Indonesia

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

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

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

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

Indonesia reported a record high of 1,566 deaths

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indonesia’s cases have now crossed the 3 million mark

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Delta variant has been officially confirmed in Bali

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Mandalika Circuit is now 80% complete

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Helicopter tourism is increasing in Bali, Urban Air has said

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A new “Work from Borobudur” scheme has been launched

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jakarta is considering tightening restrictions

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

Indonesia expects that its cases will peak in early Jul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Minister of Tourism has said that the Bali Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) is still on track, and that in Q3 Indonesia will conduct pilots with charter flights

The Bali Tourism Board have said that from a total of 500 hotels in Bali, just 212 are operating and only 500 of 2,000 villas are operating

Cases are increasing in Indonesia once more, with 17 red zones, an increase from last week’s 13 red zones

The government has said that it is finalising the travel bubble arrangements for Bali, Batam and Bintan. Tourists will not be required to undergo quarantine, but will need to be vaccinated and have a negative test before arrival to Indonesia. Potential countries for the travel bubble could include UAE, Qatar, China, Singapore and the Netherlands

Face to face learning should take place with a maximum of 25% of students when schools reopen in Jul

The Bali Tourism Transport Association has said that there are facing difficulties to pay their financing for their bus fleets. More than 100 vehicles have been withdrawn from their members, who have suffered losses of 100 billion IDR upwards. 30-40 of its 150 members have collapsed. They are asking the Balinese government for more assistance

The PHRI Badung is calling for Bali to reopen to international tourists immediately, as the economy is in a dire state

The Bali government has asked that the Work from Bali program be implemented across the island, not just Nusa Dua

The Ministry of Tourism have 4 strategies to stimulate MICE in Indonesia. The first is to implement the CHSE MICE guide in the 5 super priority destinations and 16 destinations in Indonesia, B2B promotion, coordination with MICE stakeholders and further CHSE certification for MICE facilities and activities. It will also look at targeting domestic events first, then international ones in the coming year

The Ministry of Tourism held a meeting with the Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar to discuss cooperating for tourism, including reopening direct flights from Doha to Bali

Belitung regency will stop focusing on overseas promotion, reallocating its budget to focus on the pandemic

56% fewer Indonesian travellers in an Agoda Sustainable Travel Trends Survey want to travel more sustainably

Indonesia’s April arrivals were 127,512, -90% YoY, whilst visitors by air were -97.6% YoY, 18,404

International arrivals to Bali in Apr 2021 was just 9, -97.63% YoY. Room occupancy in starred hotels in Bali was 10.09%, with the average length of stay at 5* hotels 2.15 days

2 new studies have shown that Indonesia’s COVID-19 prevalence is much more widespread than reported. A study between Dec-Jan suggests 15% of Indonesians have had COVID-19, with official results recording 0.15% only. For Bali, preliminary results found the infectivity rate to be 53 times higher than the rate officially recorded

The Ministry of Tourism is discussing wellness and medical tourism with the Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association. Around 100 trillion IDR is spent by Indonesians abroad on health services, and they will look to create an Indonesian Health Tourism Board. It would develop themes including fitness tourism, aesthetics, anti-ageing and Indonesian traditional medicine

Work from Lombok or Work from Labuan Bajo could be potentially implemented later in the year

The Ministry of Tourism wants to create vaccine tour packages to Indonesia in the same way the US has done, to increase visits to local destinations to Bali and Bintan

West Kalimantan will develop 15 tourism villages, which will promote local traditional and culture

The Bali and Beyond Travel Fair will be held from 8-12 Jun in Nusa Dua. It aims to attract 125 sellers from Bali

The Deputy Governor of Bali has said that he hopes the plan to reopen Bali to international tourists in July will not change, and he is optimistic that it can happen

Indonesia has now received 91.9 million bulk and ready to use vaccine supplies, but the government has reminded the population to maintain their discipline to help support the economy

The Finance Ministry is looking at increasing VAT from 2022, a move strongly opposed by businesses

Arrivals from India, Pakistan and the Philippines must undergo a 14-day quarantine, whilst arrivals from other countries need to undergo a 5-day quarantine

