs May’s 14.7% YoY growth

Some hotels and restaurants across Indonesia have been raising white flags as a sign of defeat against the latest PPKM Level 3 and 4 lockdowns. The Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) National Board has said that in 2020 hotel occupancy was at 30-40%, and room rates dropped by 30-40%, but they still had savings. However, in 2021, hotels have run out of funds, and 60% of hotel staff have been made redundant

Jakarta is targeting holding its debut Formula E race in June 2022

Sandiaga Uno, the Tourism Minister, has forecast an explosion of tourist activity after the PPKM due to pent-up demand. He hopes that the tourism and creative economy can expand 2.39% in H2 2021, to be able to reabsorb the workforce

Jakarta has now applied a new decree which will mandate people to have at least one vaccine dose before being able to enter shopping centres or malls, both for visitors and employees

The F&B and accommodation sector in Q2 registered 21.58% growth, whilst in Q1 it was -7.28%

Indonesia has received 15,000 oxygen concentrators from donors, and is trying to procure 50,000 in total

The Ministry of Tourism has called on tourism schools to stay innovative and productive, despite the pandemic

The government has said that it will receive 300 million doses between Aug-Dec, and is strategizing how to roll these out

Trip.com have donated 130 oxygen concentrators

Indonesia recorded a GDP growth of 7.07% in Q2, emerging from a 5 quarter recession. However, many economists are still revising down their forecasts for 2021 verall

Ulundanu Beratan Temple in Bali has been unable to pay its employees or overhead costs since the Emergency PPKM was implemented at the start of Jul

The World Heritage Committee has said that Indonesia must review tourism development projects in areas such as Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara and Borobudur Temple in Yogyakarta. They also stated that the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra is on the list of World Heritage in Danger, as it is threatened by road developments

Indonesia has reported that deaths amongst the unvaccinated are three times higher than those who were vaccinated

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) has said that Jakarta’s MICE industry was forecast to drop more than 95%. This drop also impacts multiple sectors, including food, transportation and health

Traveloka is said to be in discussions to raise up to $400 million USD in a US listing, by merging with a SPAC. This merger would value Traveloka at $5 billion USD

Indonesia plans to strengthen its pandemic efforts on the ground, rather than rely on vaccinations to control COVID-19, the government has said. It is targeting to reach an R-0 of 0.9 by Oct, which would allow overall numbers to be reduced, and is aiming to give 2.5 million vaccines daily in Aug

Indonesia has now recorded over 100,000 deaths due to the pandemic

The Bali Statistics Center has reported that Bali’s international visitors in H1 2021 have dropped 99.99% YoY, with just 43 visitors

3 regions have seen an increase in cases over the past 3 weeks: Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi

The Tourism Ministry is working to streamline aid distribution for tourism businesses. They are working on a data collection app which will support the collection of potential aid recipients

The government has created a roadmap for COVID-management, including testing 500k people per day, and reducing the infection rate by 25% in Jun-Jul, until the positivity rate falls below 5% in Oct-Dec, and occupancy rate of hospitals to be under 50% in Oct and Nov

International arrivals to Indonesia in Jun were just 140,850, -10.04% YoY, and -7.71% MoM

The government has said that it targets gradually reopening the economy in Sep. It believes that the peak of cases has now been reached

The Tourism Minister has said that the government will prioritise the ecosystem of Komodo National Park in its infrastructure development. The area will also continue to be developed for the G20 summit in 2022

A new report by Inventure-Advira, Indonesia Industry Outlook 2nd Semester, 2021: Consumer Megashifts Post Vaccine, has shown that 71% of travellers post-pandemic would not choose to travel over long weekends for health reasons, 83% would spend their holiday at a tourism village, and many would seek out CHSE certified facilities. 60% wanted business events to be held in person once the vaccination rolls out

The current lockdown restrictions will be extended until 9 Aug, with the majority of all cities and regencies who were previously under PPKM Level 4 to remain under the same restrictions. It will be imposed on Java, Bali and 45 cities and regencies in 21 provinces

Bali’s hospital bed occupancy is manageable, with 71.77% occupied according to the Bali Health Agency

The Health Ministry has said that the Delta variant is dominant throughout Indonesia

The Tourism Minister expects that once the pandemic ends, many tourists will want to visit tourist villages in remote parts of Indonesia

Over 20 million Indonesians are now fully vaccinated

PPKM Level 4 will be implemented not only on Java and Bali islands, but also in 45 districts in 21 provinces on Sumatra, Kalimantan, Papua, Sulawesi, Maluku and Nusa Tenggara

The Tourism Minister has said that he would give tour packages to frontline health workers as a reward once the pandemic ends. The Minister suggested that these could be ASEAN packages offered through a travel corridor arrangement with Malaysia and Singapore, which could create new jobs and maximise regional tourism

