Introductory Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at Limited Cabinet Meeting (Through Video Conference) on the New Normal Order in the Productive and COVID-19 Safe Tourism Sector, Thursday, 28 May 2020 at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

This Limited Cabinet Meeting will discuss the new normal order in the tourism sector which we hope is productive and COVID-19 safe.

First, I want to remind you that the COVID -19 pandemic will lead to a change in the world tourism trends where health, hygiene, and safety (and) security issues will be the main consideration for tourists who want to travel.

In addition, holiday preference will shift to alternative vacation that does not require many people, such as solo travel tours, wellness tours, as well as virtual tourism and staycation. Therefore, tourism and creative economy industries must really anticipate changes in the trend and we must really be able to predict in which direction the changes are. Therefore, after this pandemic, we must innovate, make improvements so that we can quickly adapt to changing trends that are likely to occur later in the world of global tourism.

Then, second, because the main issue is safety and health, the new normal order protocol in the tourism sector must really answer the main issue, starting from strict health protocols on transportation, hotels, restaurants as well as our tourist spots . And as a comparison, I ask to benchmark other countries that, I also know, have prepared the new normal conditions in the tourism sector.

Then, third, we should prepare a new standard, to become a new culture, new habits in the tourism sector. And there is a need for massive dissemination of information, followed by a trial phase, followed by simulations, and now, there is also the need to start supervision so that the health protocol standards are truly implemented in the field. Because this is a big risk, once there is an imported case and then there will be health impact, then the bad image of tourism will stick and it will be difficult for us to fix it again. Therefore, it must really be calculated, calculated correctly, the field must be properly monitored.

Then, (fourth), we must also prepare a special strategy for the promotion of our tourism in this new normal era. I think we need to focus first on encouraging domestic tourism/domestic tourists. And for that, I ask for the identification of tourist spots, tourist destinations that have R0 below 1, R0 below 1. So that we can gradually open the tourism sector, but again with strict control of protocols.

I ask the Minister of Tourism to prepare a promotion program for a COVID-19 safe domestic tour, including intensifying the promotion of local products and tourist attractions. But once again, please monitor the field closely before we open it so that tourists, both domestic and foreign, can travel safely and the community can be productive, especially for tourism actors.

Regarding the time frame, please there is truly no need to be in a hurry, but the stages that I have said earlier, do them and control properly.

That is all.

Translated by Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by Mia Medya B