The Minister of Tourism has said that since the implementation of the Work from Bali program, visits to Bali have increased, from 2,000-2,500 to 7,000-7,500

Tourist visits to Labuan Bajo have increased by 20-30%, the Tourism Ministry have reported

Malabon City will soon have a heritage zone after an act was passed by the House of Representatives

The Tourism Ministry forecasts that the Work from Bali scheme could help increase hotel occupancy rates by up to 30%

Educational tourism is being encouraged in Ubud, Bali, by the Ministry of Tourism, with an emphasis on quality and sustainability. They also encouraged Ubud to become part of the “Work from Gallery” program in Q3, which would be part of the “Work from Bali”, encouraging people to work whilst surrounded by paintings and artifacts

The Ministry of Tourism is preparing tourism grants over the next 2-3 months. They are currently gathering more information on which cities and districts should receive the grants. Grants would be allocated to hotels, restaurants, recreational parks, travel agents and tourism workers. They are planning for a total of 3.7 trillion IDR

The Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) for Bali is entering the finalisation stage, the Tourism Minister has said, targeting Q3 or mid-year to start with a pilot in Nusa Dua

Digital nomads will be a focus for Bali, according to the Provincial Tourism Office, who are undertaking more research into this sector

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce meeting scheduled for Nusa Dua on 2-4 Jun has been cancelled. The Deputy Governor of Bali is said to be disappointed by the news

The Micro PPKM has been extended from 1-14 Jun across 34 provinces

Indonesia has forecast that its GDP will see growth of 7.1-83% in Q2

The Ministry of Tourism has urged Bali to participate in the 2021 Tourism Village Awards, as it can help improve the economy, as well as promote tourism villages

The Work from Bali plan for civil servants could create “multiplier effects” for the industry in Bali

The coral reefs in Nusa Penida appear to be recovering due to the decline in marine tourism activities

The government has said that there has been an increase in cases post Lebaran, but these were smaller than last year’s increase. They have calculated that the increase in cases will occur until mid Jun

Bandung has closed its 6 tourist attractions from 23 May-1 Jun to stop large crowds

Visit Maldives have launched a joint campaign with Have Halal, Wil Travel, aimed at Muslim travellers from Indonesia

The Tourism Minister has reminded tourism stakeholders that they need to adapt, and tourism in the new normal will be more personal, adaptable, local and with a smaller scope. The ministry will therefore provide training to ensure that skills can be improved

The Bali Tourism Board and the Bali MICE Forum have said that they must be involved in the Work from Bali scheme, to ensure that Bali businesses benefit from the scheme. The Bali MICE Forum has said that 95% of MICE events held in Bali are using services and resources from outside of Bali

Hundreds of Bali hotels have been listed on real estate marketplaces, with Coconuts Bali reporting that 631 hotels appeared on a platform for sale as of 21 May

Selo Group is planning to build an ecopark in Lombok behind the Selong Selo Resort & Residences

Badung tourism revenue in Bali has dropped to around 50 billion IDR per month from 250-300 billion IDR, as 87% of the area’s revenue came from the tourism sector

A survey by the Mandiri Institute has shown that 84.8% of Indonesian SMEs are operating normally, compared to just 35.2% mid-2020

The GeNose test will be installed at 6 Badung attractions

The National Conference of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has booked over 2,000 rooms for its June conference which it is holding in Bali

7 Indonesian ministries are supporting the Work From Bali program, which encourages people to visit Bali even if they are working

Karawang Regency have closed all tourist destinations from 17 May for 14 days

The Minister of Tourism has met ambassadors from Singapore, Vietnam, Russia, Belgium, Netherlands, France and the UK to discuss the Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA)

The Badung Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) has said that hotel occupancy over Lebaran was down to 5-8%

The Health Ministry has accused some areas of performing less tests so that they could reach green zone status, but did not name which areas

The Tourism Minister and Investment Minister have formed a team to boost investment in Indonesia, including the tourism and creative economy

Special teams will be sent to Batam, Bintan and Bali to check the implementation of the CHSE protocols ahead of them opening up as part of international travel bubbles