Yachts and cruise ships used for tourism will be exempted from a 75% luxury tax, in a move to boost marine tourism

Jokowi has said that the current situation in Indonesia is a “semi lockdown”, and people across the country are calling for a reopening

Some residents who are being displaced by the Mandalika MotoGP circuit claim that they have not been compensated properly for their land

The COVID-19 Handling Task Force has said that Indonesians will need to accept COVID-19 as endemic, and society must learn to “coexist with the virus”, and strict observance of protocols by the public is crucial

Traveloka has planted 10,000 mangrove seedlings in the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (KEK), to support ecotourism

The IMF has revised its 2021 GDP forecast for Indonesia to 3.9%, 0.4% lower than its Apr forecast

Bali has been chosen as a pilot destination for the Making Cities Resilience (MCR) 2030 scheme

Indonesia has recorded one third of its total COVID-related deaths so far in just Jul

The Lapor Covid-19 data monitoring group has stated that Indonesia’s regional deaths outnumber its national tally, meaning the actual total deaths could be much higher

Bali’s hospitals are starting to fill up, and has reported record highs of 1,452 cases and 44 deaths

Indonesia reported 2,069 deaths on 27 Jul , a new record

Bali has been advised to look at 4 potential areas of tourism to develop longer-term: medical, maritime, MICE and digital nomads

The Ministry of Transportation has clarified that train passengers from/ to Level 3/4 PPKM areas must be vaccinated with at least one dose, and have a negative RT-PCR certificate within 48 hours of departure or antigen test within 24 hours. Those to/ from Level 1/2 PPKM must show a negative certificate, and travellers under the age of 12 are temporarily not permitted

MSMEs in Indonesia’s 10 priority destinations are being guided by the Digital Economy Directorate, Informatics Application Directorate General, and the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) to become more digitally-savvy with a 6-month assistance. This includes facilitator guidance, training centres, data package aid, marketplace aggregator apps, POS and online learning apps for 26,000 businesses

Bali has now implemented a Level 4 PPKM with some leeway, including allowing traditional markets to sell non-essential products at 50% capacity, small businesses allowed to operate until 9pm, restaurants permitted to provide dine-in for a maximum of 30 minutes per customer and at 25% capacity

1,871 tourism businesses in Bali have received the CHSE certificate. All hotels in Nusa Dua have received one

Bali has assigned 28 hotels to act as quarantine locations for when domestic and international flights reopen to the island. The majority of these are in the green zones

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has suggested that malls mandate visitors to show their vaccine certificate to be permitted entry, so that the retail sector can resume

The Jakarta governor has said that the situation is improving in Jakarta, with a decline in cases, but “it is still not over yet”

Bali will start to produce its own oxygen supply from Aug

The Indonesia Halal Tourism Association (IHTA) has said that it is strengthening Indonesia’s Muslim friendly offering, including launching unique travel products such as nature-based and wellness, glamping resorts and community-based tourism villages. They are also looking at launching the Syariah Quadrathlon, which will be aimed at domestic participants, and later on international ones. The Ministry of Tourism has created an I Do Care Plus campaign, which combines the CHSE protocols with halal travel values, and will be piloted in four regencies in West Java

The Ministry of Tourism is aiming to disburse its grant of 2.4 trillion IDR by the end of Jul, which has been reallocated from the Proud Tourism campaign

One of the major Jakarta COVID-19 facilities, Wisma Atlet, has now had over half of its capacity empty, in a positive sign of bed occupancy declining

The government has said that Indonesia’s current oxygen requirements are 2,500 tons per day, whilst their production capacity is 1,700 tons. They will be receiving 17,000 donated oxygen concentrators, and are planning to buy 20,000 more

The Bali Villa Association has said that many domestic tourists have cancelled villa bookings, and the situation continues to get worse

The average hotel occupancy in Bali is 1-2%, according to the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Badung. They commented that hotels will be bound to make more staff redundant, and many tourism workers have been sent home. As of early Jul, at least 48 hotels in Bali have been sold, with 41 of these in Badung

The Batam/ Bintan-Singapore travel corridor plans have been delayed due to the rise in cases, the Indonesian Tourism Ministry has said, but “when the situation gets more conducive, we will resume it quickly”

Indonesia is preparing more ICUs, with deaths rising due to full hospitals, patients admitted with low oxygen saturation or dying in self-isolation unmonitored

The PPKM Level 4 restrictions will be extended until 2 Aug, with some additional easing of measures. Traditional markets selling non-esential items are permitted to open at 50% capacity until 3pm, whilst small businesses can also open until 9pm. Outdoor food stalls can stay open until 8pm, with diners eating for a maximum of 20 minutes. Under Level 3 restrictions, malls can operate with a maximum capacity of 25% until 5pm

