Indonesia

Several villages near Tanah Lot in Tabanan have been designated green zone areas and will be included in the COVID-19 Free Corridor

Bali’s government is preparing hotels which will be used for quarantining international travellers on arrival whilst they wait for their swab test results. These would need to be paid for by the travellers

The government will spend $275.5 mil USD on 108 basic infrastructure projects in the 5 super priority destinations. The projects are to develop roads, clean water, sanitation and residential improvements, as the government believes that if the infrastructure is not in pace, then tourists will not return

Indonesia has tightened security at tourist destinations following the terror attacks in Indonesia

The IMF has downgraded its forecast for Indonesia’s 2021 GDP to 4.3% from 4.8%, due to its slow vaccination rollout

The Mandalika MotoGP has been tentatively scheduled for March 2022

The Bali Tourism Board forecasts that Bali will receive 1.5 million international visitors once it reopens borders

Travellers who have travel permits for travel during Eid must undergo a 5-day self-quarantine on arrival to their destination

Indonesia has warned against a second cyclone after Cyclone Seroja killed 163 people and displaced more than 22,800 in East Nusa Tenggara province

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment has reaffirmed the government’s plans to open an international hospital for diseases such as cancer, in Bali, as part of its medium-to-long term strategy for medical tourism

The government will take over the management of the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) cultural park, in a bid to improve its offerings for culture-based tourism products

Indonesia is trying to position itself as the leading adventure tourism destination in SE Asia and will partner with the Indonesia Adventure Travel Trade Association (IATTA). They will look at developing rafting in West Java, to attract those visiting the KEK Lido zone

The government has announced a ban on sea, land, air and rail travel from 6-17 May over the Eid festival, to prevent travel for the mudik

Jokowi has challenged the Tourism Ministry why only 244 tourist villages are being targeted to be created by 2024

The Tourism Minister has asked the Pandeglang Regency and Banten Province to add tourist villages to the Tanjung Lesung Tourism Special Economic Zone, to open up jobs and develop the community’s economy

Jakarta has started a pilot scheme of reopening 85 schools for face to face learning

Bali plans to hold 20 national events in 2021 to attract domestic tourists. However, the Bali Tourism Agency remains realistic that numbers will be depressed, aiming to receive around 30% of the pre-pandemic’s 16,000 daily visitors

Bali Vice Governor has said that Australia will not be prioritised for a travel bubble with Bali, as they do not expect Australian citizens to be permitted to undergo outbound travel “anytime soon”. Instead, they will focus on the Netherlands, China, Singapore and the UAE

The government is continuing to pursue reopening slowly to international tourism, with key constraints including testing of visitors and staff, mass vaccination drives and restricting visitors to certain zones. They foresee groups of not more than 50 on boats to Batam and Bintan, and 2 flights per day to Bali at the start of its pilot program

The Tourism Minister has said that the pandemic has presented an opportunity for the industry to strengthen its perception of offering Muslim friendly tourism

The Tourism Minister is optimistic that tourists will still visit local attractions even though the mudik is banned

The Micro PPKM has been extended from 6-19 Apr, and is enforced in 20 provinces, including Java, Bali, Aceh, Riau, South Sumatra, North Kalimantan, and Papua

STR data has shown that Bali’s hotel occupancy is trailing behind other Indonesian destinations such as Bandung, Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya. The most recent data shows that its average occupancy is below 35%

Flash floods in the Flores killed 23 people

Sanur Port saw an increase of 30% in the number of fast boats taken by tourists over the Easter weekend

The Tourism Ministry said that domestic visitors to Bali reached 50% of pre-pandemic levels, with 8,000 visitors to Bali in the last 2 days. Daily arrivals in Apr so far have been around 4,500, up from their target of 2,600. The Q1 number of domestic tourists to Bali was more than at the end of 2020

The Head of The National Covid-19 Handling Task Force has asked Bali to regulate quarantine policies for both domestic and international travellers to the island

351,256 vehicles left Greater Jakarta on 1-2 Apr, ahead of the Easter holidays, an increase of 25%

The government’s data has shown that active cases are decreasing in Indonesia

Banda Aceh recorded no international arrivals in Feb due to border restrictions

: Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport has recorded an increase in traffic over the Easter holidays, with 8,875 pax on 1 Apr alone, this is the highest total pax for months. The airport predicted that peak domestic travel would be on 2 Apr, with a 2-4% increase vs 1 Apr. Bali in general has seen an increase in the average number of pax flying, with Jan-Mar 5,293 pax, but the Mar average rose to 8,532 pax

Bali is looking at developing itself as a medical tourism hub, something which is supported by the Ministry of Tourism

Indonesia’s February international arrivals were 117,000 in Feb, -86.59% YoY, and a decrease of 14.74% MoM. Its Feb air arrivals were -98.74% YoY. Its Jan-Feb international arrivals were -88.25% YoY

The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights has criticised the mega tourism project in Mandalika, saying that it “tramples on human rights”. They said that the project included aggressive land grabs, forced evictions and threats

Jakarta will reopen face to face learning in a pilot in 96 schools from 7 Apr

3 of the remaining 5 red zones in Indonesia for COVID-19 are in Bali

A female IS sympathiser was shot dead at the National Police HQ after opening fire on officers at the entrance. The explosion on 28 Mar in Makassar was linked to a pro-IS group, and the country is on high alert for attacks

The Tourism Ministry is drafting programs which would permit staycations over the Lebaran (Eid) period, as the mudik is not allowed

The cockpit recorder for the Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 crash has been located

Discussions for reopening Bali are in the final stage, the Tourism Minister has said. They plan to implement a 2-day quarantine at designated government facilities for international travellers, and will also extend the length of a visa from 30 to 60 days. They will also implement an e-visa system

The government has made changes to domestic travel regulations, including the need for a negative RT-PCR test to Bali within 48 hours, and an alternative GeNose test at the departure location of airports, ports, train stations and rest areas

Indonesia is aiming to partially reopen schools by Jul, in time for the new academic year. Schools would open at 50% capacity, with rotation for students between in-person and online learning

The Tourism Minister acknowledged the fact that the ban on the mudik will impact the tourism sector, but is necessary to break the chain of infection

Traveloka is holding a mega sale at the end of March to promote domestic tourism

The Minister of Tourism has concluded that the reopening of Bali can happen mid-Jun or Jul, piloted in Ubud, Sanur and Nusa Dua. They plan to carry out a pilot with a charter flights prior to the reopening. Countries which would be targeted for partners include those with high vaccination rates, strict health protocols and high testing and tracing, as well as reciprocity

The World Bank has kept its forecast of 4.4% GDP 2021 growth for Indonesia, unchanged from its Dec forecast

The World Bank still forecasts a 2021 GDP growth of 4.4% for Indonesia

2 suspected suicide bombers launched an attack at a Makassar Catholic church on 28 Mar, injuring 14, with the number of deaths unknown

: Indonesian ministers hosted an event in Bali on 26 Mar, called “Rethinking and Reinventing Bali Post COVID-19”, inviting ambassadors to showcase how Bali is preparing to reopen

The Bali Tourism Ministry expects the travel corridor to be open by Jun-Jul

Medan will launch the revitalisation of the Kesawan City Walk on 28 Mar, highlighting its culinary richness as a “Kitchen of Asia”

The government has said that it will tighten its Micro PPKM restrictions from 5 Apr, and will expand it to 5 more provinces

Bali will implement the Genose test at Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport in Apr 2021. The Bali governor hopes that this will attract domestic travellers, as the cost is lower. It will be targeted for those travellers already vaccinated

The Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister has said that Singapore and Indonesia should have the “same level of control” over COVID-19 before allowing travel to resume between the 2

Mt Rinjani will reopen its trekking on 1 Apr, but will limit the number of trekkers to 50% of its total quota

The government will soon issue a 5-year tourist visa, allowing foreign tourists to work in the country. They anticipate this could be launched in Mar/ Apr

The Tourism Minister will focus on growing sports tourism, estimating that it could generate $1.3 trillion USD by 2024. The ministry will develop marine tourism, swimming, ecotourism and adventure tourism

Singapore’s Foreign Minister has said that they are in talks with Indonesia for a “gradual and safe reopening of travel arrangements”, whilst Indonesia’s Tourism Minister has said that the 2 countries will “continue to increase the discussion to a more detailed level. Hopefully, in the next few weeks we can convey the progress” on the travel corridor plan

Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport has started to run simulations of operating its international terminal, and is in touch with 5 countries for travel bubble plans. 5,000 of its airport staff have now been vaccinated

The Tourism Minister has promised to develop tourism in Purbalingga Regency in Central Java

Bank Indonesia (BI) sees MSMEs and tourism as being able to advance Indonesia’s development, and become a new powerhouse for the economy. The BI and other ministries are driving forward the 2021 National Movement on Proud of Made in Indonesia (BBI) and the National Movement of Proud to Travel #DiIndonesiaAja. They have a strategy for tourism development called 3A2P, Access, Attractions, Amenities, Promotion, and Tourism Actors. Access to tourism destinations is key, as is the CHSE certification

The Tourism Minister aims to grow Indonesia’s tourism and creative sector to contribute 10-12% of the country’s GDP over the next 5-10 years. Currently it contributes 7.3% (tourism 5.5%). He plans to focus on domestic tourism and the super priority destinations, which will drive local creative economies in turn. He does not aim to switch travellers from Bali to the super priority destinations, but rather “I want Bali's and the five super priority destinations’ pies to get bigger.”

The Tourism Minister is planning to maximise the amount which Indonesian travellers would usually spend on outbound travel, 150 trillion IDR, to channel it into the 5 Super Priority Destinations. He also believes that travel habits will change, and that personalised, localised and smaller-size tourism will be the focus

The Tourism Minister has said that MICE events will soon be allowed once more

PT Destinasi Tirta Nusantara has welcomed the plan of reopening Bali in mid-2021, and is optimistic that it could be the turning point for Indonesia’s tourism recovery in general. They hope that the government can provide more fiscal support

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has launched a new tourism app, Tlusur, which will provide users with information on health protocols and visitor capacity in tourism spots. It will also allow tracing of travellers, to ensure that they stay in green zones. The estimated launch is Jun/ Jul

Indonesia expects its economy to see a GDP growth of 7% in Q2, whilst Q1 is set to contract by 1.0%-0.1%

The Tourism Minister has said that the Singapore-Batam/ Bintan “safe travel corridor” is meant for Singaporeans into Indonesia, not the other way around. The areas in Batam and Bintan would be sealed, but vaccinated domestic travellers who test negative would also be allowed in

Bali expects to reopen its international borders by Aug, with a 3-part plan: 1) mass vaccinate, 2) prepare testing and trace applications and 3) arrange quarantine accommodation. in Apr, tracing trials will be carried out, as well as preparation for hotel quarantine packages, from May the trialling of tourism workers entering and exiting green zones will be implemented

Bali will allow social and cultural activities to be held, with the limit of 25% maximum capacity

The Tourism Minister has encouraged Riau Islands to develop longer stay packages for international travellers, as pre-pandemic, weekend trips from Singapore and Malaysia were preferred. Operators should highlight golf, the sea tribes, buffer islands and other islands

The Tourism Minister has said that Batam and Bintan are more ready to be opened to international tourists than Bali, so a reopening may happen for Nongsa tourist area in Batam and Lagoi in Bintan by 21 Apr

Bali has stated that vaccinated domestic travellers will still need to be tested to enter the island

The Sabang Free Trade Zone and Port Management Body (BPKS) in Aceh Province is targeting 12 international cruise ships this year

A new report from C9Hotelworks has shown that overall occupancy levels at Bali hotels fell to 22%. However, there has been a demand in villa sales in Bali, driven by domestic buyers from Jakarta and Surabaya

Jakarta’s Whitesky Aviation has launched a new helicopter service which allows people to fly to/ from the airport to their destination of choice in Greater Jakarta in 15 mins, avoiding traffic

The Tourism Minister has said that a travel corridor program could begin in Bali by mid-2021. It would be offered to countries which have contained the virus, have high vaccination rates and could offer reciprocal benefits. Possible countries could be Netherlands, China, the UAE and Singapore. However, several conditions need to be met before rollout, including low COVID-19 numbers, increased public compliance to health protocols, more tracing and testing and at least 2 million people to be vaccinated in Bali by Jul

The Micro PPKM has been extended until 5 Apr, as well as extended to 10 provinces, with 5 new regions including South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Nusa Tenggara

Indonesia has seen a downward trend of new cases

M&C Saatchi Indonesia have launched their new film for Tourism Indonesia, targeting domestic tourists under the tagline “See you in Indonesia”

The Health Ministry expects that 1.1 mil doses of AstraZeneca will be given before they expire in May

The budget allocation for tourism grants will be increased in 2021 to 3.7 trillion IDR from 2020’s 2.7 trillion. The PHRI also hoped that the government will issue a debt restructuring policy for tourism players

The Tourism Minister has proposed launching a 5-year visa which will target international travellers, including digital nomads

The Ministry of Communication and Informatics is supporting the Proud of Indonesian Travel movement through development of 4G in the 5 priority destinations. It has created a prototype model for the Hub Tourism Network Application (JPHub), which will allow the integration of MSMEs and tourism destinations

A new campaign, “Exploring Jambi, the Hidden Paradise” has been launched to promote its tourist attractions, part of the Proud Travel movement

The Tourism Minister has said that leisure events may happen soon, and would need to be initiated and coordinated in synergy with the local police and regional COVID-19 task force

The Minister of Tourism met with the Indian Ambassador to discuss Bali reopening by opening direct flights between the 2, as well as a travel corridor

The government will not ban the “mudik” (homecoming) for Lebaran/ Eid in 2021

Hayo Travel has been launched as a new online marketplace for tour and activity providers

Jokowi has said that he plans to reopen the tourism sector in Bali in stages, and that he hoped that the vaccination will help revive the island

Jokowi has predicted that Bali will revive mid-2021, but it must control the infection rate

Swiss-Belhotel aims to open 7 new properties by 2023 in Indonesia, with 5 of them opening by the end of 2021

Indonesian sellers taking part in the virtual ITB Berlin NOW 2021 event gathered in a Bali hotel as the ‘Indonesian pavilion’, to give sellers a working environment close to a trade show, as well as showcase that business events can take place

Two tourist areas, Nongsa and Lagoi, in the Riau Islands are being prioritised for reopening tourism for both domestic and international visitors

The Health Minister has announced a 3-phase reopening of Indonesia, saying that they want Indonesia “to be the best and safest tourist destination in the world, with strict prevention protocols”: 1. Mar-Jun 2021: Reopen green zones such as Nusa Dua, Ubud 2. Jul-Dec 2021: strictly supervise all locals moving in and out of these green zones 3. Jan-Mar 2022: pilot program for selected countries 4. Apr 2022: fully reopen to all international tourists

The Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travels Agencies (ASITA) has criticised the Health Ministry’s plan to reopen Indonesia, saying that if the border is closed for another year the “situation will be even worse, especially since the soft loan program has not been realised by the central government”

Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII) saw visitors increase to 10,000 over the Nyepi holiday on Sunday, an increase vs the previous week

Singapore and Indonesia have discussed establishing a travel bubble to help the tourism sector in both countries

The Minister of Tourism is focusing on sustainable tourism for recovery

The influx of visitors at Borobudur Temple is causing high pressure on its structure, and the government plans to implement quality tourism there. A study showed that the temple’s ideal limit should be 128 visitors per time. The Borobudur-Yogyakarta-Prambanan Integrated Tourism Master Plan must also be implemented to boost the area’s tourism potential

The Minister for Tourism has encouraged Borobudur to develop ecotourism

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) is calling for the government to reopen international borders. The Badung chapter has said that they were informed reopening would take place in 3 phases, with the official opening of the green zone in Apr 2022. If this were true, it would “only get much worse” for businesses on Bali

Ubud has said that it would need 32,000 of its residents to be vaccinated before reopening, and visitors must be tested on arrival for any international travel corridor. They would also plan a mandatory quarantine period of 5 days before tourists would ne allowed to visit areas not designated green zones

Bali’s governor has said that 3 areas in Bali will be designated green zones for international tourists: Ubud, Nusa Dua and Sanur

The Indonesian envoy to Singapore has said that the proposed travel bubble between Indonesia and Singapore could help tourism recovery. An initial travel bubble could involve Singapore and Bintan, Riau Islands

140 Singaporeans investors and business owners joined a webinar on tourism investment opportunities in Indonesia, including its new projects in Tanamori Labuan Bajo, Mandalika, and Borobodur temple

The Micro PPKM has increased community compliance, according to the government, leading to a drop in transmission

Indonesia’s unemployment rate has increased significantly due to the pandemic, reaching 9.7 million people in Aug 2020

The government has completed building 263 tourism accommodation facilities in Manado, to support he industry, under the Sarhunta program. These are renovations of locals’ homes which can be used as homestays. The Sarhunta program aims to rehabilitate 1,000 housing units in Lake Toba, 350 in Borobudur, 500 in Mandalika, 600 in Labuan Bajo and 300 in Manado

The government will use the GeNose testing at cinemas, to encourage the public to support the film industry

The Minister of Tourism will consider opening a COVID-free Corridor for Puncak area, Bogor Regency, so long as numbers remain low

The state railway operator KAI has increased the number of long-distance train routes over the public holidays from 10-14 Mar by 9%

Businesses and homes in Indonesia will enjoy reductions on electricity rates in Q2, but the discounts will be half of those previously