Bali will provide free RT-PCR tests for its residents in May as part of the system to increase contact tracing and testing

Indonesia expects to see a spike of cases between 30-80% over the next few weeks after Lebaran

The government aims that by Sep 2021, 70 million citizens will receive vaccinations under the private procurement scheme, gotong-royong

West Lombok will extend the closure of its tourism attractions to 20 May, as the areas has limited isolation rooms for COVID-19 patients

Tanah Lot saw 40% fewer visits during 6-17 May, dropping to 450 pax per day

2.6 million people left Jakarta between 6-15 May, with 2.2 million people entering the city

Mt Rinjani has reopened for tourism from the 15 May, with limited capacity for each climbing route

Indonesia is showcasing its tourism offering at the Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) in Dubai

7 Indonesians drowned in a tourist boat incident after tourists attempted a selfie in Java

Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta received 40,000 visitors on 14 May over the public holidays. Taman Mini Indonesia Indah recorded 23,000 visitors, a number still below its 30% cap. Tourist attractions have only been open to Jakarta residents over the Eid public holidays

Tourism businesses in Lovina have been selling their assets, the Binaria Lovina Tourism Agency has confirmed

The Ministry of Tourism has said that grants will be important to stimulate the tourism and creative economy sectors, which it hopes will be rolled out soon

Jakartans returning to their homes after Eid must have COVID-19 free certificates

The travel ban for mudik has been extended until 24 May, from 17 May

The Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association Gianyar chapter confirmed that Ubud received no bookings over the mudik ban

Badung have launched an e-ticketing system and the GeNose test system at Uluwatu Temple. The GeNose test will be free

The Central Java Governor has reminded tourism destinations to control the crowds and prevent mass gatherings over the Eid period

The National Consumer Protection Agency has warned that a potential VAT hike will add burdens to consumer spending power

1.5 million people left Jakarta before the mudik ban according to toll road operators from 1-10 May

1.5 million people left Jakarta before the mudik ban according to toll road operators from 1-10 May

Bali will keep its tourist attractions open over the Eid holiday, but they will be for local tourists only

Bali’s Vice Governor has confirmed that Bali will reopen by Jul internationally, despite the transmission of new variants. They are expecting the Chinese market to contribute to visitors, rather than from India or Singapore

The Jakarta governor ordered that all malls, restaurants and cinemas in orange and red zones must shut over 12-16 May, whilst those outside of the zones could only operate at 50% capacity until 9pm. All leisure and recreational facilities in orange and red zones must also close, whilst outside those zones can operate at 30% capacity

Retail sales in March fell 14.6%, an improvement from Feb’s -18.1%

Artotel Group have called for the government to regulate hotel prices so that properties can operate on a level playing field, instead of fight price wars. However, the Tourism Ministry has said that hotel prices are dependent on occupancy levels and their location, so it is difficult to regulate

The government has temporarily stopped charter flights carrying migrant workers over the mudik ban period

The Indonesian government is now the in final stage of preparing to reopen Bali for international visitors, including the new procedures to be put in place

The government has noted a significant decline in the number of people who returned home for Eid between 6-9 May, with a decrease of 93% of air transportation, 90% for sea and train transport and 40% land

The Micro PPKM has been extended from 18 May until 31 May, with the same 30 provinces implementing it

The government revealed that out of a random testing of 6,742 mudik travellers, 4,123 were positive

Indonesia’s consumer confidence index rose to 101.5 in Apr from 93.4 in Mar, with an optimistic reading for the first time since April 2020

The Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) will be held from 8-12 Jun, and will be attended by 150 buyers, including 64 from overseas (UK, France, Australia, US) who will attend virtually. The organisers are targeting 3.57 trillion IDR in transactions from the fair, 50% of 2019 levels

A Ministry of Transport survey has shown that 18 million are still planning to return home for Lebaran, despite the mudik ban, mostly by car and motorbike

The government has allocated $259 million USD for tourism development grants for the West Nusa Tenggara province. They will also try to allocate grants for the Rinjani geopark development in Lombok

Solo will allow tourist attractions to remain open over the Eid mudik ban, but must limit capacity to 50%