The head of Bali’s health agency has said that the island’s oxygen supply shortage is becoming critical due to the increase in cases

Angkasa Pura II has implemented the government’s restriction on the entry of foreigners from entering or transiting Indonesia, with some exceptions

Jokowi has said that restrictions could be eased from next week if cases continue to drop, despite the fact that testing rates have also dropped, which epidemiologists have said make it difficult to understand if there has been a true drop , and positivity rates have averaged 28.7% in the last week

Indonesia reported a record high of 1,566 deaths

Indonesia has launched a bid to win the 2036 Olympics, after losing out on the 2032 Olympics to Brisbane

The budget for the Proud to Go Travelling to Indonesia (Bangga Berwisata) of 2.4 trillion IDR has been reallocated to help tourism businesses, amongst other initiatives

Private hospitals in Bali have reportedly been rejecting patients due to an unreliable oxygen supply

Indonesia’s confirmed cases have dropped by around 40% in the last week, according to the government, whilst the cure rate increased by 70^%. Hospital occupancy beds have also decreased from a national average of 76.26% to 72.8%. However, they noted that testing needs to be improved, and the death rate has increased

The WHO has urged Indonesia to enact stricter and wider prevention measures to limit transmission

The government has said that it will roll out mass testing, tracing, treatment and vaccinations across several areas of the country

Indonesia has banned all foreign workers on national strategic projects and those reuniting for family union from entering the country. The only foreigners permitted entry include holders of diplomatic visas or residence permits, medical and humanitarian workers, or transportation workers, all with government permission

The Emergency PPKM has been extended for 5 more days in Java and Bali until 25 Jul, but some leniency will be given to each provincial governor to decide on the policies

Indonesia’s cases have now crossed the 3 million mark

Bali reported 1,250 new cases on 22 Jul, a record high

All provinces of Java Island, as well as Bali, are under Level 4 PPKM

The Tourism Minister has called on tourism and creative economy businesses to focus on digitalisation

United Media Asia has entered a strategic partnership with Hollywood agency Creative Artists Agency, with plans to build a large-scale film and TV production facility in Bali, according to the Hollywood Reporter

The electricity bill subsidy for consumers and businesses will be extended until the year-end

Jembrana Regency in Bali will refuse to implement the Emergency PPKM if it is extended, as they do not believe it is effective in controlling the spread

Saudi Arabia has banned direct or indirect travel of its citizens to Indonesia

The Emergency PPKM is being replaced with Levels 1-4 PPKM. Levels 3 and 4, the highest, will have similar restrictions to the Emergency PPKM, requiring all non-essential workers to work from home, malls be shut and restaurants only serve takeaway and delivery. Levels 1 and 2 restrictions have not yet been defined. A region is defined as Level 4 if it has 100 cases per 150k people, 30 hospitalisations per 100k people, or 5 deaths per 100k people. Level 3 is 50 cases per 150k people, 10-30 hospitalisations per 100k people, or 2-5 deaths per 100k people

Bali has eased some of its Level 3 PPKM restrictions, including allowing non-essential businesses to operate at 25% until 9pm, and restaurants and food sellers until 9pm

MICE players in Jakarta are calling for the reinstatement of the Jakarta Convention and Exhibition Bureau (JCEB), to allow the city to better market itself as a MICE destination and win bids

An agreement has reportedly been signed between Paramount Pictures and Jembrana regency to build the biggest theme park in Southeast Asia. The soft launch is estimated in 2025, and expected to attract 5 million visitors annually

2 emergency COVID hospitals have started operations in Bali, whilst 4 opened in Yogyakarta

The Tourism Minister has said that Indonesia’s visa-free rules may need to be adjusted, as it has no reciprocity from many countries

The government will increase the pre-employment card budget by 10 trillion IDR, to allow 2.8 million more participants

The government is still discussing whether to extend the Emergency PPKM, the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister has said, despite claims from the Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister who said on Friday that it would be extended

Indonesia has reported a record number of doctor deaths in the first half of Jul, with 114 deaths, more than 20% of the total doctor’s deaths since the start of the pandemic

Bed occupancy in Jakarta at hospitals is starting to stabilise thanks to additional capacity

Nusa Dua in H1 2021 saw 79,000 visitors, an increase from H1 2020’s 28,170 visitors. The increase is thought to have been generated by the Work from Bali program, as well as other schemes. In Jun, its occupancy rate increased to 19.88%

Non-essential travel has been banned for a week from 17 Jul to prevent transmission over Eid Al-Adha

The government is working together with private companies to ensure the supply of medical oxygen to the country

