Minister: Requirements for International Arrivals to Bali Prioritize Precautionary Principle

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment delivers press statement after a limited meeting on public activity restrictions (PPKM) evaluation, Monday (11/10). (Source: Screenshot of Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered his Cabinet to ensure the readiness of all aspects and prioritize precautionary principle for the opening of international flights to the resort island of Bali this week.

The President made his order during a limited meeting on public activity restrictions (PPKM) evaluation, Monday (11/10).

“For Bali reopening plan, as the President’s directives during the limited meeting this afternoon, he ordered that it be prepared optimally and there must be a simulation first prior to the opening. The President ordered that arrival protocols at the points of entry must be focused on and quarantine management must be clean and transparent,” Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said in his press statement after the limited meeting.

Luhut added that the Government is also speeding up vaccination rate in Bali ahead of the international flight opening.

“Vaccination target must also be achieved prior to the opening. In Bali, only one region that we need to improve, namely Gianyar where only 38 percent of senior citizens have been vaccinated, whereas the target is 40 percent in the next few days,” he said.

In a bid to prevent COVID-19 infection, Luhut pointed out that the Government has also tightened requirements for international arrivals to Bali, consisting of requirements from pre-departure to arrival.

“To ensure that there is no spike in cases in Bali, the Government has also tightened requirements, starting from pre-departure requirements to on-arrival requirements,” he said.

The requirements for international travelers to enter Bali are as follows:

Pre-Departure Requirements

1. They come from countries with level 1 and level 2 confirmed cases and positivity rate under 5 percent;
2. Negative RT-PCR test with samples taken maximum 3×24 hours before departure;
3. Complete vaccination evidence and travelers received second vaccine dose at least 14 days before departure written in English apart from the native language of the country of origin;
4. Travelers have health insurance with the minimum coverage value of US$100,000 that covers COVID-19 treatment; and
5. Payment confirmation evidence for accommodation during the stay in Indonesia provided by the accommodation provider or related third party.

On-Arrival Requirements

1. Fill out E-HAC via PeduliLindungi contact-tracing application;
2. Take RT-PCR test on arrival at their own expense. Travelers can wait for RT-PCR test result at their reserved accommodation;
3. If the test result is negative, travelers can be quarantined at reserved quarantine place for five days and take RT-PCR test on the fourth night. If the test result is negative, travelers can leave quarantine on the fifth day.

Luhut expressed hope that the international arrival opening can boost Bali’s economy.

“The opening of international flights to Bali to be carried out this week is expected to be able to revive Bali’s economy gradually, which is now still much lower than the pre-pandemic situation,” he remarked. (DND/UN) (DH/MUR)