The Tourism Minister aims to open up Gili Trawangan to international tourists once Bali has reopened

February’s unemployment rate was 6.26%, with an increase of 1.82 million unemployed workers compared to last year

The mudik ban applies for the Greater Jakarta Area, too

The Istiqal Mosque has the potential to be a religious tourist destination, the Tourism Minister has said, after its recent renovation. It will also be a halal culinary destination

Bali has confirmed that the UK and South African variants of the virus have been detected in Bali

Jakarta recorded 15,000 train passenger departures on 5 May, ahead of the mudik ban. Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has also reported bigger than usual crowds, and the toll roads have seen increased traffic

The Minister for Education has insisted that face to face learning in schools should resume, as students’ mental health is at stake

The Batam View Beach Resort in Nongsa is undergoing major renovation

Indonesia’s GDP for Q1 contracted by 0.79%, the 4th consecutive quarter with losses. It was an improvement from Q4 2020’s -2.19%

Raja Ampat will open its tourist sites for locals over Eid

The Tourism Minister has stated that the target for reopening in June/ Jul for Bali is still on target

Indonesia’s international arrivals in Mar were 132,597, -72.7% YoY. Its top arrivals were from Timor-Leste, Malaysia, Singapore, China and the US

OAG have reported that scheduled seat capacity for Indonesia for the w/c 3 May was -15.9% WoW, cutting capacity to less than 50% of pre-pandemic levels

Lampuuk Beach in Aceh province has the potential to be developed as a sports tourism destination for open water swimming, the Tourism Minister has said

The Micro PPKM has been extended from 4-17 May, and will be applied in 30 provinces, including 5 new ones

Occupancy at star hotels in Bali in Mar increased 1.25 points to 10.24%

The Health Minister has confirmed the Indian variant of the virus in Indonesia

Tiket.com has reported that airline tickets in Q1 increased by 331%, whilst hotel bookings increased 321% YoY. Its ancillary feature also saw a 10% increase in sales from Q4 2020. Pegipegi saw an increase of 51% in Q1 2021 YoY, with a spike in bookings in early 2021. Both OTAs have reported that the most popular domestic destinations include Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, Surabaya and Yogyakarta for hotels, Surabaya, Medan, Makassar, Bali and Yogyakarta for flights

Jakarta will start its 2nd phase of pilot school reopening in early Jun after a 3-week successful trial

Travellers entering Bali will now be subject to random swab tests from 18 May, as the authorities are expecting the number of travellers returning to Bali after Lebaran to increase

The Bali Hotels Association has said that around 30% of their hotels have decided to close over the mudik ban period

The Tourism Ministry has given the power of opening or closing tourism destinations during the Lebaran holiday to local governments

Jokowi has reminded the public not to head home over Eid, warning that in 2020 public holidays over the Aug long weekend had resulted in an 119% spike in cases, Oct long weekend 95% rise and New Year’s a 78% increase

Tourism grants will be distributed again in Bali by the central government in 2021. However, many tourism industry players did not claim the grant last year, due to its small size and time to apply

Travellers arriving from the Philippines, India and Pakistan will face a 14-day quarantine upon arrival to Indonesia

The Tourism Minister is focusing on Muslim friendly travel as a focus for Indonesia

The number of red zones has increased in Indonesia, from 6 to 19

The Jakarta Metro Police have arrested an Indonesian traveller, who paid 2 people who claimed to be airport staff, to skip the 14-day quarantine mandatory for Indonesians returning from India. They are investigating if it forms part of a larger bribery scheme which helps returning travellers skip quarantine

The Ministry of Tourism has said that the contribution of local tourists to the economy outweighs that of international visitors. Domestic contribution reached nearly 5% of GDP, 1,400-1,500 trillion IDR, whilst international tourism is 275-300 trillion IDR

The Deputy Governor of Bali has said that whilst international visitors are greeting the idea of Bali reopening with enthusiasm, there have not yet been any bookings

The ADB has forecast that Indonesia’s GDP will see a 4.5% growth in 2021 and a 5% growth in 2022

The Indonesia International Motor Show Hybrid 2021 was held as a hybrid physical-virtual show, the first in-person exhibition to be held