Indonesia has reported record deaths of 1,025 on 16 Jul

The government has said that it is “very possible” that the Emergency PPKM will be extended after 20 Jul, and that they don’t believe that 2 weeks is enough to be able to “reduce, control” the virus. They also warned people not to travel home for the Eid al-Adha festival on 20 Jul

The Central Statistics Agency has reported that 36,000 people in Bali fell below the poverty line, with 202,000 of the island’s population earning less than $31.21 USD per month

The Delta variant has been officially confirmed in Bali

Indonesia’s oxygen needs have increased 5X to 2,000 tons per day

The West Nusa Tenggara government is aiming to attract 1,000 tourism workers for 300 homestays in the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (KEK). They have prepared a training scheme for the workers

Indonesia reported 56,757 cases on 15 Jul, a record high, and the government is preparing scenarios for 100,000 cases per day

A new “world-class tourist attraction” is set to be built in Jembrana Regency, Bali

Bali’s hospital bed occupancy rate has doubled vs late Jun, and is now at 64% as of 13 Jul

The Tourism Minister has said that tourist villages are proving themselves to be a “pandemic winner”. He classifies the 1,624 villages in 4 categories: startups, developing, developed, and self-sufficient. Self-sufficient tourist villages are “unicorns”, and the government is aiming for 244 of these in 2021. The government is providing training for 3 aspects, including training, assistance and entrepreneurship

The distribution of 110,000 oxygen concentrators from Singapore is being prioritised for Java and Bali

Jakarta and Yogyakarta face being the hardest hit by the new wave of cases, with potential shortages of ICU and isolation beds, if cases keep increasing by 2-3% per day. Jakarta’s bed occupancy rate is 86%, whilst Yogyakarta’s is 90%

A serological survey has shown that the detection of cases in Jakarta is very low, with only 8.1% of cases detected

The Indonesian Central Bank has cut its 2021 GDP forecast to 3.8% from its previous 4.6%

Tedjo Iskandar, a legendary tourism player in the Indonesian industry, passed away on 13 Jul

The government will only recognise RT-PCR test results from 742 laboratories affiliated with the Ministry of Health for travel or flights

The UAE has banned entry of travellers coming from Indonesia from 11 Jul

The Emergency PPKM will be extended beyond Java and Bali to 15 locations, including 13 cities, from 12 Jul

Indonesia has been downgraded by the World Bank to a lower-middle income, after last year reaching upper-middle income status

The government is working to ensure the production of medical oxygen and the availability of COVID-19 drugs, the Ministry of Health has said. Industrial oxygen will be given up 90% to medical oxygen needs. The lack of medical oxygen in some areas is due to a poor distribution chain, rather than lack of supply, and the government is working to increase supply to those areas with high cases

The Mandalika Circuit is now 80% complete

Jakarta tourism players are calling for the government’s help, with the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Jakarta chapter forecasting hotel occupancy to drop to 10-15%. They want a 30-50% electricity bill waiver, discounted rental for restaurants in shopping malls and cash support for hospitality workers who are on unpaid leave. They also stated that the government has not paid $9.7 million USD owed to 14 hotels acting as hotel quarantine centres

Bali has reported 577 cases, its highest number yet, on 8 Jul, as Indonesia reported its highest spike of 38,391 cases

Amadeus has signed an NDC agreement with tiket.com, the first OTA to sign such an agreement

The government has lowered its 2021 GDP forecast to 3.7-4.5%, due to the Emergency PPKM imposed

The government has changed the name of the holding company for aviation and tourism-related businesses to Aviata. It is proposed that Aviata will receive 9.318 trillion IDR in 2022

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali has said that hotel occupancy in Bali has dropped to 5-7% again after the Emergency PPKM – before, it had reached 15-17%

Bali has recorded its highest daily cases of 577 on 8 Jul. The Bali Governor has said that contact tracing has increased 200% compared to before the Emergency PPKM implementation

Indonesia has reported a record 1,040 deaths, double the number from just a week ago. It is preparing worst case scenarios which would see daily cases hit 70,000

East Nusa Tenggara will temporarily suspend flights and boats from 7-21 Jul, after a spike in cases

According to a survey by the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), 30% of travel agents have closed, 65% are operational without offices and employees, and only 5% still have employees. Travel agents’ incomes have dropped by 85% in 2020 vs 2019, and despite seeing a small increase early in the year, that momentum has now gone

Indonesia will ban unvaccinated foreigners from entering the country from 6 Jul. Those vaccinated foreigners who do enter will need a negative RT-PCR test. Quarantine will also be extended to 8 days for both Indonesian and international travellers, with a RT-PCR test on day 1 and day 7. Unvaccinated Indonesians may still enter the country, but will be vaccinated on arrival