The Minister of Tourism is aiming to distribute 100 billion IDR to tourism businesses, as well as creative industries, in 2021

One of the countries which Indonesia will target as a source market for the COVID-Free Corridor is individual cities in Australia, with Perth or Melbourne being top targets. Indonesia has not yet discussed the plan with the Australian government

The Tourism Minister has said that the country will no longer chase a high number of tourist visits, but focus on sustainable and quality tourism instead medium-long term, from ”sea, sun, sand” to “sustainability, serenity and spirituality”

Malls and restaurants in Bali are permitted to stay open until 10pm under the latest Micro PPKM rules

Malls in Jakarta are still seeing only around 30-40% visitation rates, due to the limits set by the government

The Micro PPKM has been extended in Java and Bali for another 2 weeks, until 22 Mar

The Agriculture Ministry has called for agrotourism destinations to be promoted and developed

The UAE will develop a multi-million dollar tourism resort in Aceh province

The Tourism Minister has said that Likupang is a top priority, from infrastructure to the creative industries

The Tourism Minister is optimistic about the vaccination program in Bali to revive tourism and the economy

The Indonesian government will build Sanur in Bali into a Health Special Economic Zone focusing on medical tourism for the elderly

tiket.com will partner with Antis, who will supply hand sanitisers to tiket.com’s hotel partners in Yogyakarta, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara

A new website, Bali.com, has been launched as a one-stop information and tourism marketplace. It will partner with the Indonesian Tourism Ministry

Bali’s Nyepi will be observed for just one day in 2021, not3 days as has recently become tradition. The Ogoh-Ogoh parades have also been cancelled

The Tourism Minister, SOE Minister and Education and Culture ministers gathered together to discuss how to develop the tourism industry based on cultural heritage. They will also provide education facilities in the surrounding areas of Raja Ampat and Labuan Bajo

The Minister for Tourism had a virtual meeting with Tony Fernandes of AirAsia, where he requested that AirAsia fly to the 5 super priority destinations in Indonesia, to bring back tourists from Thailand, China and India

Public health experts are questioning whether opening up Bali’s “green zones” is feasible, claiming that Bali’s handling of the pandemic is not under control

3 areas in Bali, Nusa Dua, Nusa Penida and Ubud will be designated green zones for international visitors for the COVID-Free Corridor

The government has called on MSME tourism businesses to modernise and produce technological innovation-based products

Indonesia has not opened all international flight routes, the government has said

Indonesia’s international arrivals in Jan were -89.05% YoY, to 141,260. This also represented a MoM decline of 13.9% from Dec 2020. Occupancy at starred hotels was down 30.35% YoY and 10.44% MoM

Nusa Dua and Ubud will be priority destinations for the COVID-Free Corridor. The government plans to open them to domestic tourism in May, and are looking to vaccinate the 2 areas so that tourism can be reopened for countries such as China and Singapore. However, Bali would need to record fewer than 100 daily case – once this happens, they can start to plan the reopening of the borders

Nusa Dua and Ubud will need 120,000 doses to vaccinate the population and workers in the two areas, which the government plan to complete by the end of Mar

Indonesia received its 5th batch of 10 million Sinovac vaccines

Jokowi remains optimistic that tourism in Yogyakarta will recover

Of Indonesia’s international Feb arrivals, 68% were by land, 31% by sea and jut 1% by air

Boeing have said that Indonesia’s aviation recovery will be key for the region as a whole, representing more than a quarter of its 20-year forecast

Jokowi has said that the new Yogyakarta-Solo commuter line will voost tourism

Some hotels in Bali which have been serving as quarantine facilities for asymptomatic patients allegedly have not been paid by the government

The Tourism Minister hopes that vaccinations will revive Bali’s economy. Bali launched its 2nd phase of vaccination, which will see 2,500 tourism workers receiving vaccinations

Bali’s Vice Governor aims to establish a China-Bali travel corridor, but reminded the travel industry that Bali would need to vaccinate at least 75% of the people on the island before the border could be reopened

1.6 million Indonesians have received the first dose of the vaccine, and 982k have received their 2nd dose

All international travellers and Indonesian nationals will need to undergo a 5-day quarantine at government facilities on arrival to Indonesia. Travellers will need to have a negative RT-PCR test within 3 days of departure, as well as undergo one upon arrival. Foreign travellers under the Travel Corridor Arrangements will be exempt from the quarantine measures

Indonesia is expected to see a rise of 67% in the number of Indonesians who are ultra-high-net-worth individuals from now-2025. This would be the biggest increase worldwide

The Tourism Ministry has encouraged the development of tourism in West Sulawesi, including Balabalakang Island and Karampuang Island, mangrove tourism in Mamuju, as well as many of the local festivals

Indonesia is targeting to reopen schools for face to face learning in July, so long as teachers are vaccinated

The #BeliKreatifDanauToba movement to promote Lake Toba is supported by the Tourism Ministry. It will focus on providing support for Lake Toba-based businesses via upskilling, as well as help local artisans reach greater sales volume

The Badung Regency Government in Bali is proposing that the central government open international tourism to vaccinated travellers. They are also planning to install screening at tourism spots and offer testing on arrival at the airport. It has started to roll out the GeNose tests, which they hope to put in every public place. It costs just $1.4 USD per test

The Bandung Freedom Park could be a new tourist destination, and will be integrated with the Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train

The number of green zones has risen since the government implemented the Micro PPKM

The government has cut 5 collective leave days from the 2021 calendar, due to 2020’s spikes from travel over public holidays. This will leave just 2 collective days’ leave, one for 12 May, the day before Eid Al-Fitr, the other for 24 Dec

A Google Trends survey on Indonesians’ travel searches has shown that: • Indonesians are looking for destinations close to home, easily accessible by car • Top 10 domestic destinations from Jul-Oct included: Cipanas, Cisarua, Pangandaran, Anyer, Ciwidey, Babakan Madang, Taangmangu, Ciawi, Tarogong Kaler • Local outdoor attractions and family friendly recreation spots are becoming more popular (e.g. searches for Malela Waterfall increased by +330%) • A 50% increase in search queries for safe destination were recorded • 220% increase in the search term ‘staycation’

Bali will continue to subsidise hotel quarantine for mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic patients, using their regional budget, after previously announcing the program would be stopped

The Bali Sky Tourism Association will hold a paragliding competition in Bali later in 2021

The Tourism Minister is optimistic that the tourism industry will start to recover in H2, driven by the vaccination program as well as the health protocols

The Tourism Minister is looking at launching a tourism and creative economy recovery fund' with financial institutions to make financing easier to obtain for tourism players

Jakarta’s floods over the past weekend temporarily displaced over 4,000 people and caused 5 deaths

The partial lockdown of Bali and Java has been extended until 8 Mar

floods from the monsoon season in Jakarta has forced over 1,380 people to leave their homes

Bali will no longer house asymptomatic patients in hotels due to financial constraints, and instead must undergo isolation at home

Central Jakarta is aiming to be a green zone by Mar 2021 for COVID-19, with 83.06% already green zones. The city’s new cases are declining

Bali’s poverty rate in Sep 2020 increased to 4.45%, an increase of 0.67%pp vs Mar 2020

There will be no relocation of residents in the Komodo National Park, the government has reassured the public

Jakarta Tourisindo has asked stakeholders to collaborate more to develop the city’s tourism recovery, and the Jakarta administration is planning strategies to help boost the economy

‘Dangdut’ music will be proposed to be included to the UNESCO world cultural heritage list

Citadines Berawa Beach Bali has launched in Canggu, Bali. Ascott are expecting to open up 11 more properties across Indonesia over the next 2 years

Nearly 4,000 companies have signed up to allow them to purchase vaccines privately for their workers

The Tourism Minister has announced a soft loan scheme of $670 mil USD to kickstart tourism recovery in Bali

The Indonesian Health Minister has said that the rate of testing is not sufficient, as the positivity rate has hit a record 38.3% on 16 Feb. Epidemiologists worry that many cases may have gone undetected

The new number of cases and hospitalisation of patients is starting to decrease over the past 2 weeks, as the peak transmission from the year-end holidays has passed

Mt Merapi erupted with red hot lava 12 times, running 1.5km on 16 Feb

Traveloka are planning to be listed on the US stock exchange in 2021

1,120,963 health workers have received their vaccination, with around half of them fully vaccinated

Indonesia’s task force has set a target of being COVID-free by Indonesia’s Independence Day, 17 Aug

The government wants to develop Lake Toba along the lines of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, with comprehensive infrastructure, as well as creative economy activities

The Lido SEZ is forecast to boost the number of domestic and international tourists in Indonesia to 63.4 mil people per year by 2038, with an average of 3.17 mil tourists visiting per year

The Bali & Beyond Travel Fair will be held in Bali from 8-12 Jun, in a hybrid format. International participants would take place virtually, whilst domestic ones would meet in person. This year’s theme will be Exploring Sustainable and Wellness Tourism

The Yogyakarta chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) have said that only 172 of its 400 member hotels are open, but “almost dying”, whilst 50 have gone bust

The Tourism Minister will speed up development of Bangka Belitung’s Tanjung Kelayang Special Economic Zone. He believes that it would be a perfect Work or Study from Destination location

The Minister of Maritime Affairs supports the development of marine tourism, as it is within open spaces so safe for travellers

The Tourism Ministry is looking at how to prevent corruption in the ministry, reminding employees to declare any gifts or tips they are given

The Gianyar chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) have asked the government to open up travel corridors and offer soft loans for hotels

27.55 mil Indonesians live below the poverty line as of Sep 2020, a 0.97% YoY increase

The government has started the 2nd phase of its vaccination program, and will move onto the elderly and public service workers. Journalists, tourism workers, educators and public transport workers are also included in this phase

Benoa Port will also be included inside the COVID-free Corridor program, the Tourism Minister has said. It would be part of his vision to develop Bali as a Maritime Tourism Hub, which could generate 20,000 jobs

The Bali Maritime Tourism Hub is slated to be finished in 2023, becoming the largest cruise hub in Indonesia and able to accommodate up to 6,000 passengers. It will also have a theme park, and is expected to boost 427,723 domestic tourist visits and 133,777 international ones

Angkasa Pura I has signed an MoU with the Indonesian Tourism Development (ITDC) to support the MotoGP 2021 event in Mandalika

The Tourism Minister has said that he will speed up the travel bubble scheme for Bali, called the “COVID-free Corridors”. He is coordinating with the Bali Provincial Government and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI)

The Tourism Ministry and Bali Governor have discussed more plans for a soft loan of 9.9 trillion IDR for Bali’s tourism industry. Some of the projects under discussion include a declaration of 177 tourism villages and construction of a jogging track

A new special investment zones, Lido in West Java, is forecast to boost tourism, with a theme park, golf courses and retail and dining facilities, 6* luxury resorts, film studios and music festivals

The Tourism Ministry is implementing recovery strategies for MSMEs, and is urging tourism businesses to complete data requested by the government to allow them to create adequate policy

Bali hotels are operating for the majority at single digit occupancy, according to the Badung Chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI). Around 60 hotels are now for sale

Sumba Island in East Nusa Tenggara has said that it is not for sale, after it was reported that the island was on sale on a real estate website specialising in islands

The lockdown in Bali will be extended until at least 22 Feb, based on zoning areas. Visitors to Bali will need to have an RT-PCR test taken within 2 days of departure, or a rapid antigen test within 1 day of departure

The Indonesian Red Cross sees daily cases in Indonesia starting to fall by April due to the rollout plan, saying that the country was still in its first wave

The Tourism Ministry supports the GeNose C19 test to be implemented in super priority destinations. Bali will be prioritised first for implementation, as it has had the most severe contraction of economic growth

The Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) disagree with the Tourism Ministry’s approach to focus on the 5 super priority destinations to kickstart tourism, arguing that it should focus on just Bali first, as it has its infrastructure already developed, whilst the other destinations are in development

The Tourism Minister is looking into a long-term visa which would allow tourists to stay in the country for up to 5 years. It would target those foreigners who want to spend time in Indonesia during their home country’s winter months. Visitors would have to deposit at least 2 billion IDR

Jakarta’s Old Town will be a Low Emission Zone starting from 8 Feb. Private vehicles and goods will not be allowed in the zone unless they have passed the emission test

Heavy flooding led to more than 1,000 people being evacuated in east and south Jakarta

Indonesia’s press will receive 5,000 doses of the vaccine between end Feb to early Mar

The South Sulawesi governor hopes that the national tourism authority will develop the region, as the new airport has helped accessibility

Indonesia will be leading the ASEAN Travel Corridor initiative, and will be tasked with frameworks and operating procedures for the arrangements

Bangka Belitung has asked for Belitung to be included in the super priority destinations, making it a total of 6

Belitung hopes that it will soon be added to the UNESCO Global Geoparks list, as it had obtained the highest score any Indonesian park had achieved

Java and Bali’s PPKM has not shown major results, the government has said, but the hospital occupancy rate has fallen

Bekasi government has designated 100 rooms at the Cikarang Ibis Hotel for asymptomatic patients after their homes were impacted by heavy flooding. 13,021 houses have seen a landslide and flood which inundated 27 villages due to torrential rains

Indonesia has extended the border closure for foreigners until 22 Feb. However, exceptions will be made for those travelling under travel corridor arrangements and those with special government permission, but they will still need to undergo a 5-day quarantine

The government has announced that company employees, civil servants, soldiers and police will not be allowed to travel out of town over the long weekend for Chinese New Year

Indonesia will host the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Yogyakarta in 2023

Bali saw a significant increase in its recovery rate as of 6 Feb

More details about the Micro PPKM for Java and Bali have been released. Essentially, it has the same restrictions, but enforcement is now done by the neighbourhood unit level (RT). An RT will be a red zone is there are more than 10 households with cases in a week. A red zone would need to enforce contact tracing as well as close all non-essential public facilities. A curfew would be imposed at 8pm, and gatherings of more than 3 people are prohibited. Orange zones (6-10 households with cases/ week) need to shut playgrounds, houses of worship and other non-essential public facilities. For other areas, mall opening hours are now until 9pm, and work from office and restaurant capacity has been raised to 50%

Jakarta has denied considering full weekend lockdowns

Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) between the 2 nations, which the Tourism Minister expects will revitalise Malaysia’s tourism industry. The date has yet to be announced

The government will apply micro-scale restrictions from 9 Feb as part of the PPKM

DMC Discova is creating a farm-to-table initiative in Bali to create more income for farmers. Discova will provide finance for organic farming workshops and seeds and plants, and will help the farmers to sell the produce to hotel and restaurants on the island

Indonesia’s GDP for 2020 dropped more than forecast in Q4 to 2.19%, triggering a FY contraction of 2.07% for the first time in 20 years. Household consumption fell 3.6% YoY in Q4

Bali’s economy dropped by 9.31% in 2020, with Q4 shrinking by 12.21% YoY. The National Statistics Agency said that the travel restrictions imposed at the year-end holidays had an impact

At least 60 hotels in Bali are being put up for sale, according to the Badung chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI). They predict hotel sales may continue to rise, due to low occupancy levels of 5-7%. Bali is also reported to have lost IDR 10 trillion/ month since the start of the pandemic

Bangka Belitung islands are offering 3 sports tourism agendas in 2021, including a Beach Volleyball Championship, a fishing competition and the Belitong Geopark Ultra Run. They have also scheduled 65 tourist events, hoping to receive 250,000 tourists in 2021

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister is aiming to have 6,500 entrepreneurs for CHSE certification by 2021 YE

Train travellers at Jakarta’s Pasar Senen Station and Yogyakarta’s Tugu Station will be screened for COVID-19 using a breathalyser test. The government plan to expand these to other stations, and will be mandatory for long-distance travel

More people are being asked to work from home in Bali, after Jokowi said that the implementation of a partial lockdown was ineffective. Asymptomatic patients will also need to quarantine in a government approved facility, rather than self-isolate at home

Jakarta is considering implementing full lockdowns every weekend to curb virus transmission

Foreign tourist arrivals to Bali dropped to 1 million in 2020, -83% YoY, with the bulk of arrivals taking place in Q1

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister has asked the banking sector to find ways to better support hotels, after several were declared bankrupt in Bali. Bali is waiting for the $704.6 million USD stimulus package which has been requested from the central government

Indonesia’s international arrivals in 2020 dropped by 88.08% in Dec to 164,100. In 2020 FY, its arrivals dropped 75.03% to 4.02 million

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister has said that the targets for domestic tourists and international tourists will need to be adjusted

Visitors to Bali’s Sanur beach now have to take antigen rapid tests before being allowed to enter

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister is asking the central government to provide soft loans with low interest rates to Bali businesses

Indonesia hit a record daily high of 14,518 new cases

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister is looking at opening a program called “Free COVID-19 Corridor (FCC)” in Bali, which could allow Bali to reopen for international travellers. It would be open to only vaccinated travellers, who would still be required to undergo a rapid antigen test on arrival

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister has said that it will be unlikely for Indonesia to achieve its target of 4-7 million international tourists in 2021 as the borders are still closed to foreigners

Grab will hold courses for GrabCar and GrabBike drivers to enhance their basic tour guide skills. It also plans to partner with Agoda, Booking.com and Klook to offer travel packages

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister is invited business people and ither professionals to consider working from Bali, and is looking into policies on a “work from Bali” and “study from Bali” schemes