There has been an increase in the number of office clusters detected in Jakarta from 5-18 Apr

Bank Indonesia has said that Bali still has economic activities, despite revenue from tourism being massively impacted. The Google mobility index has shown an increase in visits to shopping centres, and an increased circulation of IDR currency in Apr

Bali has seen a daily average of 4,000-4,500 domestic visitors in Apr. As of 27 Apr, there is just one red zone in Bali, Badung

GeNose testing has now been approved for use at 21 airports throughout Indonesia, and the government is planning to use it at nearly 100

The Tourism Minister has reported that Yogyakarta’s average hotel occupancy is over 45%, higher than other destinations

10-15 million additional doses of Sinovac have been procured by Indonesia. With this extra supply, the Health Minister has urged regional heads to ramp up its vaccination once more

Indonesia has declared its missing submarine has sunk and cracked open after being reported missing on Wed

Bali officials have said that preparations to reopen the island are almost complete, and that compliance with prevention measures has reached 96.8%

The Tourism Minister wants to promote rendang as a key part of its ‘Indonesia Spice Up The World’ program

Bali officials have said that the island is now clear of red zone areas as of 20 Apr

Indonesia has not yet closed flights to India, and the Civil Aviation Directorate General has yet to receive any orders to do so

Indonesia will stop issuing visas for travellers who have been in India in the last 14 days

The Deputy Governor of Bali has said that Bali’s tourism sector has been ready to open sine last year, with 1,800 hotels certified under the CHSE scheme. He also confirmed that vaccination in the green zone areas of Ubud, Sanur and Nusa Dua were almost 100% complete

The Ministry of Tourism has revised its international and domestic tourist targets for the 2016-2021 Medium Term Development Plan. It aims for 4 million international tourists in 2021, and 180 million domestic tourists

The government has tightened the mudik ban and travel in the period 14 days prior to the ban, from 22 Apr-5 May, as well as 7 days after the ban, from 18-24 May. During these periods, interprovincial travellers by air, sea and train will need to show an RT-PCR or antigen test taken within 24 hours of department, or a GeNose test before departure

The Bali Hotels Association (BHA) supports the call for Bali to be exempted from the mudik ban, stating that it will have a deep impact on all who live in Bali

The Tourism Minister has confirmed that the reopening of Indonesia is still on track for Jun or Jul, despite the increase in Bali cases. The reopening depends on the compliance level of those in the green zone areas, the improvement of testing, tracing and treatment, and the vaccine distribution. They also aim to certify 7,500 destinations with the CHSE certificate

The chief of the COVID task force has warned the public that those who plan to return to their hometowns for Eid are indirectly killing their own parents

The Bali Tourism Association has asked officials at Gilimanuk Port to implement GeNose testing as a low-cost alternative for travellers entering the island

Bali’s government has asked the central government to allow Bali to remain open for domestic tourists during the mudik ban, arguing that they expected to receive only 10,000 tourists, and those who visited would be there for holiday purposes only

The Tourism Minister has urged travellers to visit local tourist attractions during the mudik ban

Jakarta has extended the Micro PPKM until 3 May

The government is planning to develop Banyumas’ adventure tourism products, including an eco-printing facility

The Tourism Minister is calling for the public to obey the mudik ban to prevent large-scale transmission

The Tourism Minister has said that the government is looking at establishing travel corridors with the UAE and Qatar, with arrangements being “finalised”. They have also opened up discussions with Poland and the Ukraine

The Minister of Tourism has said that the Super Priority Destinations will have automotive-based tourism. Purworejo will hold an MX GP, whilst Labuan Bajo may have programs focusing on electric cars and motorbikes

Badung, Bali, will install GeNose tests at 6 tourist attractions: Uluwatu Temple, Labuan Sait Beach, Pandawa Beach, Taman Ayun Temple, Sangeh and Nungnung Waterfall

The Badung Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) has said that member hotels have started to accept hotel bookings over the Lebaran period, with some hotels reaching 5% of occupancy, but before the mudik ban they anticipate hotel occupancy reaching 40%