The Tourism Minister supports the tightened border controls and has said that the plans to reopen Bali are still being prepared. To reopen, it must fulfil 3 conditions: reach 70-80% vaccination, CHSE protocols be finalised end-to-end and the infection rate must be below 100

Indonesia is importing emergency oxygen from Singapore, and was in talks with other countries for help

The Karangasem Hotel and Restaurant Association in Bali has confirmed that its members have received hundreds of hotel cancellations since 2 Jul

The Delta variant is the major cause of 90% of the cases in Jakarta, the government has confirmed

The Tourism Minister has said that they will accelerate the tourism grants, so that they can be given out in mid-late Q3

The West Nusa Tenggara government will provide free antigen rapid tests to tourists, who need to show proof of visiting a tourist destination or staying at a hotel or homestay

The government has said that Indonesia’s daily cases could reach 40,000 daily, and it is taking steps to prepare accordingly

The Indonesian Exhibitions industry lost approx.. $3.1 billion USD in 2020

Indonesia is providing telemedicine services to COVID-19 patients self-isolating at home, to help overloaded hospitals

Indonesia has reported a record daily case number of 27,913 on 4 Jul

The tourism industry in Bali has said that the imposition of the Emergency PPKM will worsen the economic impact on the region

Helicopter tourism is increasing in Bali, Urban Air has said

The government has said that the next 2 weeks are critical to control the virus in Indonesia, and it expects infections to rise

Bali’s governor has asked for the cost of rapid antigen and RT-PCR tests to be lowered on the island

TX Travel has launched domestic vaccine tour packages, including a 14-day hotel stay, 2 doses of vaccine and travel insurance, which they say has received positive feedback so far. ATS Vacations and BMW Tours are also authorised to sell these packages

The government will enforce a rule that domestic travellers travelling long distance will need to hold vaccination cards. They hope that this will encourage more people to get vaccinated

The Indonesian Academics Forum is planning to publish a book on Indonesian halal tourism, which the Tourism Minister will hope will encourage halal tourism

Jakarta will close its entry and exit points during the Emergency PPKM

Finns have launched a new tourism campaign, Back to Bali, which is supported by Wonderful Indonesia, Bali Tourism, the Bali Hotels Association and Garuda Indonesia

International arrivals to Indonesia in May were 155,607, -87.5% YoY

The government is aiming to test 324,283 people per day during the enforcement of its Emergency PPKM from 3-20 Jul in Java and Bali. Contact tracing will cover 15 close contacts of each case, and quarantine enforced for those who had close contact with the patient

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment has said that ”it is impossible to reopen” Bali due to the Delta variant in the country. The government is therefore “not thinking of it (reopening Bali) anymore. At this moment, we are thinking of how to lower (COVID-19 cases) by inoculating as many people as possible and (ensure people are) following the health protocols”

The government has said that it will provide social assistance to those who need it during the Emergency PPKM period

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce has warned that the government must provide financial aid for businesses, otherwise redundancies and bankruptcies could follow

A ferry sailing between Bali and Java sank, causing 7 confirmed deaths and many missing

The President has called for the public to remain calm during the Emergency PPKM

The President has declared an Emergency PPKM to be enforced from 3-20 Jul in 48 regencies/ cities classified as Level 4 risk, as well as 74 classified as Level 3, all located in Java and Bali. All areas under the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Area are under Emergency PPKM. New measures include: all non-essential companies to enforce working from home, essential sectors permitted to operate at 50% capacity at office, supermarkets open until 8pm at 50% capacity, shopping malls, tourist destinations and dine-in not opened. Travellers for long-haul bus, trains and plane must show a vaccine certificate for at least one dose, as well as a negative RT-PCR test

The World Bank has said that the share of middle class jobs in Indonesia has decreased due to the pandemic

The Tourism Ministry will postpone all programs planned due to the Emergency PPKM, including the Work from Bali, reopening of Bali, vaccine tourism program and other events in the region

Rupat Island in Riau province is being considered as a stopover destination for a Genting Dream cruise ship from Malaysia. If it were implemented, the governor of the province will ensure proper preparations are made

The Ubud Hotel Association is still hopeful that Bali will open in Jul. Around 10% of its members have had to close temporarily during the pandemic

The number of children contracting COVID-19 has tripled since May, rising to 12.6% of the total cases from last Jul’s 5%

Bali has said that it is not denigrating other tests’ validities in not accepting the GeNose Test, rather that it is trying to apply the highest standard possible with the RT-PCR test, for stronger control over virus transmission

The Bali Governor estimates that the Work from Bali campaign could contribute 2% to Bali’s economy, and had contributed 15-30% of Bali’s hotel occupancy

The Tourism Minister has said that Bali’s opening will have to wait until the situation becomes “more conducive”. He ideally wants Bali’s daily cases to fall to 30-40 before reopening