Agoda has said that family travel is the dominant types of travellers for their customers so far in Indonesia in 2021

The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bali are calling for free tests for domestic tourists once the lockdown restrictions are eased. They also criticised the governor’s idea of a full lockdown, saying that it would not be economically feasible

A total lockdown of Bali would need to have a budget allocated of $80 million USD to finance it, giving residents $1.40 per day for the lockdown duration

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister is launching free virtual tours of 10 tourist villages, called Virtual Indonesia. The tours will be available via their YouTube channel every Sat and Sun from 30 Jan to 28 Feb. The villages were chosen because of their unique geography, culture and relatively unknown local experiences

Families of the Sriwijaya Air crash victims are suing Boeing for alleged manufacturing faults

Tripadvisor have named Bali at the top of their 2021 list of the World’s Most Popular Destinations, moving up from 4th place in 2020

Hundreds living near Mt Merapi have been evacuated from their homes after eruptions

The general public will likely start to receive their vaccinations mid-February, once medical workers have been completed. Military and public service officers would likely be vaccinated in tandem with the public. The government expects 900,000 to 1 mil people to be vaccinated per day. As of 25 Jan, 179k doses have been administered

Indonesia recorded a daily record in deaths, at 387

Traveloka has released data showing that 38% of its users have chosen to book staycations, 34% culinary tours and the other 25% booking domestic flights. They also forecast that road trips will be a key trend for 2021. The 3 top destinations were Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya

More than 1,000 workers have been furloughed in Bali, and 200 made redundant in Jan

ASITA and ASTINDO have reported that members are doing very badly, with ASTINDO saying that travel agents in secondary cities such as Surabaya are suffering the worst, and many have had to downsize operations

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister will have an office in Bali, and work from there occasionally to keep an eye on the situation and make immediate decisions on the island’s tourism policies

Bali has cancelled the traditional Ogoh-Ogoh parade to mark Bali’s Nyepi festival on 14 Mar. Other limits on the festival include a maximum number of 50 pax at ceremonies, and no firecrackers

Riau Islands hope that a travel bubble can be set up with Singapore to boost tourism arrivals, with exclusive resorts being designated with a segregated travel lane, such as Nongsa, Lagoi, Cempedak Island, Nikoi Island, Kepri Coral and Telunas resorts, as there are no residents there. The local government also hope to obtain SG Clean certification to convince travellers they are safe

Garut in West Java is reopening tourism destinations, but under a limited number of visitors to 25% of total capacity

Indonesia’s cases have now surpassed 1 million

2 more hotels have been added as quarantine facilities for asymptomatic patients in Bali

Indonesia will continue developing a new capital city in East Kalimantan province, but the start of construction will be delayed until after March 2022 once the vaccination program is completed

Jakarta Governor has asked the central government to take over the COVID-19 relief efforts in Greater Jakarta, as the city is running out of hospital beds, and had just 13% of beds free on 30 Jan

Indonesia is to lead the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Task Force, with its work expected to be completed in Q1 2021

Indonesia will extend its border closure to foreign nationals until 8 Feb

Indonesia has asked Singapore to discuss a partnership to set up a travel bubble between the 2 countries

Mandalika Circuit is planning to hold a World Superbike race on 8 Nov, as well as the MotoGP, in 2021

Indonesia’s population is now 271.3 million people

The government has extended the lockdown restrictions in Java and Bali until 8 Feb. Malls and restaurants will be allowed to operate until 8pm, rather than 7pm

Mt Sinabung has erupted once more, with ash being thrown 500m into the sky

Indonesia and Venezuela will collaborate to increase cooperation with tourism, with the Venezuelan tourism minister interested to pay Indonesia a visit to understand the tourism sector there

Students of Islamic boarding schools are being encouraged to share about their positive experiences of Indonesia’s halal tourism to attract more Muslim tourists to visit

The Tourism & Creative Economy Minister is looking to designate some of Jakarta’s MRT states for tourism and creative economy players to be able to promote their businesses and tourism destinations

Indonesia’s spike of 14,224 cases was due to late entry of data verification, the government has said

The Soekarno-Hatta aviation security arrested a criminal syndicate who make fake COVID-19 test results. The airport has implemented massive inspections to prevent forgeries being accepted and the use of the eHAC app to verify results

The Religious Affairs Minister is preparing for the hajj pilgrimage to depart of 15 Jun if possible and has asked for 2021 pilgrims to be prioritised for vaccination

Local tourism players are objecting to the Ministry of Tourism’s tie-up with Grab and the creation of a digital tourism marketplace, rather than supporting existing platforms. Grab would create the Grab Travel Pass for 5 priority tourism destinations, allowing pax to book hotels, attractions and telemedical services

The Tourism Minister has said they will help MSMEs to promote their products alongside the MotoGP 2021 event

West Sulawesi suffered an aftershock earthquake after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake, which has killed at least 56 people and injured hundreds. 15,000 people have been evacuated

South Kalimantan has declared a state of emergency as more than 20,000 people have been forced to leave their hones due to flooding

West Sulawesi suffered an aftershock earthquake after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake, which has killed at least 45 people and injured hundreds. 15,000 people have been evacuated

The Buleleng Hotel and Restaurant Association has said that over year-end holidays, many hotels in West Buleleng were art 100% occupancy, whilst Lovina saw 40-70% and Tejakula just 5%. They have said that hotels have now received little reservations until Mar, and are calling for government assistance to help businesses

Indonesia’s cases have reached a new daily high of 12,818

The world’s oldest cave painting, of a wild pig, has been found in Indonesia. It is estimated to be 45,500 years old

Indonesia’s cases have reached a new daily high of 11,557

The Tourism Minister has called the vaccine a “game changer” for the tourism and creative industry, but the main principle will remain health and safety. He has said that he has developed a recovery phase plan for tourism until 2024

China’s Minister for Foreign Affairs visited Indonesia and discussed cooperation as well as tourism

Bali saw a record number of new cases on 12 Jan, at 350

The number of new cases in Indonesia has increased over 2X over the last 2 months

Indonesia’s unemployed has increased to 9.7 million, with an additional 2.7 million due to the pandemic

The Indonesian Tourism & Creative Ministry have allocated $264,285 USD for a grant to 120 hotels and restaurants in Klungkung district in Bali, but 40 have decline the offer, as it was not enough aid

The government plans to build 200 tourism villages in Labuan Bajo, which will help create jobs and opportunities. It will form part of its 5 super priority destinations plan

Landslides in West Java have killed 11 people and many more are still missing

Jakarta has made the decision to tighten its large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) from 11-25 Jan, with active cases hitting a high of 17,383

Mt Merapi in Central Java/ Yogyakarta provinces has released a column of hot cloud which rose 200m above the crater and 600m towards the upstream of Kali Krasak River. It is at Alert level

Indonesia has reported more than 10,000 cases for 2 days running

Java and Bali will see their restrictions tightened from 11-25 Jan, including implementation of working from home by as much as 75%, all teaching to be conducted online, shopping malls to close by 7pm, places of worship to operate at 50% capacity, public facilities, and cultural activities closed and restaurants permitted to operate at just 25% capacity for dine-in. Essential sectors for basic needs are permitted to operate fully

Private jet operator Indojet have seen private jet bookings unaffected by the partial lockdown set to take place from 11-25 Jan, saying that “occupancy is getting higher”. The top routes include Jakarta-Bali and Jakarta-Labuan Bajo

Mandatory tests for entry to Bali will be extended to 8 Jan for all visitors through Gilimanuk Port

The new restrictions in place in Jakarta and Bali are called PPKM, Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities, rather than PSBB. It will be implemented in areas which have a death rate above the national average, a recovery rate below the national average, those with active cases above 14% and hospital occupancy of above 70%, affecting: Jakarta; Bogor, Bogor regency, Depok, Bekasi, Bekasi regency, Bandung, West Bandung regency, and Cimahi in West Java; Tangerang, Tangerang regency, and South Tangerang in Banten; Semarang, Solo, and Banyumas in Central Java; Gunung Kidul regency, Sleman regency, and Kulonprogo in Yogyakarta; Malang and Surabaya in East Java; and Denpasar and Badung regency in Bali

Bali has extended its requirements for a negative PCR test or antigen rapid test from 9 Jan for all inbound domestic travellers. The test must be from within 7 days of travel, but air travellers can now use an antigen test as an option, rather than just the RT-PCR test which was required over the year-end holidays

The Christmas and New Year holidays saw 1.1 million tourists between 24 Dec-3 Jan, 65% higher than the previous 11 days

Doing things that matter or make a difference is what Indonesians are most looking forward to for travel in 2021, according to a new survey from Agoda. Travelling sustainably and supporting less touristy destinations is also important

366,000 people visited Bali between 17 Dec-3 Jan

The expansion of areas of the Komodo National Park which are now being zoned for tourism developments is worrying the locals and ecologists

The Tourism Ministry is expected to facilitate investment for the tourism sector by introducing tax holidays or other incentives

The Tourism Minister has asked sports tourism to be expanded, with a commitment from golfing communities of sports events. He also suggested that triathlons be expanded to the 5 super-priority destinations, as well as marathon events

The Tourism Minister has forecast 7 million arrivals in 2021

The Tourism Minister has said that he plans to vaccinate 70% of Bali’s population before it reopens for international tourism. He hopes to establish a travel bubble Singapore-Bali

The Transportation Ministry said that there was a significant drop in land transportation over the year-end break compared to last year, to 5.6 million, whilst ferry transport decreased by 47% and air travel by 42% to 2 million

Indonesia’s Nov foreign arrivals fell by 86.31% YoY to 175,313, whilst it increased on a monthly basis to 13.9%

The government decision to ban inbound arrivals for 2 weeks has worried tourism players, who are concerned it could be extended further

Nusa Dua and Mandalika Bali were among the top destinations for domestic tourists to Bali over the year-end

A marine ecosystem project, the Indonesia Coral Reef Garden, has planted corals and underwater structures across 7 hectares of the Bali Sea

Jakarta’s transitional PSBB has been extended until 17 Jan

A cash assistance program is set to be rolled out in stages, including assistance with basic food from Jan-Dec and cash social assistance of 300,000 IDR/ month per household from Jan-Apr

Indonesia’s economy is predicted to grow by 6% in 2021, according to Oxford Economics

Indonesia has added 7,203 new cases in 24 hours

The Tourism Minister has suggested that people undertake staycations if they want to travel, rather than travel further afield, during the New Year holiday

The Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation has launched 12 electric motorcycles to promote sustainable tourism. They will initially be used within the Nusa Dua area

Citilink Indonesia and tiket.com held a Bali Beach Bike festival from 17-19 Dec, with a cycle ride from Sanur to Ubud

The Tourism Minister has suggested that tourism businesses use big data to understand domestic tourism trends better

Jakarta and Central Java have asked residents to stay at home for New Year's Eve

Indonesia’s case numbers from Nov to Dec jumped by 55% in a single month

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park will require visitors to show an antigen test result, as well as limiting its capacity to 30% over the New Year holidays, until 8 Jan

Photos have gone viral of a packed Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after the change in policy for international arrivals into Indonesia

Central Java will close down 84 tourist sites over the New Year holidays

The peak of passengers at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport was 16,789 on 23 Dec, 82% down YoY, but Bali operators are reporting a positive impact on their businesses over the New Year holiday period

The Tourism Minister has said that his previous idea of tapping into Bali’s “halal tourism” potential is “over”

Domestic tourism via Gilimanuk Port in West Bali has dropped 55% YoY

The Chairman of Indonesia Inbound Tour Operator Association (IINTOA) has urged the government to reinstate visas on arrival for international tourists

Banyuwangi is planning to push tourism to drive economic recovery, with tourism to be “health-oriented”

Indonesia will undertake its vaccination program in 2 stages. The 1st, from Jan-Apr 2021 will be for health workers, public service workers and the elderly, whilst the 2nd will run from Apr 2021-Mar2 022, for other vulnerable people in areas with high risk of transmission

The Tourism Minister has pledged to prioritise COVID-19 containment measures whilst aiming for a tourism recovery, but “When traveling, we should not compromise on health and must continue to comply with health protocols

Bali’s governor is optimistic about the revival of international tourism after his meeting with the Tourism Minister

Indonesia will close all borders to foreign visitors from 1-14 Jan 2021, with the only exception for official visits. International travellers to Indonesia until 31 Dec must present a negative PCR test 2 days before departure and will need to undergo a PCR test on arrival to Indonesia, and be quarantined for 5 days. If the result is then negative on the 5th day, they will be allowed to leave quarantine. Indonesians will also need to follow the same quarantine measures

The Tourism Ministry has said that the he had agreed with the governor of Bali to “move together quickly yet stay careful” for tourism recovery. They will continue to push confidence measures for foreigners and locals about tourism in Bali

More roads are being planned in Nusa Penida, Bali, to accommodate tourists, as it does not currently have a sufficient road infrastructure to accommodate motor vehicles

Bandung City held random antigen tests for 3 hotels in Bandung, as well as at several tourist destinations

Thousand Islands have welcomed 3,000 visitors from 24-25 Dec

Indonesia recorded its highest daily rise in deaths, at 258, and 7,259 cases

Bintan Resort Cakrawala is engaging SG Clean to conduct training to understand the SOPs and look at opening a special travel lane with Singapore

Denpasar schools will only reopen in May 2021

The new Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy has 3 main plans to reinvigorate Indonesia’s tourism, including innovations, particularly in the way the 5 super-priority destinations are organised, adaptation to current protocols and collaboration

Central Java will screen tourists at key tourist attractions during the yearend holidays with antigen tests

The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) is pleased with the appointment of the new Tourism Minister, as he comes from an MSME background and is highly concerned about the tourism industry

The government has downgraded 2020’s predicted GDP to -1.7% to 2.2%, due to shrinking household spending

The COVID-19 Task Force reminded travellers that they can take antigen tests prior to arriving at Jakata’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport, to avoid the large queues which have been forming

The Tourism Ministry is preparing a “Book Now, Travel Later” campaign

Google and Apple studies have both shown an increase in the number of Indonesians going out of their houses, although it remains below April’s baseline

State civil servants are being restricted from travelling out of town between 21 Dec to 8 Jan, in a bid to reduce the number of travellers over the year-end break

Kuta Beach will restrict access on New Year’s Eve, to prevent crowding

The elderly are not likely to be the first recipients of the vaccine, as potential vaccines such as Sinovac have only been tested on ages 18-59

Jakarta has extended its transitional large-scale social distancing (PSBB) until 3 Jan

Air Travellers to or from Java Island will need to take a rapid antigen test within 3 days of departure, whilst those travelling to Bali by air must have an RT-PCR test valid within 7 days

Traveloka has said that it is looking to go public soon, and may merge with a special purpose acquisition company to list on the stock market

Medan will continue its Christmas and New Year celebrations, but will ask residents to avoid crowds

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple in Bali has received 1,000 cancellations from travellers after the last-minute requirement for an RT-PCR test to enter the island

A price ceiling of $17.73 USD has been set for antigen tests in Java and 275,000 IDR outside of Java after cost variances across the country

Jakarta will limit activities in public places from 18 Dec until 8 Jan, including limiting office opening hours until 7pm, restaurants, tourist sites and shopping malls until 9pm. Those travelling into the city will need to provide negative rapid antigen tests, and public transport will operate until 8pm

Bali’s government after imposing strict rules on domestic travellers arriving by air from 19 Dec to 4 Jan requiring an RT-PCR test have now relaxed the guidelines slightly, with tests valid within 7 days instead of 2

Investors, including those from China, will still continue to invest in the Lake Toba area

Tourism businesses are feeling optimistic that the vaccine will revive the industry, with demand growing already. The Association of Air Ticketing Companies in Indonesia (ASTINDO) have said that demand for tourism has increased 20-30% compared to May

The PHRI has said that the sudden demand from the Bali government for travellers to present RT-PCR tests has led to cancellations, with 133,000 pax demanding refunds, 10 times higher than usual, and a loss of 317 billion IDR

The number of domestic air passengers as a whole is just 30 million, with a drop of 60-70 million, according to the Indonesian National Air Carriers Association

AirAsia and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) have partnered to offer promotional packages for flights and member hotels on AirAsia’s website

Bali’s new RT-PCR test requirement for domestic tourists is part of the plan to be able to open up Bali for international tourists, which they plan to do in Q1 2021, the deputy governor has said

Bir Bintang has assisted tourism businesses in Bali to get the new normal tourism protocols certificate from the Bali Tourism Agency through training programs

Jakarta will encourage companies to follow a 75% of employees work from home policy from 18 Dec to 8 Jan

The Bali government has banned celebrations, fireworks and getting drunk during the Christmas and New Year Holiday

The Indonesian Transportation Minister believes that Bali will be the top tourist destination for Indonesians over the holiday season

The Indonesian government has said that it is preparing to reopen Bali, but the main concern is how Bali can control COVID-19 cases – if new daily cases were to stop appearing in the province, it could be opened soon

A Kompas survey showed that marine attractions are the most popular for Indonesian travellers at 28.4%, followed by ecotourism (19.5%), shopping/ culinary trips (12.2%) and historical attractions (9.4%). A PegiPegi survey showed that 75% of Indonesians plan to travel over the year-end holiday

Indonesia reached 600,000 cases, with a single day fatality high of 175 on 11 Dec

Bali will permit tourism businesses to hold New Year’s Eve celebrations, so long as protocols are in place and capacity is limited to 50%

West Lombok has seen 35% of 1,400 total rooms booked for the year-end holidays

The Indonesian MICE industry has lost $3.1 billion USD in losses, according to the Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association. Bali is planning to integrate MICE into its tourism recovery strategy

The UNWTO has called Bali “ready” to open for international tourism soon, and said they “wouldn’t be surprised if the government announced that Bali is open before Christmas.”