The Bali government have confirmed that a vaccine certificate does not apply for entry to Bali, and they must still take an antigen or RT-PCR test

UNESCO has designated 17 sites at Belitung Island as global geoparks

The Bali Travel Agency is continuing its preparations to reopen Bali internationally. They also support the government’s plans for a 5-day quarantine upon arrival

Indonesia is hoping to open up Bali, Batam and Bintan to international travellers by the end of Jul. The government is in talks with Singapore, China, South Korea, India, the Netherlands and United Arab Emirates for travel bubbles, as well as been approached by the Ukraine and Poland, who have guaranteed a number of tourists via chartered flights. Other areas being considered for the Travel Corridor Arrangement include Yogyakarta, Belitung Island, Lake Toba, Labuan Bajo and Likupang

The number of red and orange zones have increased, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force reported

The Badung chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) is expecting single digit hotel occupancy over the Eid holiday, with the mudik banned

The police have said that they will ensure a smooth journey for those travellers who embark on mudik before 6 May, the cut-off date

Visa requirements for yachts and their crew are being eased

Badung regency, Bali, plans to install the GeNose tests at several tourist attractions in Badung

Michael Page Indonesia’s recent survey has recorded 41% of companies looking to increase their headcount, and 34% maintaining its status quo

The number of high-risk areas have doubled in Indonesia to 10, with 5 of those in Bali

A new development of holiday homes in Batam, Opus Bay, has been launched, with the first phase expected to be ready by 2023

The government wants to use ecotourism as a driving force to boost Indonesia’s economy

The Ministry of Tourism is monitoring the plan for the Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) in Bali, Batam and Bintan. Readiness to open is assessed every 2 weeks for Bali, every week for Batam-Bintan

The Jakarta Provincial Government has ordered bars to close during Ramadan

Riau Islands governor has proposed that the Travel Corridor Arrangement with Singapore start on 1 May or 1 Jun, as they are still considering whether vaccination can be achieved, if COVID-19 is under control and the response of the Singaporean government

The fact that the MotoGP event at the Mandalika Circuit has been delayed to 2022 gives Indonesia a chance to “maximise preparation”

MICE events will now be permitted to go ahead. Organisers will need to present detailed programs and contingency plans to the COVID-19 task force and police, and apply for a permit, which could take 2 months. The Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association welcomed the move, but said that more in-person events were likely to resume only from Jun. In 2020, the government estimates that the Indonesian MICE industry lost 18 trillion IDR

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

The Tourism Minister has said that the culinary industry can boost Indonesia’s economy

The Tourism Minister has encouraged tour leaders to improve their storytelling skills, as quality tourism will be sought after

The government has said that the Mandalika circuit is already 70% ready

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 Tourism Minister has stated that 34 million tourism and creative economy workers were impacted by the pandemic

The government expects that by the end of 2021, the whole of Bali will be a green zone

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

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 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

Hyatt have launched their first Andaz property in Indonesia in Bali’s Sanur

The Ministry of Tourism plans to pilot the GeNose tests in tourist villages, as it will create a sense of safety for tourists, and could increase tourist activities by up to 25%

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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%

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

Flash floods in the Flores killed 23 people

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

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

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

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%

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

: 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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indonesia has seen a downward trend of new cases

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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”

The Minister of Tourism is focusing on sustainable tourism for recovery

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

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

The Minister for Tourism has encouraged Borobudur to develop ecotourism

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 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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indonesia received its 5th batch of 10 million Sinovac vaccines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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

Jakarta has denied considering full weekend lockdowns

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indonesia recorded a daily record in deaths, at 387

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

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’s cases have now surpassed 1 million

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indonesia’s population is now 271.3 million people

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Tourism Minister has forecast 7 million arrivals in 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Denpasar schools will only reopen in May 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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.”

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

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

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 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 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 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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yogyakarta welcomed 1.67 million tourists from Jul-Nov

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indonesia’s cases have now surpassed 500,000

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

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”

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

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

The Mandalika MotoGP circuit construction will start mid-2021

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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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”

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

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 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

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 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

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%

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

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

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

Jokowi has signed the Job Creation Bill into law

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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

Indonesia has reached 400,000 cases

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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