The Tourism Minister has said that the Work from Bali campaign did not cause the increase in cases in Bali. However, the initiative will be evaluated and modified

The Jakarta governor has asked local residents to stop travelling so frequently to slow down transmission

The bed occupancy level of isolation rooms in hospitals has reached above 80% in Central Java

The Health Ministry has urged Indonesians to double mask to protect themselves from the Delta variant

Indonesia is looking to introduce 5-year visas for digital nomads, who would benefit from no taxation on their foreign income

The Red Cross has said that Indonesia is on the verge of “catastrophe” with the Delta variant dominating transmission and cases over 20,000 daily. Some hospital beds in Jakarta have reported overcapacity

The Tourism Minister has said that it will offer vaccine tourist programs on Bali, with free access for domestic travellers, whilst international visitors could receive Sinopharm at a fee. A start date was not given, and it was subject to final approval

The government has launched a $4.2 million USD incentive package for the tourism sector, which it expects to benefit 800 recipients. It will consist of cash incentives and training courses. Businesses which are located around tourism villages would receive priority as the Tourism Ministry is pushing the concept

The Bali Medical Tourism Association are determined to promote Bali as a medical tourist destination

Bali tourism players are asking the government to subsidise tourists’ RT-PCR tests, as the new rules implemented will impact the number of visitors

The number of tourism vehicles owned by the Association of Bali Tourism Transport Companies (PAWIBA) has dropped from 2,500 to just 500, due to a lack of financing help

West Nusa Tenggara is looking to establish 16 new tourist villages in 2021, as part of its target to reach 99 tourist villages in 5 years

Indonesia’s finance minister has proposed increasing VAT to 12% from its current 10% and an income tax of 35% for those earning at least 5 billion IDR annually

A study by Adara has shown that over 24 May-22 Jun, the volume of searches in Indonesia increased by 18.8% and bookings by 27.4% . Travellers based in Canada in particular saw an increase of market share of international travel to Indonesia by 178%

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Badung has said that around 50 hotels and restaurants in Badung have been sold as hotels need to reach a minimum of 40% occupancy to be profitable

The Tourism Minister has proposed that hotels be used as temporary health care facilities

Jakarta’s cases hit a record 9,271 on 26 Jun

Jakarta is increasing its bed capacity in isolation and ICUs up to 10,000. Their current occupancy level of hospital beds in the city is 86.7%

Indonesia recorded its highest ever number of cases, 21,095 on 26 Jun

Indonesia is converting 3 hospitals in Jakarta into COVID-19 hospitals fully, and 2 government built housing complexes will be transformed into facilities to treat those with mild symptoms

A number of tourist attractions belonging to Yogyakarta Palace have been closed from 26 Jun-2 Jul, due to the number of increasing cases

Agoda’s Travel in 2021 survey has shown of its Indonesian respondents: • The top ways for travel are taking short trips, exploring local destinations never visited before and using OTAs to search for travel deals and added perks • 26% plan travel last minute • 7% are willing to splurge on accommodation • F&B benefits and early check-in/ check out are the top-rated benefits for accommodation packages

The Tourism Ministry has said that the tourism sector can be revived if health protocols are observed

The Tourism Minister has suggested that vaccination be a requirement for entry to Bali for both international and domestic visitors. Domestic visitors who are unvaccinated could receive the vaccine on arrival to Bali for free at the airport

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) has said that the tourism industry is suffering more in 2021 than in 2020

Jokowi has reminded Indonesians to adhere to protocols, after hitting its highest record cases of 15,308 on 23 Jun

Domestic tourists to Bali will no longer be able to use the GeNose as proof of a negative test. Instead, travellers will need negative test results with a QR code to verify, and only RT-PCR or antigen tests will be accepted

Indonesia recorded 20,574 cases on 24 Jun, the highest number in a single day

Hong Kong has banned all passenger flights from Indonesia from 25 Jun, after categorising it as an “extremely high risk” country

The Bali Deputy Governor hopes that Bali’s July opening will not be delayed again, as more than 50% of Bali is vaccinated

The Bali Deputy Governor has denied that the spike in cases in Bali is due to the Work from Bali scheme, but instead because of increased community gatherings and the emergence of virus variants

Recreational venues, including museums, tourist attractions and cinemas, will be closed in Jakarta until 5 Jul under a tightening of the Micro PPKM rules. Other rules include office and restaurant capacity limited to 25% in red zones

Jakarta has implemented stricter measures under the Micro PPKM from 21 Jun-5 Jul. All offices and public spots must be closed at 9pm

Jokowi has said that the Micro PPKM and lockdown are essentially the same

The National COVID-19 task force has asked 6 provinces in Java to implement stricter Micro PPKM measures, including in Jakarta, West Java, East Java, Yogyakarta, and Banten

