Gov’t to Implement Three-Day Quarantine Policy for Overseas Travelers

The Government has announced that starting March 1, it will implement a three-day quarantine policy for overseas travelers who are fully vaccinated and have received a booster dose.

“Based on advice from experts and after analyzing the existing data, starting on March 1 the Government will impose a three-day quarantine policy for overseas travelers who are fully vaccinated and have received a booster dose,” Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said after a Limited Cabinet Meeting on Sunday (02/27).   

According to Luhut, the number of daily cases in Indonesia is relatively lower than that in other the countries that no longer impose quarantine.

However, Indonesia’s fatality rate is still relatively high and complete vaccination rate is lower, he added.

“Based on the data, the Government continues to take anticipatory measures and gradual approaches in determining the adjustment to the overseas travelers quarantine,” Luhut said, adding that the Government will also implement a pilot project of non-quarantine policy for overseas travelers coming to the resort island of Bali.

The policy is planned to be implemented from March 14.

For the record, the requirements of the policy are as follows:

1. Overseas travelers must show payment for hotel bookings that have been paid for at least four days, while Indonesian citizens must show proof of domicile in Bali.
2. Overseas travelers must be fully vaccinated or already received a booster dose.
3. Overseas travelers must take the first PCR-test in hotel rooms until the negative test result comes out.
4. Overseas travelers must take the second PCR-test on the third day at their respective hotels.
5. International events held in Bali must comply with the provisions of daily antigen testing on all participants.
6. The obligation to have a sponsor for a tourist e-visa request is revoked.

“If the pilot project in Bali runs smoothly, we will expand the no-quarantine policy to regions across Indonesia from April 1 or earlier than that. However, the policy will be carried out based on data on the latest development of the pandemic,” he said.

Luhut further said that in the next stage, the Government will add 17 bubble quarantine hotels and 41 general quarantine hotels.

“We will take other improvement measures, including online travel agent booking, isolation facilities, as well as airport pick-up and e-visa facilities,” he remarked. (DND/UN) (RI/EP)