Jakarta has banned any New Year’s Eve festivities which could generate crowds

Surakarta wants to enforce a 14-day quarantine for domestic travellers into the area, supposedly from 15 Dec. Even travellers with negative test results would need to quarantine

Jakarta has extended its transitional PSBB until 21 Dec due to an increasing trend of cases after the long holiday at the end of Oct

Indonesia held its regional elections, with more than 100 million Indonesians eligible to vote

Bali’s unemployment rate has reached 5.6%. The Vice Governor of Bali has said that tourism contributes more than 50% to the island’s economy, and that the “We love Bali” program to promote domestic tourism needs to be pushed harder. The Ngurah Rai International Airport saw an increase of 51.8% between Oct and Nov 2020

Westin Hotels are opening its first branded property in Surabaya

The UNWTO held a “Capacity Building Workshop on Restarting International Tourism in Bali”, in partnership with the Indonesian government.

The Vice Governor Bali said that they plan to reopen Bali to international tourists before 31 Mar 2021

The Bali governor has said that he is ready to welcome Japanese tourists after a meeting with the Indonesian Ambassador for Japan and Garuda Indonesia to reopen the island. Garuda Indonesia have also said that they would be prepared to operate a Bali – Japan flight route

The government has outlined new processes that foreigners would need to follow to enter the country, including requiring antigen tests from all visitors and self-isolating facilities at the government’s expense

Indonesia is looking at procuring vaccines through COVAX, where it could gain enough for 3-20% of the country’s population

Government departments are rushing to hold their meetings externally at hotels in Bogor, Serpong and Tangeran, as civil servants try to spend their budget for this year in the fear that if they do not, their future allocation will be cut

The government has linked a decline in compliance with wearing a face mask and social distancing to the recent surge of cases in Indonesia, citing the long weekend from 28 Oct – 1 Nov as the main trigger for the decline in discipline

Hotels in Nusa Dua managed by the Indonesian Tourism Development Center (ITDC) have seen an increase in domestic holiday bookings for the year-end, with occupancy at 12% for 1-24 Dec, and 32% for 24-31 Dec. Some hotels have even reported occupancy of up to 60% in late Dec

The Central Java Governor has urged residents not to travel over the year-end holidays

Yogyakarta will launch patrol teams to supervise health protocols in public places during the year-end holidays

The majority of hotels in Jakarta enrolled in the government quarantine programme have now pulled out, according to the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) Jakarta chapter, as existing customers cancelled bookings after the news broke of them participating in the scheme

Indonesia saw a record 8,369 cases on 3 Dec

The Association of Indonesian Haj and Umrah Organizers (Amphuri) has asked that the government prioritise umrah pilgrims for the vaccination program, particularly the more elderly, stating that this would reduce the burden on umrah tour operators

West Java Governor has urged travellers not to visit Greater Bandung, as it is now a red zone. Hospital occupancy rates in West Java are now around 80%

The Central Government confirmed plans to build a railway line from Badung to Buleleng in Bali, which they are optimistic will boost tourism in Bali

The government is in early talks with Japan to establish a travel corridor

The accommodation and food sectors contracted 11.86% YoY in Q3, making it the second worst performing sector, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS). Hotel occupancy was down to 37.48% in Oct, down 19.3% YoY, mainly driven by the long weekend in Oct. Bali has the worst hotel occupancy rate, at 9.53% in Oct. The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) estimate that international arrivals will be 13-14 million in 2021

Jokowi has cancelled 3 collective leave days – 28, 29 and 30 Dec, to cut the risk of transmission

Bali’s health officials have said that the spike in cases has not been linked to the extended holidays, and instead warned that it came from traditional ceremonies, hospital and office clusters

Bali is asking the federal government to hold more national events and government conferences on the island

West Sumatra will have 3 tourist festivals in Jan 2021, including Pamalayu Festival, Serak Gulo and Indian Culture, and the Cap Go Meh Festival

Jakarta’s governor has contracted COVID-19 – he is asymptomatic, and is self-isolating

International arrivals to Indonesia have dropped 88.25% YoY to 158,190 in Oct, but an increase of 4.57% vs Sep 2020. 12,670 passengers arrived by air in Oct (-98.51% YoY), 45,690 by sea travel and 99,740 by land. Indonesia’s Jan-Oct numbers are 3.72 million, down 72.35% YoY

Indonesia will hold a round of the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship at the Mandalika race track on 14 Nov 2021, dependent on the construction and homologation

Angkasa Pura II, the state airport operator, will add time slots for airlines who want to increase flight frequency over the year-end holidays. They will also extend operational hours to allow physical distancing

Nusa Dua is hoping to become a COVID-free zone, implementing strict health protocols, resorts testing guests on arrival at the airport, having a designated vehicle to take the guests to the resorts, and all staff residing within the property. They hope these protocols will be actioned in Dec

In person learning will resume in January 2021 at schools, so long as strict requirements are in place

Garut Regency in West Java is planning to sell tickets online for its tourist attractions, with a digital tourism map, online shopping and delivery and CCTV at destinations through which tourists' activities could be seen

Indonesia is hoping to open travel corridors with Singapore and China, with a focus on providing more direct flights from both countries to Bali

Jokowi has approved the plan to put 7 state-owned enterprises, including Garuda Indonesia, under a new holding entity. The other entities include airport operator Angkasa Pura I and II, park and tourism complex operators Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation and Hotel Indonesia Group, amongst others

Indonesia reported a record daily case number of 6,267 on 29 Nov

Yogyakarta welcomed 1.67 million tourists from Jul-Nov

The Vice Governor of Bali has said that for many Bali hotels, the “situation is getting worse”. He has requested $687.9 million USD in soft loans help for tourism businesses. Bali’s Hotel General Manager Association has said that hotel occupancy in Bali is around 10-15%

Indonesia will host the 2021 Global Tourism Forum in Bali

The Vice Governor of Bali has said that for many Bali hotels, the “situation is getting worse”. He has requested $687.9 million USD in soft loans help for tourism businesses. Bali’s Hotel General Manager Association has said that hotel occupancy in Bali is around 10-15%

The Ministry of Transportation will support tourism recovery in the five priority destinations in Indonesia through transportation infrastructure, increasing connectivity between cities, airports and tourism attractions, e.g. establishing direct flights from Australia to Labuan Bajo, Yogyakarta with Europe, the US and Australia and for cruise ships in Tanjung Mas, Bali, Labuan Bajo and Manado

Grab has launched 30 Electric Based Vehicles in Bali, as well as built Battery Exchange Stations in 7 different locations

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) have shown that Jan-Sep international arrivals were -70.57% YoY, to 3.56 million visitors, and that 23.5 million domestic pax flew in Sep

Panorama Sentrawisata, the tour and travel company, do not think that the government’s decision to cut year-end holidays will affect travellers greatly, as many customers have already booked travel and the “public’s longing to go on a holiday is through the roof”. Vaccination will be the key to tourism recovery and confidence

Tiket.com has launched its Online Ticket Week LOKAL event, an online event with discounted prices on flights, accommodation and activities

New villas continue to be built on Bali, partly due to investor confidence that Bali will continue to be a desirable travel destination, as well as the digital nomad trend

The government plans to designate each super priority tourism destination a different tourism market. They would promote Likupang to middle-class Chinese tourists, whilst Labuan Bajo would be a premium destination with a limited visitor capacity. They are also considering limiting the number of visitors to Borobudur Temple

Denpasar is establishing 25km of cycle lanes in Denpasar, with the first stage underway

The Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association (PHRI) has said that they expect 2021 international arrivals to be 13-14 million, down from 2019’s 16.1 million, assuming a rebound with the mass vaccination. They expect domestic tourists to reach 240 million in 2021, down from 275 million in 2019

The Bali government, tourism board and the China’s Consulate General for Bali met to discuss establishing a travel corridor between Bali and China, hoping that it could be in place by Feb 2021, in time for Chinese New Year

Indonesia had a record number of new cases on 25 Nov, with 5,534

The Tourism & Creative Economy Ministry and Hype Festival have co-launched a new series called “Wonders”, which will promote Indonesia’s 5 super-priority destinations: Lake Toba, Likupang, Borobudur, Mandalika, and Labuan Bajo. It will showcase the destinations through audio-visual experiences

The Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy (MoTCE) have launched a new domestic stimulus program, Big Promo, to attract domestic tourists to 12 locations across Indonesia. There will be 50,000 vouchers available which include a 225,000 IDR voucher for staycations, tours and attractions, a 100,000 IDR meal voucher and a 75,000 IDR shopping voucher. The vouchers can be redeemed when buying hot deals on the website bigpromo.co.id, and have 1,208 subsides packages for sale as of 17 Nov. Industry players are happy with the launch, but regret that it kicked off so late

33 tourist spots will have free wifi provided by the Badung Bali Regency Government, to try to attract more visitors

75% of Indonesians are planning to travel during the year-end holidays, according to a new survey by PegiPegi. Other findings include that 45% plan to drive, 30% travel by plane and 11% take a staycation

Indonesia will start to accept visa applications from residents of Afghanistan, Guinea, Israel, North Korea, Cameroon, Liberia, Nigeria and Somalia, all of which need a calling visa

Indonesia’s cases have now surpassed 500,000

Jakarta has extended its transitional large-scale social restrictions until 6 Dec

The Bali Hotels Association has dismissed stories that Indonesia may implement an alcohol ban as a story that always comes up and “then goes all quiet again”

The Mandalika MotoGP circuit construction will start mid-2021

Hotels in Bali are offering heavily discounted rooms, whilst the Head of Ubud Homestay Association has said that many hotels are now targeting longer stay visitors

Bali will prepare to open its schools in early 2021, as the Indonesian government has now allowed each province to make their own decision on reopening

Bali’s Vice Governor has said that there are no plans to open Bali for international tourists on 1 Dec, saying that “it looks like foreign tourists can visit Bali again early next year.”

Indonesia’s new eVisa will allow business entities to sponsor foreigners to enter Indonesia for business purposes. Health clearance and round-trip tickets are required, and the visa is valid for 60 days

The Education and Culture Minister announced that schools will be able to open for face to face learning from Jan, so long as they follow protocols

Bali authorities are waiting for one more week to decide if year-end celebrations will go ahead, based on if the last long weekend caused an increase in cases

The state-owned train operator has stated that passengers on certain routes will no longer require rapid tests – but they would still need to adhere to health protocols

9 Dec will now be a public holiday for the simultaneous regional elections for 9 provinces throughout Indonesia

Amanjiwo hotel will be offering a luxury train journey across Central Java, The Journey Through Java, from 10 Dec. The 500km, 7-hour journey starts in Jakarta and finishes near Amanjiwo Hotel near Borobudur

Google will contribute $11 million USD to Indonesia, $10 million USD of which will be given to MSMEs through loans

The Finance Minister has said that a hurdle to economic recovery is the weak consumption amongst the upper-middle class, with household spending falling 4.04%

Indonesia’s central bank cut interest rates on 19 Nov to 3.75%, its fifth reduction this year

The Minister of State-Owned Enterprises has affirmed the government’s plan to focus on medical tourism, saying that Bali will be the new destination for checkups, rather than Indonesia or Malaysia. He added that Bali can be a training centre for doctors and nurses, partnering with Japan to develop the medical facilities

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurants Association (PHRI) has said that losses in the Indonesian tourism industry have now exceeded $7.1 billion USD (100 trillion IDR), and led to 550,000 lay-offs of hotel employees as of the start of Nov

Visit Wonderful Indonesia Board and the Indonesian Tour and Travel Agency Association (ASITA) have urged the Jakarta governor to lift the transitional PSBB as it is not effective

Images on social media have been circulating of large numbers of beachgoers on beaches in Bali who are not wearing face masks or social distancing

The Jakarta Deputy Governor has stressed that crowds for Christmas and New Year will not be permitted this year. This comes after thousands gathered for Islamic Defenders Front leader Rizieq’s celebration event for the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad in Jakarta

The Tourism and Creative Ministry have said that they plan to reactivate nature and adventure tourism, as they have seen Indonesians preferring this type of travel

Indonesia’s COVID-19 task force may recommend that the long holidays at the year-end be cancelled if it sees a further correlation between holidays and an increase of cases

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry have launched an integrated health, safety and security system (3K) which will be introduced in the top 10 priority destinations of Indonesia. It will be rolled out in Labuan Bajo initially. The 3K system will have a single command centre which will coordinate responses

The Bali Hotel Association has warned against the consequences of an alcohol ban in the country, saying that the current laws were sufficient and focus should be given on its implementation and enforcement

The Bali Hotels Association (BHA) has condemned an Australian documentary which showed a Bali hotel in disrepair and questioned whether the industry would survive. BHA said that the documentary was not representative of the facts and implied that all hotels in Bali were similar to the one shown

More hotels and restaurants in Labuan Bajo should apply for the cleanliness, health, safety and environmental sustainability (CHSE) certification, as only 3 hotels have CHSE certification so far

The COVID-19 task force will recommend that the government declares long holidays for the year-end, so long as the public follows health protocols. They noted that the number of cases after the Oct long weekend were not as high as after the Sep holidays

Only 157 foreigners visited Bali in Q3, a drop from 1.8 million last year. Domestic air passengers were also down 90% YoY. The Bali Hotels Association have said that luxury hotels saw occupancy levels of 30% during the last week of Oct

Indonesia saw a record number of cases on 13 Nov at 5,444, 2 weeks after the long October holiday weekend

Indonesia plans to start its mass vaccination campaign by the year end and is seeking emergency authorisation to do so, with advanced plans already in plan to distribute it. Health workers, police and the military would be the first recipients

The Tourism and Creative Ministry led events practicing emergency scenarios such as earthquakes and tsunamis in East Nusa Tenggara

Australia has offered to lend Indonesia 1.5 billion AUD to help fight COVID-19

The fast boat from Bali to Gili Trawangan has reopened for tourists. They are averaging around 50 passengers for the fast boat service

1,294 residents have been evacuated from the areas surrounding Mt Merapi as volcanic activity continues, with evacuation shelters on standby in case of eruption

The State-run secondary mortgage firm PT Sarana Multigriya Finansial (SMF) will work with the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry to develop homestays in the National Strategic Tourist Destinations

IATA forecasts that Indonesia will have the world’s 4th largest air passenger market by 2039, up from 10th place in 2019, due to the growth in the middle class

Bali will allow selected international travellers into the island for the Bali Democracy Forum in Dec, a hybrid online-offline event

Jokowi raised the issue of an ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement to help business travel during the 37th ASEAN Summit, pushing for it to open in Q1 2021

East Java and Jakarta reported their lowest daily cases since Aug on 11 Nov

The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is supporting Nias Pesisir’s Video Tourism Contest to revive the local tourism industry, with funding of 25 million IDR for the winner. They stated that marine tourism contributes to 2.4 million tourists

203 people have now been evacuated from areas close to Mt Merapi after fears of a new eruption

The Indonesian government will inject 1.2 trillion IDR into state-owned enterprise port operator Pelindo III to develop Bali’s Benoa port. It will also allocate 470 billion IDR into the Indonesian Tourism Development Corporation to finance the infrastructure development on Labuan Bajo

Visitors are now banned to Mt Merapi after its alert level was raised

The Bali Governor has said that the idea of international flights opening to Bali on 1 Dec is only being studied at the moment, and is under discussion with the coordinating minister and the Minister of Transportation

Prambanan temple will increase its quota for visitors to 7,000/ day (60% capacity) in its fourth phase of reopening

The Task Force for COVID-19 has said that the infection spread in Indonesia remains relatively under control

Bali’s unemployment rate has increased to 5.63% in Aug according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). 713 hotels and 212 restaurants in Bali’s Badung regency will qualify for the government’s new grant to help tourism businesses

Bekasi has cancelled its plans to use 3* hotels for self-isolation facilities after a decrease in the number of active cases

Tour operators have noted a new preference for domestic private tours, rather than shared ones

The transitional PSBB in Jakarta has been extended until 22 Nov

Mount Merapi has had its alert status raised to the second highest level, with hundreds evacuated living near the volcano

3 Indonesian umrah pilgrims have tested positive for COVID-19

The Enterprises Minister wants Indonesia to adopt the saliva test implemented by Japan’s airports, with a result coming out in less than an hour. He also sees the potential of developing Bali for health tourism

A UK national has been arrested in Bali this week for allegedly owing $257 USD to a Kuta hotel

More protests have broken out against in infrastructure projects on Rinca Island for the “Jurassic Park” project. The Indonesia Inbound Tour Operators Association have questioned the timing of the project, as well as its purpose

Venus One Tourism Academy has started to accept tuition fees from its tourism students in coconuts and herbs, as the academy also produces virgin coconut oil

Indonesia has now officially entered into recession in Q3, with -3.94% growth

Bali and Nusa Tenggara islands have been the hardest hit economically, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), with a contraction of 6.8% in Q3. Bali has contracted 12.28% on an annual basis in Q3