The Tourism Minister has said that tourism is not a problem, but the solution to recover from the pandemic

The construction of the Borobudur Highland is being accelerated to stimulate the economy. In the short-term, ecotourism and sports tourism will be held there, and in the medium term it is hoped more accommodation will be completed

The Delta variant is likely to have entered Bali, according to expert epidemiologists

The Minister of Tourism has said that the Bali opening will need to wait for cases to slow down in Indonesia and overseas. They are continuing to prepare for preopening, but will need to adjust to the current COVID situation

The Minister of Tourism has said that Bali’s domestic tourists have slowed down as cases increased. They will look at implementing a vaccine tourism scheme, where domestic tourists can get their vaccine in Bali

A new “Work from Borobudur” scheme has been launched

The Trail Of Civilizations of Borobudur Temple has been launched, which hopes to drive more personalised, smaller sized visits to the attraction

The government has said that Indonesia is ready to hold the World Superbike championship in Mandalika, but the number of spectators would have to be limited by the current COVID situation

The Finance Minister has said that the latest surge in cases will impact on Indonesia’s economic growth in Q2

The Work from Bali scheme has seen more than 2,000 people so far in Jun take part in Nusa Dua. Their length of stay is around 3-5 days

Nusa Dua in Bali will promote wellness tourism, including yoga and meditation

Indonesia reported 14,536 new cases, a record new daily case number, on 21 Jun

The Deputy Minister of Health has said that they want to open a top aesthetic beauty clinic in Bali at Sanglah General Hospital, to be used for medical tourism

Indonesia has passed the 2 million case mark, with 147,728 active cases

The Bali Villa Association (BVA) has said that its members are averaging occupancy of 10%

ASITA Bali are calling for the quarantine for international travellers once the island reopens to be just 2 days, as they expect ASEAN and Chinese tourists, who generally have a shorter length of stay

International flights have still not reopened to Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, and the airport noted that no information has been given as to whether the Bali TCA will open with direct flights to Bali, or transits via Jakarta

The Indonesian stock exchange has temporarily stopped trading of Garuda Indonesia shares, after it delayed payment on its global sukuk

Jakarta is planning to speed up its vaccination drive, so that it can reach herd immunity by Aug, as cases are increasing and hospital bed occupancy at 75%. Jokowi said he wanted Jakarta to vaccinate 100,000 people per day by next week – if all 4.5 million residents could receive vaccinations in 45 days. However, vaccine supply in the city is still limited

The government is struggling to reach a decision whether to refinance Garuda Indonesia. It has 4 options: announce a debt standstill and restructuring, debt revamp and create an airline which would take over the airline’s routes, refinance it or cease operations altogether

The governor of Jakarta will not allow schools in red zones to hold trial face to face classes during the micro PSBB from 15-28 Jun

The government has changed the Islamic New Year, birth of Prophet Muhammad and Christmas joint leave days. The Islamic New Year holiday will now fall on Wed 11 Aug, Prophet Muhammad’s birthday to Wed 20 Oct and the national collective leave on 24 Dec will be cancelled

The Jakarta Governor has called for residents to stay home over the weekend to prevent further virus transmission

The Tourism Minister has said that Bali’s economy could be permanently damaged, and that its economic situation in Q2 so far is not improved from Q1

The national COVID-19 Task Force is considering cutting long holidays from the remaining 2021 calendar to stop the spread of the virus

The Head of Bali Tourism Office has said that the number of domestic tourists visiting Bali has increased to around 8,000 per day

The Provincial Bali government has said that the challenge for Bali to reopen is to convince international tourists that the cases are improving and are under control, despite the increase in cases nationally

Investment in Badung regency’s tourism sector in Bali still continues, according to the Head of the Badung Regency Investment

Indonesia reported its highest daily cases since Feb, with 12,624. Jakarta recorded the highest single day jump, at 4,144 cases. Health authorities have said that the likely cause behind the increase is the Delta variant

The WHO has warned that Indonesia should increase prevention measures in the country due to the surge in cases caused by variants

The Ministry of Tourism is strengthening its cooperation with Iran to encourage tourist visits

The Minister of Tourism met with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan and discussed tourism cooperation between the two, including plans for direct charter flights from Almaty or Astana to Surabaya and Bali

West Java governor has asked tourists to stay away from Bandung Metropolitan Area and that it is under the level 1 COVID-19 alert. All cities and regencies must implement a work from home policy, as well as stop arrivals from outside the region for the next week

The Bali provincial government in partnership with tourism stakeholders, plans to tighten the implantation of prevention measures

Jakarta officials have said that the city is now in a “critical phase” for COVID cases after an increase, and a positivity rate hitting 17% from the previous week’s 8%