Indonesian air carriers have been cutting fares, with Sriwijaya Airlines, Nam Air, Citilink and Garuda Indonesia all offering cheaper fares. Statistics Indonesia data shows that the number of domestic air pax Jan-Aug fell 59.66% YoY, and foreign air pax 71.51% YoY

Angkasa Pura I, the national airport operator of 13 airports including Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Bali, saw 2.16 million pax in Oct, a 16.9% increase MoM, and a 10.9% MoM increase in air traffic. They attribute the uptick to greater consumer confidence, the stimulus packages for airlines and the long public holiday from 28 Oct – 1 Nov. In the final week of Oct, there were 453,500 air pax, up 17.9% from the week prior

The government has prioritised 4 regions for tourism recovery: Batam and Bintan Island in the Riau Islands, Bandung and Cirebon in West Java, Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Semarang in Central Java and Bali. The government will actively promote these destinations for domestic travellers, as they are well-known and frequently visited

The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) have now seen a split in leadership, with ASITA 71 and ASITA (2016 version), which will not result in “reconciliation”

Indonesia’s unemployment rate has hit its highest level since 2011, at 7.07% in Aug. The pandemic has caused 2.67 million people to lose their jobs, and 29.12 million affected, with hours shortened, workers furloughed or job cuts

The COVID-19 task force saw a decline in people following health protocols over the long weekend, with mask wearing declining from 88.62% to 86.35, but overall it saw a positive number of people complying to the mask wearing policies

The Traveloka Epic Sale will be held from 5-11 Nov, with discounts up to 80%

Landowners are allegedly about to be evicted from land set to be developed into a MotoGP circuit in Mandalika. The Indonesian government also plans to develop tourist destinations in the province, covering 800 villages

The Vice Governor Bali officially reopened the Ubud Monkey Forest, which he hopes will kickstart other tourism businesses to reopen

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment has said that the government is improving the quality of domestic tourism facilities, ensuring that Indonesian people can spend their money domestically to keep the economy flowing

The government are planning to start COVID-19 vaccination in the 3rd week of December, rather than early November. They aim to vaccinate 9 million people in high-risk areas. They also plan to transform Bali into a green zone by the start of the year

The occupation rate at Jakarta hotels for isolation facilities has dropped from 60% to 21%

The Indonesian Medical Tourism Board (IMTB) are looking to attract domestic medical tourists to Bali for treatment. They are focusing on coordinating marketing efforts between hospitals, targeting those local Indonesians who would usually travel out of the country for medical checkups

Tiket.com has recorded “skyrocketing transactions and numbers of users on the app” along with declining numbers of refund requests in Q3 2020

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry will focus on domestic tourism, saying that they are preparing to revive tourism post-pandemic

Jokowi has signed the Job Creation Bill into law

Indonesia’s average hotel occupancy in Sep dropped MoM, the first decline since Apr to 32.12%, 21.4% down YoY. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) attributed this to a lack of long weekends compared to Aug, as well as the PSBB. The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) also note that they have seen a decline in consumer spend, with just a small portion of regions seeing their hotel occupancy increase over the long weekend. Bali recorded the worst hotel occupancy rate in Sep, at 5.28% vs Jakarta’s 38.96%. Sep also had international arrivals of just 153,500 pax, with Jan-Sep foreign visits dropping 70.57%

11,541 tourists departed from Bali on 1 Nov after the end of the long weekend holidays, the busiest day for the airport since the pandemic

Yogyakarta administration will test tourism players and residents who have been in contact with travellers over the long weekend. The city’s daily visits increased to 4,400 on Thu and Fri, an increase from the usual 1,000-2,000

Visitors to Lembang, Bandung, were still below the target over the past long weekend, whilst Banyuwangi exceeded expectations, with 14,000 visitors on Thu

More than 9,500 travellers flew into Bali on 28 Oct, exceeding the airport’s estimates, with 5,000 visiting Ulun Danu Beratan Temple and 2,000 visiting Tanah Lot

408 tourists tested positive in random spot checks across 54 tourism destinations in West Java

Thousands of Indonesian workers continued to protest against the new Job Creation Bill, with mass rallies in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Banda Aceh, Medan and Makassar

Approximately 67,000 pax were estimated to have passed through Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport on 1 Nov

Hygiene facilities at some of Bali’s tourism attractions are set to be revitalised in Nov by the government

A survey conducted by Agoda in Jun has shown that 76% of Indonesians wanted to visit local areas in the next 12 months, with Bali the top destination, followed by Jakarta and Yogyakarta. Agoda is rolling out its GoLocal Tonight and HygienePlus features

UNESCO has designated 3 more Indonesian biospheres: Bunaken Tangkoko Minahasa, Karimunjawa Jepara Muria, and Merapi Merbabu Menoreh

Thousand Islands regency is seeing visitor numbers increase after the PSBB transitional period in Jakarta was reimplement, with 2,806 tourists from 24-25 Oct

Indonesia has reached 400,000 cases

The COVID-19 task force has reminded the public that they should spend the long weekend at home to avoid spikes in cases, and that those who do must adhere to health protocols, with tourism destinations being limited to 50% capacity

The Finance Minister has said that they have seen an improvement in the country’s economy in Q3 and the government will continue to spend the state budget to “maintain the progress of the economic recovery”

The East Nusa Tenggara administration has reassured the public that the concept for a tourism project being built on the Komodo Islands is based on ecotourism, not Jurassic Park” after being criticised for a new development which ecologists say may endanger Komodo dragons’ habitat

Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia and Bali government successfully trialled the arrival of an 80m super yacht, to see how it can welcome these boats during the pandemic. The government has now approved the welcoming of yachts to Indonesian ports, so long as they follow the same protocols

Art Jakarta fair is being run entirely virtually this year, the first of its kind in SE Asia, in conjunction with OPPO

Indonesia has now launched its e-visa scheme, to make it easier for foreigners to apply

The Ministry of Transportation has decided that passengers no longer need to take rapid tests for cross-regional road trips, except for Bali

West Java will randomly test tourists arriving into the province over the long weekend from 28 Oct – 1 Nov to check for COVID. The Transportation Ministry also announced random checks for those leaving Jakarta – they expect 600,000 vehicles to leave the city

Workers plan to keep protesting the Job Creation Law until 10 Nov, but promise that they will not be violent

Consumer confidence weakened to 83.4 in Sep, down from 86.9 in Aug, according to the Bank Indonesia

The Tourism Ministry will start disbursing its $224 million USD in relief grants to 101 cities and regencies in Nov. It is expected to have a multiplier effect, generating 15-25 trillion IDR in local revenue

The Jakarta government has encouraged people to sign up for virtual tours, rather than going on holiday

Jakarta’s transitional PSBB has been extended for another 2 weeks, from 26 Oct – 8 Nov

The controversial Job Creation Law omnibus bill is now ready to be signed by Jokowi

The Bali Hotels Association has started to promote Bali under a new campaign, called “Bali, A New Kind of Adventure”, with six 1 minute videos, a follow up to its “60 Days of Virtual Bali” campaign

There has been a significant decrease in active cases in Indonesia, the COVID-19 taskforce has announced

Bali has signed an MOU with a train manufacturer to develop an electric-based transportation system for the island, including trams and electric buses

Ancol Dreamland and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) have reopened to the public, but are limited to 25% capacity in the transitional PSBB. The first weekend saw 10,000 visitors over the weekend at TMII

RedDoorz, a budget hotel chain operator, has launched a new line of accommodation in Indonesia, called Sans, for 2-2.5* hotels

Indonesia is considering opening its international borders to inbound travellers, but the Foreign Minister has said that a time frame for a decision has not yet been made

Yogyakarta Tourism Agency has started to see a recovery in visitors, with 5,000 on weekdays and 40,000 on weekends – most visitors come from the region itself, Central Java, West Java and Jakarta. There was also an increase in hotel occupancy in Jul to 27.8% from 15.5% in Yogyakarta. However, travel agents in the city are still struggling, and are now focusing on outdoor activities for travellers

Travellers have been reminded that they must have negative COVID-19 test results for trains or planes ahead of the long weekend of 28 Oct – 1 Nov

Traveloka has said that booking for Indonesian hotels have reached 75% of pre-pandemic levels, showing that the company is on the path to break even and reach profitability

The upcoming long weekend of 28 Oct-1 Nov may cause a spike in cases of up to 118%, the COVID-19 task force has warned, looking at the impact of the May holidays which increased cases 69-93% and the August holidays which increased cases 58-118%. The taskforce also warned against nonessential travel outside their hometowns and that people should not visit tourist destinations

The funding for animal conservation centres is drying up due to lack of visitor revenue

Indonesia and Japan will open a travel corridor for business travel, with the details finalised within a month. The requirement of a 14-day self-isolation would be relaxed to enable short term business meetings

Bali is tightening its protocols over the upcoming long weekend to avoid new clusters, reminding attractions that they can only open at 25% capacity

An epidemiologist has warned travellers from red zones that they are able to holiday in yellow zones or those with low cases, so long as they are healthy – but tourists from green zones should avoid holidays in red zones

Hotels in Indonesia are offering special room rates for the upcoming long weekend

Several thousand protesters took to Jakarta’s streets to protest the new jobs law

Borobudur ran a virtual tour in Japanese, in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo

The Home Minister has suggested that people get tested before they travel over the long October weekend, to prevent infecting family members or their hometowns

Bedsonline have signed Rally Investco as its GSA in the country which will allow them to establish a rewards programme for travel agents, as well as a help desk

OYO Indonesia wants to sign up at least half of its partners to the Sanitised Stay program by the year end – currently 28.7% of its partners are enrolled. The company shared that hotels who have signed up have seen improvements in their occupancy rates of 20-30%. Its Aug occupancy levels overall increased 70% vs Apr, but are still 60% down YoY

Tourism players in Samosir regency which includes some of Lake Toba, are opposed to a policy where visitors have to have a rapid test to enter. The policy was announced on 14 Oct, and tourism businesses believe that it will discourage visitors from coming, which could result in more layoffs

Batam is preparing to welcome Singaporean travellers, installing equipment for RT-PCR tests at the Batam Centre Ferry Terminal

Aqua Expeditions have said that tourists were keen to book cruises on their yachts to secluded Indonesian islands when their expeditions started in Aug, and their Aqua Blu Indonesia local residents campaign is generating interest for its 2020 and 2021 dates

Bali’s death toll has increased over the past 2 weeks, raising concerns

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) in Bali is concerned at the news that Australians may not be able to travel overseas until late 2021. They have revealed that occupancy rates in Bali are around 5-9% since reopening on 31 Jul

Indonesia will soon launch an eVisa system for travellers from selected countries, initially those which have travel corridor agreements (UAE, China, south Korea, Singapore)

Indonesia overtook Philippines to have the highest number of cases in ASEAN

The Riau Islands have sent a letter to the central government urging them to open its borders to Singaporean tourists visiting the integrated tourism zone in Bintan regency, Lagoi. Lagoi has its own port, and is located far from residential areas

Holding the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR), with 7,000 delegates in 2022, will play a role in Bali’s tourism recovery

Thousands of protestors marched in Jakarta on 14 Oct, protesting the Omnibus bill, organised by a conservative Muslim alliance

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has said that it wants to disburse $224 million USD of grants for tourism businesses and local administrations, sourced from the government’s national economic recovery fund. It will be provided to regions where revenue from hotel and restaurant tax was at least 15% of its locally generated income in 2019, and for the government’s 10 priority tourism destinations and 5 super priority destinations. 70% of the grants will be given to businesses, 30% to local administrations. They will also allocate 119 billion IDR for businesses to obtain CHSE certification

The IMF have predicted that Indonesia’s GDP will contract more than thought, at 1.5% vs its Jun forecast of 0.3%. However, it expects growth of 5.2% in 2021

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) APAC has said that the government needs to reassure tourists of the safety protocols in place for diving tourism

Many Bali hotels are running out of financial resources due to low occupancy, according to the secretary-general of Indonesia Hotels and Restaurants Association

OYO will partner with GoPay and OVO e-wallets to make refunds faster – refunds could take place within a week, compared to a bank transfer which could take 60 days. The company has settled 99.4% of all refund requests in the last 6 months

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry is urging organisers of MICE events and tourist destination operators to work together with local task forces to implement health protocols

The Indonesia Hotel and Restaurants Association (PHRI) estimate that up to 30% of restaurants will close down due to the reimposition of PSBB in Jakarta from 14 Sep – 11 Oct

The Finance Minister has stated that Indonesia’s economic recovery began in Q3, and will get stronger in Q4. The government expects a contraction of 1.7%

Singapore and Indonesia have agreed a Reciprocal Green Lane for essential business and cross-border travel, with applications to start on 26 Oct. Requirements include a pre-departure and post-arrival COVID swab test, with points of entry and exit the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and Batam Centre Ferry Terminal for sea travel, and Changi Airport and Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport for air travel

The Jakarta and Bali chapters of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) have filed a lawsuit against their national board for creating a new registration certificate for the association, as well as changed the association’s rules and bylaws

120 hotels across 9 provinces will accommodate asymptomatic patients, with a capacity of 13,334 beds

Jakarta will again start its transitional period of eased lockdown measures from 12 Oct for 2 weeks. Non-essential businesses and dine-in businesses will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity, parks and museums will open under strict protocols

East Java and South Sulawesi have been downgraded to orange zones , signalling it is now only medium risk

The Advanced Indonesia Woman Organization are targeting 1 million visitors to visit Bali during the pandemic, focusing on green zones

Indonesia is the 10th most searched country worldwide in 2020, according to a stats released by Agoda

A recent Jobstreet Indonesia survey showed that 85% of hospitality and catering services and 85% of tourism workers have been affected by the pandemic

Traveloka and Atourin have teamed up to offer virtual tours to 15 destinations in Indonesia through Traveloka’s Online Xperience

The governor of Jakarta will inform Jokowi of protesters’ demands

Indonesian travel agents are seeing a growing interest from consumers to book domestic and international travel

Indonesia will build coral reef gardens in 5 locations around Bali to try to restore marine ecosystems, with a budget of $7.5 million USD

Protests intensified in Indonesia over the job creation omnibus bill, with up to 8,000 protestors on 8 Oct taking part

Indonesia has announced that it is in final stages of negotiation with Singapore to open a reciprocal green lane. They hope to finalise it in Oct

Photos of a crowded water park in Medan with 2,800 visitors who were enjoying a 50% off promotion, have led to the manager being charged for violating health laws and the park being shut down

Hundreds of people protested at a tourist spot in Larangan Badung Village on Madura Island in East Java, demanding it be shut down as it was a location for “sinful activities”. The site was set alight

The We Love Bali campaign has now kicked off – each group will be made up of 40 participants in 2 buses, and travellers will need to have a negative test result to be able to join. They will explore the island on 12 different 3D2N routes, and the Bali Tourism Office is confident that this will promote that Bali is “ready to implement health protocols"

The Banyan Tree Group is planning 5 new properties in Indonesia, including its new brand Banyan Tree Escape, which focuses on nature and will be in Ubud, Bali

Indonesia’s cases have crossed 300,000

A guidebook for dive operators on operating their business safely with appropriate health protocols has been launched by the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry

A standard swab test price ceiling has been set at $60.6 USD, to avoid price disparities

Indonesia is planning to vaccinate 160 million people by the end of 2021, targeting half the population. People aged 19 to 59 would be prioritised, as well as front line workers

Indonesia is looking at revising its rules banning foreigners from entering the country, as it is in discussions with Singapore to reopen for essential business purposes. There may be an electronic visa for travel from 15 Oct, and special booths for Singaporeans who fly into Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport and arrive into Batam island

The Prambanan Jazz festival will be held virtually at the end of Oct, aafter being postponed from Jul

Citilink’s pax was down 62.5% in Aug YoY

The Batam Marriott Hotel Harbour Bay on Batam Island has just opened

A deeper economic contraction in Q3 is expected by BPS, as the spending rate of higher-income citizens has been limited

Indonesia will still participate in the World Expo in Dubai next year, and will aim to attract 2.5 million visitors to their pavilion, which will promote trade, tourism and investment

The Safe Corridor Initiative (SCI) between Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport is hoping to be able to bring in Korean tourists to the island, with a ground assessment set to take place next week, and a start date slated for later in Oct – although this will still need approval from the Indonesian government, as it involves immigration

Legislation supporting Jokowi’s new stimulus package, an omnibus bill, is being criticised by labour unions who say that it will reduce job security and wages – they are calling for a 3-day national strike from 6-8 Oct. Environmentalists are also concerned as it would stop the need for environmental reviews before projects, and could lead to the destruction of primary rainforests

Over 3,000 Bali workers were furloughed in Aug and Sep, and the Manpower agency there expects these numbers to continue rising

Indonesia has become the first signatory of the UNWTO Tourism Ethics Framework. The framework has been created to ensure that tourism is fair, inclusive, more transparent and benefits everyone

Foreign arrivals into Indonesia grew by 4.45% in Aug 2020 vs Jul 2020, to 164,970. The number is still down -89.22% YoY. The number Jan-Aug is down 68.17% YoY to 3.4 million

The government will use antigen-based rapid tests, as per WHO recommendations

The World Bank says that Indonesia’s economy could contract by 1.6% if the pandemic is not controlled

The state budget for 2021 has been approved, and aims for a growth of 5% GDP

Yogyakarta has extended its COVID-19 emergency response period until 31 Oct

Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport would accommodate “flights to nowhere”, if airlines wanted to run these. However, no Indonesian airlines are currently planning these

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) has asked the Jakarta governor to allow dine-in services at restaurants in shopping malls and hotels once more

A Jurassic Park-inspired development in the Komodo National Park is causing controversy, with conservationists saying that it could endanger the local habitats, and locals concerned that they were not consulted

An agreement has been signed by state-owned companies to consolidate their hotel subsidiaries into one holding company, with the ultimate aim to create the largest hotel chain in he country. The move is also hoped to increase efficiencies and are planning to create a flagship hotel brand with international quality

There are now 10 provinces which are being prioritised as they are seeing increasing daily case numbers: Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Aceh, Bali, North Sumatra, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi and Papua

95% of Bali’s 8,059 cases are caused from local transmission, whilst just 1.04% had a history of domestic travel, the local task force has confirmed

North Sumatra has assigned 1,100 hotel rooms for asymptomatic patents to self-isolate

The Jakarta governor has extended the city’s large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) until 11 Oct, an additional 2 weeks

The Tauzia group are planning to expand their properties in West Jakarta, as well as Bogor and Bali

Hotel Nikko Bali has now partnered with the Indonesia Medical Tourism Board and BIMC Siloam Hospital to welcome medical tourists

The Lion Group are trying to negotiate with lessors of its fleet for a power-by-the-hour agreement (PBH) for a duration of 24 months, which typically see a minimum spend amount plus a charge per flight hour. However, analysts see that there are no advantages to the lessors for accepting this type of contract

Indonesia has hit a 3-day record of highest new cases in a row, with 25 Sep seeing 4,823 cases

Indonesian workers rallied on 24 Sep against Jokowi’s new Job Creation bill, as it looks too pro-business and will cut severance benefits

Tiket.com is supporting the Bali tourism scene by supplying 9 popular destinations with public handwashing facilities and 900 Antis sanitising kits as part of its corporate social responsibility program

The Indonesian government has cut its forecast for 2020, now expecting a contraction of 0.6-1.7%, with the economy likely to diminish in Q3 and Q4. Consumer confidence is also declining, with the retail sector under pressure

Many Balinese have turned back to seaweed farming as a way to survive after losing their jobs

Indonesia had another new record daily case increase on Wed 23 Sep, of 4,465 cases. Jakarta has the majority of the cases

The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy together with Bali Tourism Agency have announced the launch of a new program, “We love Bali”, which will take place in Oct for 2 months, with 4,400 people invited to experience the island. Participants must be active on social media, and have a preference for outdoor activities. They will be evaluating the CHSE protocol (health & safety), as well as asked to promote Bali on social media

The Denpasar Tourism Office has certified another 12 hotels, allowing them to operate

The government is warning that the Indonesian health system could collapse if the public do not comply with health protocols

Yogyakarta’s tourism companies are calling for greater clarity on regulations for tourists, and that rather than capital aid, they need visitors. Occupancy levels at hotels were at 27.8% in Jul, and the province has started to see 6,000 daily visits on weekdays, 30,000 on weekends, which is still far from pre-pandemic levels

Indonesian influencers are coming under fire for visiting from high-risk zones, potentially spreading the virus

Crowds at political rallies will be restricted during the regional elections, and will be limited to 50 pax

Citilink has opened new routes connecting Makassar to other areas of South Sulawesi (Palopo, Selayar) and Southeast Sulawesi (Baubau, Pomala)

Stricter screenings will be imposed on travellers arriving to Bali over the next couple of weeks, as the number of cases on the island increase

Indonesia had its largest daily rise in cases at 4,168 on 19 Sep

Indonesia’s Tourism & Creative Economy Ministry, the Ministry of Health and the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) are working to identify 3* hotels which could be used for mild or asymptomatic sufferers of COVID-19, as well as medical workers. $6.7 million USD will be allocated for this, and it will be implemented in Jakarta and Bali first, followed by North Sumatra, West Java and South Kalimantan

RedDoorz has seen more than 100 Indonesian hotels joining its network monthly, now growing their footprint to 1,400 properties nationwide. They anticipate that their recovery will be swift, as 90% of its demand came from the domestic market

Jakarta is planning to double its testing capacity from its current 50,000 per day levels

The Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation will see a cash injection of 470 billion IDR in 2021, as part of a government push to provide capital for state owned enterprises (SOEs)

Foreign members of mixed nationality families may now enter Indonesia after a change to their visa policy

M&C Saatchi Indonesia have been appointed the creative marketing agency for the Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy. The account is valued at more than 3 billion IDR and will launch next year across China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, the UK and the USA

North Sumatra will close Nias Island to visitors, following an increase in cases there. They will also close some areas of Medan, Binjai and Deli Serdang

Economic experts have agreed that the fresh lockdown in Jakarta will hurt the economy, but that it is necessary and won’t have as severe effect as it did on Q2’s economy

Some limitations have been put on crowded attractions and beaches in Bali, with some places temporarily closed

Bali had just 47 foreign arrivals in Jul, a drop of more than 99% YoY

Indonesia will get 30 million doses of vaccine in Q4, so that vaccinations can start in Q1 2021

West Java is planning to impose some movement restrictions in areas near the borders with Jakarta

13 million tourism workers are unemployed in Indonesia, with 32.5 million indirect tourism workers who may also face job losses

Bank Indonesia has chosen halal tourism as a potential sector to drive the halal industry development in Indonesia

Jakarta’s PSBB was reimplemented, but in a more relaxed manner than before. 11 essential sectors will be allowed to remain open at 50% capacity, whilst private companies and government offices will be allowed to have 25% of staff working from the office. Travellers into and out of Jakarta will not need to provide permits as before, and public transportation will be limited to 50% capacity

27 attractions in Jakarta will be closed again from 14 Sep with the implementation of large-scale social restrictions

Mt Bromo will now increase the number of visitors to 1,265 per day from 739, meaning that it is at 40% capacity

Jakarta’s reinstated large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) will last from 14-28 Sep

The project to move Indonesia’s capital city has been postponed due to the prioritisation of the pandemic

The government has confirmed that there will be 23 public holidays/ collective leave in 2021

Yogyakarta Culture Festival will be held both offline and online this year, from 21-26 Sep

Retail sales in Indonesia dropped by 12.3% in Jul YoY, smaller than Jun’s ---17.1% YoY. Consumer confidence improved slightly, but is till pessimistic at 86.9

Indonesia continued to call for an ASEAN travel bubble at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on 9 Sep, saying that it was not the right time to talk about tourism, but essential business travellers

The rise in Bali cases has been linked to local transmission within neighbourhoods, families and traditional ceremonies

Indonesia is aiming to receive 290 million COVID-19 vaccines by 2021, 30 million of which could be delivered in 2020

Jakarta’s healthcare system is at risk of collapse after bed occupancy rates are increasing

The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) is being used to safeguard tourism in Bali, enforcing health protocols are being followed

The Transportation Ministry has said that rapid tests are still required for travel in Indonesia, despite the Health Ministry stating the opposite

A ceiling price has been set for swab tests in Indonesia of $33.70 USD, due to private clinics setting high margins

Indonesian government members worry that the country may be seen negatively by other countries in terms of applying health protocols, and this could have a negative effect on the economy

Jakarta’s Governor has put on the “emergency brakes”, and will return Jakarta to the original large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) which were implemented at the start of the outbreak from 14 Sep, with no end date confirmed

Bali’s cases have increased over 100%, with over a hundred daily new cases being reported, and the highest count of daily deaths, 12

Indonesian government members worry that the country may be seen negatively by other countries in terms of applying health protocols, and this could have a negative effect on the economy

The Ministry of Tourism will organise the Indonesia Corporate Travel and MICE (ICTM) 2020 event. It will be held in Jakarta, Bali, Yogyakarta and Malang and 30 corporate buyers will meet with 30 MICE providers. Participants will need to undergo swab tests before attending

Despite the growing number of cases in Bali, the head of Bali’s health agency has said that domestic tourism is not to blame

The number of red (high-risk) zones in Indonesia has increased from 65 to 70 over the last week

Rapid tests before travelling will not longer be required by the Health Ministry, with thermal screening favoured, after the WHO Indonesia’s recent statement warning against the low accuracy levels of the tests

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) has warned that the public may become more reluctant to take a vacation due to the increasing number of cases, but that another closure would create a “detrimental effect” on the industry

Medical experts have linked the rise of Bali cases to inaccurate rapid tests required for arrival to the island

Bali has had 3,000 tourists daily on average since reopening on 31 Jul, according to the Bali Tourism Agency

East Nusa Tenggara has reopened the Wae Rebo cultural village to domestic tourists, after being shut for 6 months

The Mandalika Circuit has been confirmed to host the MotoGP in 2021

Indonesia had 3 consecutive days of more than 3,000 new cases detected, with a record high on 3 Sep of 3,269

Indonesia will open its first Hotel Indigo by IHG, expected to open in 2022

Garuda Indonesia has called for the government to take a more focused approach to domestic tourism marketing, and relook at its plan for the 10 new Balis, instead focusing on just a few high priority areas over the next 1-2 years

The government may continue the wage subsidy program (600,000 IDR/month for those earning less than 5 million IDR) into 2021 if it stimulates the economy and consumer spending

Angkasa Pura II airport operator noted a 38% growth across Indonesia’s airports in Aug, with 2.1 million pax carried vs Jul’s 1.52 million. Flight traffic has also increased 17%to 25,041 flights. The most significant increase was at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport, with an increase of 17% in flight frequencies and 36% in pax traffic

Curfews have been imposed in Bogor and Depok, with supermarkets and malls to close at 6pm and outdoor activities forbidden from 8pm

Bali Dwipa Tourism Industry will hold a “We Love Bali” gathering, with 150 travel agents to visit the island on a fam trip from 4-6 Sep

Jokowi has said that Bali has had the worst economic hit in Indonesia, with a contraction of 10.98%, due to its dependence on tourism. Jakarta saw a slowdown of 8.22%, and Yogyakarta 6.74%

Indonesia is expected to only have 5 million international visitors in 2020, a drop of 12 million (60%). If normality is not resumed by Dec 20, the Tourism Ministry expects that it could drop by 80%

Indonesia’s arrivals for Jul dropped 89.12% YoY to 159,760 pax, an improvement of 0.95% from Jun

Jakarta’s governor has signed a decree that allows the transition PSBB lockdown period to be automatically renewed every 14-days if there is an increase in new COVID-19 cases. If it is a substantial increase, then stricter conditions would be reimposed

The Jakarta governor claimed that the COVID-19 situation in Jakarta is under control, despite cases rising

Bali recorded its highest spike in daily cases on 31 Aug, one month after domestic tourism was reopened, at 129. There has been no official link made between reopening destinations to tourists and the spike

The Bali Hotel General Managers Association has said that they are not sure how the Bali tourism industry can survive another 4-5 months of closure, with the reopening to domestic tourists having little significant impact on increasing hotel occupancy levels

Mount Bromo has reopened to tourists, with limitations on the number of visitors per day allowed, at just 739, 20% of its normal capacity. Travellers will need to register in advance online

The Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) and the Indonesia National Air Carriers Association (INACA) agree that affordable, safe tour packages will boost tourism recovery, and have signed an agreement between the 2 organisations

There are still low tourism numbers to Lombok, despite the recreational areas of Rinjani, Senggigi, Mandalika and the Gili Islands being reopened since 27 Jun. The NTB Tourism Agency said that this was down to travel requirements, as well as general fear

Bali’s governor has reported that the airport is receiving 35 flights per day and received over 5,000 pax daily over the public holiday long weekends

Live music performances will be allowed once more in Jakarta under strict conditions

The Riau Islands are preparing strict health and safety protocols, in case the border discussions with Singapore lead to reopening to Singaporean travellers. Last year, 47% of the islands visitors were from Singapore

Indonesia had a record one-day high of 2,719 new cases

OYO Indonesia had a 70% increase in hotel occupancy from May, and are almost at the same level as pre-pandemic

The wage subsidy assistance for workers will be launched on 27 Aug

Indonesia has started talks with Singapore for a Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) for essential business

The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and the Ubud Food Festival will now be held virtually from 29 Oct to 8 Nov

Komodo National Park and Labuan Bajo have opened for domestic tourists, with a maximum of 25 per day and advanced registration required. Komodo Island will have a future cap of 50,000 annually. Agents have started to receive overseas bookings for 2021

Infrastructure development has continued in Labuan Bajo, including new roads and an extension to the airport runway at Komodo Airport. They are also developing the marina area, to be able to accommodate 125 yachts or cruise ships by 2020 year-end

The Jakarta Tourism Agency had punished 76 businesses for failing to follow protocols. As of 19 Aug, 151,000 tourism workers have had paycuts, furloughs and layoffs

Malioboro had 18,375 visitors over the long weekend from 20-23 Aug, with visitors arriving from Bandung, Jakarta, Surabaya, Pekalongan

A petition calling for Indonesia to reopen Bali for international tourists has been launched by the travel trade, aiming to get 5,000 signatures. By 23 Aug, it had 2,300 signatures. The Indonesia Inbound Tour Operators Association is also due to have a hearing with the Parliament in Jakarta soon

The kecak dance at Uluwatu Temple in Bali is implementing more safety protocols, and even a digital payment service, to minimise contact for spectators

Bali’s governor has announced that Bali will not reopen to international tourists on 11 Sep and may reopen only in 2021, saying that "The Indonesian government still enforces a policy that prohibits its citizens from travelling abroad, at least until the end of 2020. In line with that, the Indonesian government has not been able to open the door of entry for foreign tourists to Indonesia until the end of 2020, because Indonesia is still in the red zone category."

The National Development Planning Minister believes that there will be no more mass tourism, but it will be quality-based. The Tourism Minister will focus on 5 priority destinations, including Lake Tobam Borobudur, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo and Likupang

Semarang Old Town has been declared a national cultural heritage site, as part of a plan to eventually submit the area to the UNESCO World Heritage list

Batam City Tourism Office is planning to attract more foreign tourists, including European ones, but the challenge exists that many of the island’s resorts cater for Asian tastes, rather than European ones

Indonesia has signed a travel corridor deal with China for essential business arrangements, effective immediately

Central Java has revealed a new integrated tourist destination, called Jateng Valley, a 400 hectare tourist area which will be built in Semarang. The construction was launched on 15 Aug, at a cost of more than $134 million USD

Ahead of the long weekend (the government declared Fri 21 Aug to be an additional public holiday, creating a 4-day weekend), the government has reminded tourist attractions to implement strict health protocols, limiting capacity to 50% to ensure physical distancing. The weekend before, also a long weekend, had seen overwhelming crowds

Raja Ampat opened its doors to domestic tourists on 22 Aug, with new protocols for diving operators in place

As of 19 Aug, more than 151,000 Jakarta tourism workers have faced pay cuts, furloughs and layoffs, according to Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency

Jakarta’s Governor is still assessing whether to implement stricter social distancing measures, an “emergency brake policy”, and urged residents to wear masks

Pekanbaru has banned its city residents from travelling to other cities during the long weekend in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19

Mt Rinjani is reopening for hikers on 22 Aug. Pre-registration is required, with visitors limited to 30% of the usual capacity and a maximum of 2D1N trips. Hikers from outside West Nusa Tenggara will also need to bring a health certificate stating that they are safe from COVID-19

A survey by Traveloka has shown that the public’s confidence in travelling and enjoying outdoor activities has increased by 16% to 45%. A Kantar survey in Jul also showed that 72% of travellers had an improvement of awareness of health and safety precautions at travel destinations, and cleanliness was their main concern. Traveloka has also seen an uplift in the number of partner businesses who have signed up for their Traveloka Clean campaigns, across hotels, attractions and flights

Indonesia is looking at developing medical tourism in the country, saying this would boost the country’s medical independence and take advantage of the lucrative sector

The Mandalika Circuit for MotoGP motorcycle racing is slated to be complete by Jun 2021, with its finish only slightly delayed by COVID-19

The Indonesian government will take a “storynomics” approach to tourism, using narration, creative and cultural content to encourage people to stay longer and spend more in destinations. It will use online influencers, provide training for locals to become interpreters and guides, and also build up infrastructure to tell the location’s stories

Angksara Pura II, the airport operator, predict that the Indonesian aviation industry will recover by mid-2023, a more optimistic outlook than IATA. The long weekend of Aug 14 saw 524 flight to and from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta airport, a high since Mar, with 45,700 pax on that one day

The Indonesian government plans to hold a mega fam trip for UAE KOLs, according to the Indonesian Ambassador for the UAE

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry said that the plan to allow foreigners to work from Bali would “impossible at the moment as the borders are still closed”. However, the Maritime Minister has said that “We won’t be welcoming foreign tourists until the end of this year.”