The Tourism Minister has said that the Work from Bali scheme is planned to prevent permanent damage to Bali’s economy

The passenger traffic at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport reached 218,499 people from 1-14 Jun, an average of around 15.6k per day, a MoM increase of 79%. The traffic mainly comes from Jakarta, Surabaya, Lombok and Ujung Pandang. The airport predicts that Jun 2021 traffic will be the highest since the start of the pandemic

Pauline Suharno is now the chair for ASTINDO, the Indonesian Travel Agents Association. She will focus on looking at driving change and digital transformation for travel agents

Jakarta is considering tightening restrictions

The Work from Bali program will start in stages in Jul, and the Bali government hopes that it can be expanded beyond Nusa Dua

Indonesia expects that its cases will peak in early Jul

The Micro PPKM restrictions have been extended until 28 Jun. Offices in red zones are permitted to operate at 25% capacity, and those in orange/ yellow zones at 50% capacity. Shopping centres and restaurants are also limited to 50% capacity and must close by 9pm

Mt Merabu has reopened to hikers and tourists, but the visitor quota is limited to 30% of normal capacity. Hikers must also show antigen tests or GeNose results to be able to climb

Jokowi has approved the 10 proposals from the Governor of Bali, including providing 3 million more doses of vaccine and providing soft loans for the tourism sector. He has instructed the relevant ministries to work towards implementing them

The Tourism Minister has said that they will develop traditional horse racing in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara to be a tourist attraction. They will focus on revitalising the facilities

Gianyar Regency, Bali, is planning to open a Resort Hospital at Payangan Hospital

The Tourism Minister is looking to include Kuta in Badung as one of the green zones for the Bali TCA plan

The government has said that large-scale restrictions will not be imposed despite the spike of cases

The Minister of Tourism has recommended Lake Toba as a destination for remote working. They are also implementing a Cabin Box concept from Jul

The Ministry of Tourism is focusing on 3 strategies to revive Bali’s tourism, including vaccinating Bali’s population by Jul, tightening compliance with health protocols, trying to double the number of tourist businesses to 1,200 certified CHSE businesses and the diversification of the Balinese economy as a medium-term step

More protocols for the Bali TCA have been revealed, including an RT-PCR test on arrival, and then a 5-day quarantine. For those who are vaccinated, they will be permitted to use the hotel facilities, whilst for those for are not vaccinated, travellers will need to self-isolate in their hotel room

The Minister of Tourism has said that preparations for reopening Bali ae in the final stage and are at 90%. Opening depends on control of cases, vaccination programs and increasing compliance to health protocols

Indonesia recorded 7,725 cases on 9 Jun, its highest since 26 Feb. The government expects the increase to continue until Jul

The Bali Hotels Association has said that almost 76% of its member hotels have received the Cleanliness, Health, Safety and Environment (CHSE) certification

Bali has been named the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2021 winner as the most popular destination in the world, and in Asia

The Sanur area of Bali has said that it is ready to support the Work from Bali initiative, especially as it is a green zone area

The cancellation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry National Conference in Bali created a potential loss of 35 billion IDR in revenue

The Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF), held from 10-11 Jun, had 192 buyers from 20 countries and 145 sellers. It is estimated that it could have a potential transaction value of 3.7 trillion IDR

The Governor of Bali met with Jokowi and requested 3 million additional doses of vaccine, special incentives for domestic travellers to be encouraged, increasing the Work from Bali to all government ministries, increasing MICE in Bali, opening Bali on a limited basis to international travellers from the end of Jul, providing tourism grants, extending the grace period for loans for tourism businesses and providing soft loans to Bali tourism businesses

The Bali governor has asked Jokowi to reopen Bali for international tourists by the end of Jul on a limited basis

The government has said that Indonesia only experienced a 53.4% spike in cases after Eid, compared to an 80.5% increase in 2020

The Finance Ministry has said that the social protection plan in place could have reduced open unemployment rates to 6.26% in Feb 2021

The Ministry for Transportation has said that connectivity is key for tourism success, including projects such as the Yogyakarta International Airport to Borobudur Temple transport corridor, the Lombok Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport and Bali’s port in Nusa Penida

Garuda Indonesia is only operating 53 planes of its 142 fleet, due to the pandemic

Indonesia reported 8,892 cases on 10 Jun, the highest since 23 Feb

RedDoorz has launched its first Sunerra hotel in Jakarta, designed as a workcation hotel. The company noted that its domestic sales in Indonesia were doing well, with some hotels recording hotel occupancy 10-20% above industry average

A survey has shown that the current Minister of Tourism, Sandiaga Uno, is one of the most popular potential candidates to run for President of Indonesia in 2024

Bali plans to hold 20 events between Jun- year-end

The government has said that Bali must not rely fully on the tourism sector for its overall economic growth