The national economic and COVID-19 recovery committee said on 15 Aug that reopening to foreign tourists is still “under evaluation”, but that it would be “positive”

Garuda Indonesia have urged the government to rethink their plan of creating ‘10 new Balis’ and focus instead on recovery, with all efforts on one or two spots to attract domestic and international tourists. However, they fully support Jokowi’s plan to establish a state-owned enterprise holding for tourism and aviation

Hotel searches for domestic trips to Bali have increased by 400% since May, according to Sojern. Even international hotel searches have almost returned to pre-COVID levels

Jakarta has extended the transitional phase of PSBB for another 2 weeks, as well as impose stricter controls on crowded activities, such as Car Free Day and celebrations for Indonesia’s Independence Day. This comes amidst an increase in the city’s positive case rate, rising from 7.4 to 8.7, above the WHO recommended limit of 5 or below

Jokowi in his state of the nation speech urged Indonesians to see COVID-19 as an opportunity for a reboot, urging fast social assistance for laid off workers, as well as the importance of loans and capital assistance for SMEs

Indonesia and South Korea have established a travel corridor for essential business and diplomatic travel between the 2 countries, which will open on 17 Aug

Citibank Indonesia predicts that Indonesia’s economy will return to growth of between 5.5-6%, with economic activities normalising

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment has urged other regional destinations to reopen for tourism, following Bali’s example. He also noted that Bali’s cases have been declining since the opening on 31 Jul

Regulations to support the creation of Bali as a digital nomad hub are being formulated

3.8 trillion IDR has been allocated to support the tourism sector and creative economy through a number of initiatives, including subsidy and income tax allowance. Indonesia’s foreign tourists is expected to drop to 5 million vs. 2019’s 16 million, and 120 million domestic tourists vs 2019’s 303 million

There in major in-fighting between the Indonesian Association of Travel Agents (ASITA) HQ and Bali Chapter, with the latter accusing the former of mismanagement, and filing a motion of “no confidence” against the central team

The Minister for Maritime Affairs has stated that opening Indonesian borders for tourism may be delayed until the year-end, as they want to focus on encouraging the 8 million Indonesians who usually travel overseas to travel domestically, so that the $9 billion USD could benefit the local economy

Yogyakarta is launching bike tours around the town, following the increase in popularity of cycling in the country

Ujung Kulon National Park in Banten province will reopen on 17 Aug. Visitors must have a negative PCR test, a health certificate and a written statement that they will act responsibly throughout the trip. They will also need to pay an insurance fee, wear face masks and maintain social distancing

The 5* Bintan Lagoon Resort, a favourite with Singaporeans, has closed down, citing COVID-19. 14,000 tourism employees in Bintan have been told to stop work, with hotels scaling back services

The Minister for Maritime Affairs has confirmed that Indonesia is looking at Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea and Japan for travel bubbles

Indonesia has hit out at other countries’ COVID-19 response, saying that Singapore and the USA have problems, and that each country’s way to handle the pandemic is unique

Discussions have started about building an autonomous rail rapid transit to connect Ngurah Rai International Airport and Sanur in Bali

The number of workers in the government’s wage subsidy programme will be increased to cover 15.7 million workers, including those that have been furloughed or received pay cuts

The Minister of Transportation has said that the pandemic is threatening to drive the aviation industry to bankruptcy

Traveloka has cleared 90% of its 1 million flight ticket refunds, worth an estimated $94.5 million USD

The government will look at improving infrastructure and attracting long-term investments for tourism destinations in 2020. They will develop “creative hubs” at their super priority destinations (Lake Toba, Borobudur, Labuan Bajo, Mandalika and Likupang), which would house art and local products. Other infrastructure projects underway include building facilities for the 2023 G20 and ASEAN summits in Labuan Bajo, better road infrastructure around Lake Toba, but the proposed negotiations with the Walt Disney Company to build a theme park on Mandalika have stalled

Bali’s governor plans to lessen the dependency of the island on tourism, and will diversify its economic activities

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) has said that whilst there was a brief spike for hotels of 20-40% occupancy rates after the PSBB was lifted, this has now declined to between 15-1%. They have also noted an interest in places where people from Jakarta can travel to by car, rather than by flying

The Preemployment Card Program has been reopened, prioritising those who have been affected by the pandemic. It hopes to cover 5.6 million people by Oct

An Agoda survey has shown: • 78% of Indonesians are ready to travel • Most popular destination for their next trip is Bali • 39% chose beach as their most popular destination type, followed by nature at 28%

Jakarta recorded 658 new cases on 7 Aug, the highest spike since first infections in Mar, following an upward trend of positive cases after the easing of the PSBB. However, the authorities claim they come from aggressive contact tracing

The President is considering creating a holding company for aviation and tourism state-owned enterprises (SOEs), as well as developing international hub airports. He plans to integrate SOEs to consolidate and boost tourism, including airlines, airports, destination operators and hotels. He would also like to reduce the number of international airports, which is currently at 30, but consolidate to 8, as 90% of traffic is received into Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya and Kualanamu Airport. The other 4 airport which would be included would be Kulonprogo International Airport in Yogyakarta, Sepinggan International Airport in Balikpapan, Manado and Makassar airports

Staycations will see a surge in demand, according to a consultancy firm Inventure. Searches on Google Trends for “staycation” have increased since the PSBB has been eased in Jun, with Jun and Jul’s average search popularity higher than that of Dec. OTA Pegipegi.com has also reported an upward trend for hotel bookings since Jun

Indonesia and Colombia intend to enhance bilateral ties with a visa exemption after COVID-19

Indonesia’s planned transfer of state-owned forests to local communities has been cut by 50% this year because of COVID-19. The plan to hand over the land to rural communities was intended to fight poverty by establishing forest enterprises, including eco-tourism

The government will launch a financial stimulus for civil servant and SOE employees on less than $344 USD/ month, which will give them payments of 600,000 IDR monthly for 4 months

Tourists from Singapore, India, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand are all aiming to visit Indonesia as the first destination to travel to once borders reopen, according to the “Unravel Travel: Fear & Possibilities in a Post-Coronavirus World”. 71% of Indonesians believe that their country is well-prepared to reopen to tourist activities, the 2nd highest level in SE Asia. 73% of Indonesians want to travel domestically in the next 12 months

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) have announced that Indonesia’s economy contracted by 5.32% in Q2

Millions of MSMEs are struggling to survive in Indonesia, with economists criticising some of the incentives already implemented such as tax breaks, saying that they are not relevant. Instead, they see increasing people’s purchasing power as the element which can support them

Bangka Belitung saw 3,953 visitors in Jun 2020, a rise of 45.33% vs May 2020, according to the BPS

The Komodo National Park will only allow 50,000 travellers to the islands annually, as well as require a membership to visit. The membership is set to cost $1,000 USD per pax/ year

Ministers have urged travellers to Bali to enjoy it responsibly. I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali has seen an increase of 15-17% in arrivals on 3 Aug, with arrivals on 2,128 on the 31 Jul, 1,847 on 1 Aug and 2,419 on 2 Aug

West Sumatra wants to further boost tourism with the development of a port in Padang. The Marina Centre would be a port as well as a culinary centre, and would offer sea transportation to the Mentawai Islands, a budding surf destination. Jun’s occupancy of the province’s hotels increased to 21.14%, a pick up of 9.9% from May 2020

The National Development Planning Minister has said that changes after COVID-19 would lead tourism to be more quality-based, rather than mass tourism. The minister has said that they want Indonesians to not be “overly fearful, though remain alert."

Indonesia is pushing digital connectivity to enhance contact tracing under the PeduliLindungi app, but the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association says that many people are still unaware of the app

Tourists to North Sumatra have started to increase since Jun 2020, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), with 99 foreign tourists vs 1 in May 2020. 75 of these were from Malaysia

Bali won the top spot in the TripAdvisor 2020 Travellers’ Choice Awards Top 25 Popular Destinations in Asia category, whilst Lombok came in 16th place

East Nusa Tenggara has seen interest from abroad for tour packages for 2020 YE, according to the local chapter of the Indonesia Travel Association

The Tourism Ministry sees Indonesians being drawn to low-risk nature-based tourism in destinations such as Bali, Lake Toba and Labuan Bajo. They have allocated $1.6 million USD in financial assistance to 6 tourism and creative sub-sectors, including an incentive of 200 million IDR to each hotel and homestay in tourism villages

Foreign visitors in Jun to Indonesia were down 88.8% YoY to 160,300

Around 4,000 pax arrived at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on the first day of reopening. The airports authority said that they have seen an increase in the number of flights

Indonesia has established a travel corridor with the UAE for essential business, official and diplomatic trips, effective immediately. Travellers would be exempted for a 2-week quarantine, but they would need to undergo a COVID-19 test prior to travel. The Indonesian Foreign Minister said more agreements, such as with South Korea and China, are also being negotiated

Jokowi fully supports Bali reopening to domestic tourists from 31 Jul

Mt Sumbing in Central Java has reopened to visitors from 1 Aug, with hikers limited to 250 pax/ day, and hiking permits to be obtained prior to arrival

Bali reopened to domestic tourists on 31 Jul, which will be in strict accordance with health protocols include physical distancing at tourist sites and wearing of masks, as well as contactless payments. The governor has asked the central government to revise its policy on international flight restrictions for mid-Sep

Komodo National Park will reopen on 15 Aug to domestic tourists to both local and foreigners residing in Indonesia

Indonesia is planning to hold the bike race the Tour de Singkarak in 2021 in West Sumatra and Jambi provinces

Jakarta has extended its transitional PSBB once more for another 2 weeks until 13 Aug, as the city’s positivity rate from tests hit 6.5%, with clusters detected at offices

The government is to provide cash transfers of $165 USD to 10-12 million MSMEs and working capital loans of 2 million IDR

Traveloka is offering a drive-through COVID-19 testing at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The test is provided for $10.33 USD, and can be booked via the Traveloka Xperience feature, in accordance with passenger flight dates. Results are provided in 15 minutes as a printed letter. This is in addition to AirAsia, who is also offering drive-through testing near the airport for $6.51 USD

Banyuwangi, which imposed new regulations on limiting tour guiding services to those from the regency, has come under fire from Indonesian tour operators

The Minister of Tourism has announced that he will support tourism in Banyuwangi, including welcoming the World Surf League on Tabuhan Island in 2021

The Indonesian government is encouraging people to come out and spend to support the local economy

Bali’s domestic tourists will have to fulfil 5 criteria before entry: present a COVID-19 test, failing that undergo a test upon arrival, use the Lovebali app, comply with health protocols and have their GPS activated

Dyandra Promosindo, an exhibition organiser, will organise a massive event in October with 3 events in one: The Indonesia International Furniture Expo, the Indonesia International Motor Show and the Property Weekend Fiesta, as well as a concert, called Dyandra New Adventure (DNA)

The government’s focus for tourism will be on the local market for the next year or so

Tourism players are not satisfied with the government’s partial tax obligations, calling for more financial incentives and help. The Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association says that its members have run out of working capital to resume operations, and asked the government for a working capital fund. The Indonesia National Air Carriers Association has also asked the government to absorb the cost of COVID-19 testing for air passengers and restore full operational capacity from its current 70% restriction

Indonesia’s stimulus packages are not enough for households to survive, with a survey showing the majority of Indonesians need greater help. Economists have called on the government to be more creative to stimulate the economy

The Bali provincial government is working on a “Work from Bali” campaign, targeted at digital nomads and remote workers, which could work on a similar way to the Barbados scheme with a digital nomad visa

Traveloka, Indonesia’s travel unicorn OTA, has raised $250 million USD in a new funding round. It will use the new capital to boost its travel and lifetstyle portal, as well as its financial services solutions. The OTA has said that it has seen an “encouraging recovery” in Vietnam, which is approaching pre-pandemic levels, as well as Thailand which is at 50% of previous levels. The markets are said to be improving in Indonesia and Malaysia

The majority of Indonesians are in favour of reopening schools, a new survey has revealed, with 80.2% in favour

The government is considering opening schools outside of COVID-19 green zones

Indonesia surpassed 100,000 cases on 27 Jul, with Jakarta having its highest one-day spike in cases since March, with 467

Hundreds rallied in Bali on 26 Jul to protest the requirement for rapid and swab tests for administrative and travel purposes. The swabs are compulsory for those staying a tourist accommodation, as well as tourism workers

Halal hotels in Indonesia are still not seeing recovery, according to the Indonesia Halal Tourism Association. Occupancy levels are 10-30% of pre-COVID levels

Indonesia has received approval from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to use their “Safe Travels” global safety and hygiene stamp

The Bali governor has announced that Bali will reopen to international visitors on 11 Sep, and will start phase 2 on 31 Jul with the reopening for domestic visitors. International tourists will need to have a negative test prior to departure >>

Nusa Dua Beach Hotel in Bali has now received approval from the Badung regency for its New Tourism Habits Adaption Phase under the pilot scheme for reopening

Indonesia has seen a demand in Russian travellers’ inbound travel, with one agent even accepting groups to Bali on Oct, but the lack of clarity over borders reopening is dampening demand

The Tourism Minister has proposed that tourism businesses be fully exempt from corporate income tax, as well as increase the limit for working capital loans. The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association estimates that Indonesia’s tourism revenue has lost 85 trillion IDR as of mid-July. The Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Ministry has also instructed its related agencies to spend their 4.1 trillion IDR business trip budget in 8 designated tourist areas: Banyuwangi, Bali, Borobudur Temple, Lake Toba, Riau Islands, Labuan Bajo, Likupang and Mandalika

Tourism revenue dropped 97% YoY to just USD 31 million in May, and international arrivals dropped by over 86.9%

More than 2,000 hotels and hostels have temporarily stopped operating, according to the government and had affected over 180,000 workers. They are planning to push for a gradual increase of domestic tourists to 70%, and 3.8 trillion IDR has been allocated to add value for tourists at attractions

2 of 3 citizens oppose the strict social distancing measures (PSBB) from being extended, and should instead focus on the economy, according to an independent survey

Air passengers no longer have to present their exit and entry permits (SIKM) as of 17 Jul, to simplify the procedure. They will just need to fill in a health alert card prior to travel, as well as present their PCR or RDT test

Indonesian tour operators are questioning if the implementation of a new online booking system at Komodo National Park is fair. It lists 197 tour operators, giving the impression that the park is receiving a cut from the listed operators. The 3 park sites would allow just 25 visitors each per day in the 1st phase of reopening

The Indonesian MICE sector is starting to pick up thanks to government meetings as the ministries are encouraged to organise events in hotels

Muslim tourism is being further developed in Indonesia by the Association of Indonesia Hajj and Umrah Organizers (Amphuri), in a move to diversify away from its outbound and umrah tour packages. The association has been working with local governments to educate them on targeting the Muslim friendly sector

Bali has reopened to locals, with beaches reopening with a maximum of 75 visitors at a time and a select number of tourist attractions reopening such as Bali safari park

Bali has seen its 2nd highest number of daily cases on 17 Jul of 112 – but the governor has said this is not a result of the “new normal” which started on 9 Jul

Jakarta has decided to extend its transition period for its social restriction (PSBB) for another 2 weeks, from 17 Jul – 30 Jul. This means that further relaxations, e.g. opening of cinemas, will also be delayed

Booking.com has seen an increase in domestic bookings, with the share of bookings rising to 70% in April from its usual 45%. Top destinations included Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Ubud, Bandung and Seminyak. They have also seen a shift in travel patterns to more flexible dates and off-the-beaten-track destinations

Batam and Bintan islands have now implemented safety and hygiene protocols and are just waiting for the resumption of international tourism

Epidemiologists are criticising the government’s actions in handling the situation, saying that strict restrictions should be imposed once more until Aug or Sep

Travellers to and from Jakarta by train no longer need to obtain an Exit and Entry Permit (SIKM), and instead must enter details into an app

Immigration is preparing a QR code system to track foreigners in Indonesia

The Ministry of Tourism has released a guide covering the new regulations for the hotel and restaurant sectors as part of its Cleanliness, Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability (CHSE) program

The new campaign for health and safety procedures has been named InDOnesia CARE as a key communication strategy for tourism

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association estimate that leisure travel has lost nearly 85 trillion IDR, with 70 trillion IDR from hotels and restaurants, 15 trillion IDR from aviation and tour operators. More than 95% of tourism workers are furloughed with no pay, and 2,000 hotels and 8,000 restaurants closed in the 3 months from March. Many employees are unable to access the benefits of the pre-employment card scheme. The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that most tourism-related businesses will be bankrupt by the year-end without cash injections

Some Indonesian hotel chains, such as Artotel, Tauzia and Santika, are starting to see a climb in hotel occupancy rates. Santika’s Jakarta properties have seen levels rise up to 30%, with many guests government workers

Face masks will become compulsory in Indonesia in a new regulation that is being drafted

Lake Toba has been granted UNESCO Global Geopark status, and is continuing its tourism development despite the pandemic

The Indonesian government has changed its phrase “new normal” to “adapting to new habits” with the worry that locals interpreted the old phase to mean “normal”

The Toba Caldera in North Sumatra province has been declared a UNESCO global geopark

: The Tourism Ministry has reached 300,000 tourism workers via its food assistance program. It also reported that it has suffered 162 trillion IDR in losses from the tourism sector. The tax incentive scheme which it implemented earlier has reached just 200,000 of 2.4 million registered, and the government is investigating where the reason for the gap lies

Bekasi city has now been declared a green zone, and schools will reopen on 13 Jul

The Baduy, an isolated ethnic group in Banten, have asked to be removed from Indonesia’s list of tourist destinations as tourists visiting the community have caused pollution and uneasiness

Epidemiologists are warning the public against travelling to green zone tourist areas, as the designation simply means there is less chance of transmission

Jakarta tourism agency is planning to issue a regulation allowing MICE events to proceed in the capital at 50% capacity. They also plan to allow events and golf tournaments. The head said that Jakarta has lost trillions of IDR in tax revenue from the tourism industry shutdown. Bali is also planning to encourage government agency MICE events with a “Bali MICE Exchange” in early Dec with international and domestic event organisers to showcase Bali MICE products

Cinemas will be allowed to reopen on 29 Jul

Monthly household spending has decreased in Indonesia by 7% YoY in Q1, according to the latest Nielsen report. Consumers also remain anxious about leaving the home, according to a Kantar survey

The national board of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) has been accused of poor leadership and accountability by ASITA members

Indonesia plans to develop a travel bubble scheme which will target certain locations. Whilst which Indonesian locations and which foreign countries are front of mind has not been revealed, the tourism ministry did reveal that it will involve countries with low cases, including South Korea, Taiwan and China

Traveloka is fundraising a new round, likely at a valuation of 17% less than its last round. It is looking to secure around $250 million USD

Indonesia is trying to attract from Russians to visit the country and position itself as a competitor to Thailand

Tourism destinations in low-risk areas of Indonesia have started to reopen, according to the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, despite cases continuing to rise

Bali will welcome foreign tourists from September, as part of a 3-phase plan to open back up to tourists

Furloughed workers on Bintan Island have been hired for an ocean clean-up programme, which will pay the new daily rate as their usual job plus an extra 25% if they collect 25kg of plastic

All tourism facilities in Bali will need to obtain certification before they are permitted to reopen. The Bali Tourism Agency has a verification team of 100 members who will undertake spot checks during the certification process

Labuan Bajo will offer free entry until 31 Jul. An online registration system for visitors has also been launched. Discussions over the plan to charge $1,000 USD/ pax for entry are still ongoing

Many hotels and restaurants are now operating in Mukomuko district, Bengkulu

May’s arrival numbers to Indonesia were just 163,646, a decrease of 86.9% YoY, and from Jan-May, a drop of 53.56% in the latest statistics released. Hotel occupancy at star hotels was only 14.45% in May. Bali saw the lowest occupancy rate, at 2.07%. May arrivals saw a slight increase vs April arrivals of 3.1%, but experts confirm that this is not significant

Bali’s Provincial Government has announced plans to reopen Bali to Indonesian tourists on 31 Jul, so long as its opening scheme for residents, starting on 9 Jul, runs effectively. Passengers will need to show results of a negative test, fill in an application form and follow other regulations

Indonesia has asked Singapore to reopen its borders, in particular those with Bintan and Batam. Singapore has agreed to review the request after the General Election on 10 Jul. The Riau Islands, which Batam and Bintan form part of, are 2nd for foreign arrivals after Bali. 2019 saw 47% of Riau islands visitors coming from Singapore

The relaxation of the PSBB (large-scale social restriction) is not sufficient to boost consumer purchasing power yet, with June’s inflation at 0.18% month-to-month

17,000 tourism workers in North Sumatra will be supported by the government. 16,100 packages with basic necessities have been disbursed to tourism workers in the region, which was one of the first hit

Indonesia could lose up to $60 billion USD, equivalent to 6% of its GDP, if tourism remains at a standstill for 12 months according to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. A 12-month stopping would also mean a drop in skilled workers wages of 7%, and unskilled workers 7%

State-owned Banks Association (Himbara) will increase its credit in sectors including tourism to channel government funds, with MSMEs prioritised

Jakarta will extend its ‘transition period’ from 30 Jun to 16 Jul, before a full reopening as daily case numbers has not decreased. Schools will remain closed until further notice

Traveloka Xperience has expanded to offering live content from creatives within Indonesia teaching new skills

New requirements under the transitional phase require that domestic travellers carry a medical document that they are free of COVID-19, valid for 14 days from departure (previously it was 7 days for PCR, 3 days for rapid test)

Whilst some national parks have been reopened, tourism players are concerned that the requirements for COVID-19 tests may exceed the airfare to actually travel to the attractions, and call for incentives to support travellers

The Bali Tourism Board expects 2 million Chinese visitors to visit Bali in 2021, the largest inbound market by far. They believe that the issue of zero-dollar tours may be behind them, as large groups of Chinese travellers will disappear and be replaced by the middle and luxury segments who prefer to stay in villas

Garuda Indonesia confirmed that one of its passengers tested positive for COVID-19 on a flight from Jakarta to Sorong. They guaranteed that the aircraft has been disinfected entirely and crew from that flight are in self-quarantine

The Tourism Ministry will launch a campaign called #DiIndonesiaAja (#JustStayInIndonesia), encouraging domestic travel and aimed at families or FITs. It is also preparing its international strategy by launching a #DreamNowTravelLater campaign for its hygiene guidelines, CHS

The Indonesian President proposed an ASEAN travel corridor at the ASEAN summit on 26 Jun, as did Brunei Darussalam. They are also working on a “fast lane” agreement with China, which is expected to be open by the end of Jun

PSBB measures will be lifted in West Java from 3 Jul, and it will move into the new normal conditioning (AKB)

Traveloka has launched a service allowing users to book COVID-19 swab test and rapid tests on the website as part of the Traveloka Xperience feature. Domestic travellers to Bali, Pangkal Pinang, Tanjung Pandang and Balikpapan all require swab tests. Tiket.com has also launched a new certificate label, Tiket Clean, to reassure guests, with 4.000 hotel partners already

More innovative financing from all sectors is required to support tourism SMEs, the deputy minister of tourism has stated, not just from the government

Public facilities, including hotels, restaurants, convention centres and tourism destinations now must provide hand sanitisers, disinfect the spaces 3 times a day, check temperatures of guests and wear face masks in a new decree. A 1m social distancing rule is also in place

10 tourist destinations in Yogyakarta will be reopened on 1 Jul

The Thousand Islands will reopen to tourists at 50% capacity; tourists are also advised to bring along their own diving or snorkelling equipment

The Bali chapter Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agents (ASITA) expect the government to open Bali “really soon”, as they can only last until Jul

The Indonesian military and police force will be used to enforce health protocols at tourism sites by “preventive and persuasive” methods

Nature tourist areas in green and yellow zones will be allowed to reopen at a maximum capacity of 50%. This includes marine, national parks, zoos, botanical gardens and tourism villages

Wakatobi district will reopen to tourists from Jul 2020. Flights are limited to twice weekly with Wings Air

Ancol Dreampark, Jakarta’s biggest amusement park, opened on 20 Jun to just a handful of visitors

Google x Trip.com have revealed that Indonesia is #15 for APAC travellers’ next phase destinations, with Bali and Bintan coming in the top 20 short haul getaway destinations

Malaysia and Indonesia will work closely together to revive the tourism industry, the respective ministers revealed in a webinar

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) have said that many hotels will remain closed in June, as they could face additional losses with opening in the face of low consumer demand. Some hotels have seen an increase in pickup from the business segment. Tiket.com have also launched its own “clean” label for hotels, with 4,000 hotels in Indonesia and overseas signing up

Bali may welcome domestic travellers from 9 Jul and foreign visitors in September, local media have reported

Komodo National Park’s new protocols will include a limited number of visitors from 20-50 people, and the number of people diving will be restricted

Indonesian attractions are using promotions and hygiene procedures to win back customers. Borobodur temple will operate at 50% capacity on reopening and during a test phase this month, allow just 100-200 tourists to enter a day

Traveloka has seen a gradual increase in interest for staycations since Mar 2020

OYO Indonesia has reported that its partners’ occupancy levels have dropped by over 60%, forcing them to make wage adjustments and layoffs

Indonesia will open middle and high schools in low-risk areas in Jul, whilst elementary schools will reopen in Sep. That would only account for around 6% of Indonesia’s schools

Indonesia’s economy may face a sharp contraction in Q2 of 2-3%, with trade falling further than expected and household purchasing power deteriorating

Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno will be reopened to tourism, with the local government calling it to serve as a model of reopened tourism

Consumer confidence has dropped to its lowest level in 15 years in a Bank Indonesia survey, falling to 77.8 in May from April’s 84.8

80 of Jakarta’s shopping malls will be allowed to reopen on 15 Jun, subject to strict protocols

Jakarta’s tourism spots will be gradually opened from 13 Jun. Indoor and outdoor destinations including zoos, will reopen from 20 Jun – 2 Jul

Greater Surabaya ended its PSBB on 8 Jun, and is now under a 2-week transition phase with strict health protocols

Bali’s luxury villas market has been hit as rental rates and guests plummet

The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) and the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurant Association (IHRA) have agreed an MOU to create deals for the domestic market. IHRA members would come up with competitive pricing for ASITA members, and both would promote via digital marketing, as well as approach airlines to support the deals

The decision when to re-open national parks will be taken on Fri 12 Jun. New regulations will include limiting visitors to 60-70% of capacity levels, and advanced booking

Bali will lead Indonesia’s efforts to recapture the international market, once the country opens, according to the Ministry of Tourism. However, they will continue to promote other destinations. It will implement the Clean, Healthy & Safety protocols (CHS) in Bali’s Nusa Dua first in early June. Bintan will also be a destination they will focus on, to win back travellers based in Singapore

The hotels and restaurant industry in Indonesia has asked the government for an additional stimulus package of IDR 42.6 trillion according to the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo). The government is also planning to provide IDR 25 trillion for airfare and hotel discounts to aid the domestic tourism recovery. More than 2,000 hotels have been forced to close operations

A circular has clarified traveller requirements during the “new normal” period. For inter-provincial travel, travellers must have health certificates with tests showing COVID-19 free status (or a health certificate from a clinic should there be no rapid testing facilities) and have the government app Peduli Lindungi installed. Travellers from abroad must undertake COVID-19 tests on arrival and stay at government quarantine facilities until the test results are released

West Sumatra will enter the “new normal” phase from 8 Jun

Despite the closures of beaches in Bali, people have still been visiting the beaches in Canggu after the Badung head of Tourism Agency I Made Badra told the media that beaches were open to foreign surfers who cited mental health concerns, sparking a controversy amongst locals over discriminatory rules

Indonesia unveiled a stimulus package of $47.6 billion USD, with an aim to strengthen the healthcare system, support businesses from bankruptcy and boost consumer consumption

Jakarta will start to transition from its large scale social distancing (PSBB), and open up more economic activities. Places of worship to open at 50% capacity from 5 Jun, offices from 8 Jun and shopping malls from 15 Jun. The transition period does not yet have a final end date

The government projects that tourism destinations can be gradually reopened, with the soonest domestic tourism restarting at the end of Jul or Aug, and international tourists in Sep, depending on how the situation evolves

Bali’s governor will look at boosting other areas of Bali’s economy, to reduce dependence on tourism, such as agriculture

Bali’s governor will look at boosting other areas of Bali’s economy, to reduce dependence on tourism, such as agriculture

Indonesia’s April foreign arrivals dropped by 87.44% YoY, with just 160,000 (more than 50% from Timor Leste), and just 755 travellers arriving by air. Numbers Jan-Apr are down 45% YoY

Indonesian schools may not reopen until Dec, although the school year will begin again in Jul

A consumer study by McKinsey has shown that Indonesians’ consumer optimism is at the lowest level since March (study on 20-22 May), with 65% cutting back on spending. Post COVID-19, net intent for domestic travel is -26%, whilst international travel is -42%

Indonesian tour agents are encouraging attractions to offer discounts and special deals to stimulate domestic demand. The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies expect the government to subsidise at least 50% of state-owned attractions such as Borobudur

102 areas with 0 COVID-19 cases have been allowed to start “new normal” measures

New protocols for the tourism industry for the “new normal” will be created by the government and focus on health and hygiene

Indonesia will focus on infrastructure programmes including 5 new airports to rescue the Indonesian economy

Bali will be focused on restarting the local economy first before reopening to tourism, the Bali Governor said

Jakarta announced that the new academic year will start on 13 July

Yogyakarta is extending its emergency period from 30 May to 30 Jun

The government has announced that regions should have maintained zero cases or have seen a significant decrease in the infection numbers to be allowed to reopen businesses. Those “green zones” will be considered to reopen

Jokowi has said that the tourism industry must prepare for the “new normal” with a transformation following health protocols, but there should be no rush to reopen. He also thinks that solo, wellness, virtual travel and staycations will all become new trends. The Tourism & Creative Minisry has also been tasked with preparing new domestic tourism promotions

The Office of Tourism and Creative Economy have said that they are drafting health protocols for the “new normal” policy, which tourism businesses would need to follow

Bali’s Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association chapter welcomes the idea of a travel bubble with Australia and Bali. However, Indonesia has not begun any formal talks with Australia on this possibility

The country’s National Development planning minister has said that Bali is expected to reopen business in July, due to a low fatality and case rate. Foreign Minister said that intra-ASEAN travel is still under discussion but that we have yet to decide on the time frame”

The governor of East Nusa Tenggara has announced that tourism will reopen in his province from 15 Jun

Army personnel have been deployed across the country to enforce social distancing

MICE players in Indonesia are confident that several of their exhibitions will take place later in the year

Indonesian tourism businesses are sceptical about restarting tourism operations and if health protocols will sufficiently protect tourists

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is going to implement Cleanliness, Health and Safety program (CHS), to encourage tourist confidence

West Java’s lockdown restrictions (PSBB) will continue until 29 May, with some cities who are at lower risk of transmission to be allowed more freedoms

Data from 1 Jan – 5 May showed a decline of 44% in foreign tourist arrivals to Bali and -35% for domestic tourists

Jakarta extended its lockdown (PSBB) until 4 Jun, despite the central government’s plans to allow businesses to resume operations

Traveloka and tiket.com cut their digital advertising spend by 100% in the first week of Ramadan YoY

Bali has been ranked the 2nd destination globally in the wishlists of Booking.com’s customers. For Indonesian travellers, their top 10 domestic destinations in Mar and Apr ’20 were: Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Ubud, Bandung, Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Surabaya, Uluwatu and Jimbaran

A tourism recovery strategy with a team that will coordinate efforts of both the government and private sector, will be launched soon. Health and safety will be a priority

Bali could be reopened to tourists in October, the Indonesian government has stated, due to its lower case and death rate than the rest of Indonesia. If this situation continues, promotional work will be done from Jun – Oct. Yogyakarta and Riau islands province could also open in Oct

Jakarta’s satellite areas have extended their lockdown (PSBB) until 26 May, with stricter rules including the compulsory wearing of a face mask outdoors and limiting gatherings to 5 people

The Indonesian Travel Agent Association (ASTINDO) has complained to the government that air ticket sales are only permitted to be purchased with the airline or via the airline’s website, not via travel agents

The government will allocate $3.8 billion USD to stimulate the economy in 2021, although the details of which ministries was not yet announced

48,289 tourism workers in West Java province have been sent home

Lockdown has been extended in Greater Surabaya until 25 May

The Indonesian government is looking at plans to partially reopen businesses from 1 Jun, under a 5-phase plan, so long as targets to control the virus are met

Indonesia’s March foreign tourist arrivals has dropped 64% YoY, with a decline at all main airports: • Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport arrivals: -64% • Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport arrivals: -75% • Medan’s Kualanamu Airport arrivals: -64%

According to research by HVS, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) at Indonesian hotels fell by 17.3%, and the Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) dropped by 55.4% in March YoY

Public transportation of all means, including flights, will be allowed to restart as of 6 May, except for in areas implementing lockdown, to facilitate movement for business, urgent and official purposes

The Indonesian government is preparing the tourism industry for the “new normal” with potential plans for certification for hygiene, as well as hygiene SOPs for destinations and accommodation providers to follow. ASTINDO have seen from a consumer survey a trend towards natural, outdoor activities based tourism in smaller groups or with family

Hotel occupancy dropped to 32.2% in March, according to the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI). They report that 1,642 hotels and 353 restaurants have shut down. The Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) have said that its 7,000 members have been forced to cut salaries by 50% to help cashflow

Indonesia had its first virtual tabletop between suppliers and buyers in the travel trade, with 227 participants

Central Java has seen a drop of international arrivals of 46% in March YoY, with hotel occupancy rates dropping to 28.6%. The majority of foreign visitors arrive from Malaysia

The Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) have asked agents to sell affordable packages, which must be coordinated with airlines. The government should also use travel agents to book their work meetings

The number of employees affected by COVID-19 in the tourism sector is up to 70%, according to the Tourism & Creative Economy Minister

Close to 213,00 tourism workers have been affected by the impact of COVID-19. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will continue to develop programs to empower tourism entrepreneurs and release online training to support them

5 schemes have been introduced to support MSMEs, including tax incentives, loan restructuring, emergency working capital assistance, amongst others, helping 23 million companies

Officials expect Indonesia’s cases to drop in June and “normal life” to resume in July

Labuan Bajo and Flores Tourism Authority will allocate up to $258 million USD to help tourism in the region, with a 3-step process of emergency, recovery and normalisation measures

The Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Yogyakarta Chapter has said that the tourism industry may face problems during recovery as many workers had found alternative jobs. The minister for tourism has been coordinating with travel partners to design appealing domestic and international promotions

Jakarta’s lockdown will be extended until 22 May with harsher penalties for those who disobey measures

The President finally imposed a ban on the mudik, or homecoming, ahead of Eid, for everyone

Lockdown expanded to West Java, including Bandung, and West Sumatra

ASITA reported that 98% of its 7,000 members (travel agents and tour operators) have temporarily closed operations, furloughing employees

Indonesia is set to lose $10 billion from tourism revenue this year, with foreign tourists falling to 5 million from 2019’s 16 million. Widodo the Indonesian President said, “Economic stimulus for businesses in the tourism and creative industry must be prepared so they can survive and don’t resort to large-scale layoffs.” They are preparing stimulus packages for the travel industry