Travel And Tour World: Since travelling started again in Indonesia, after COVID-19, what are the protocols or measures you have taken for safe travel?

Ni Made Ayu Marthini: At the end of December, our President announced that Indonesia has reached at herd immunity, and the world is also opening up towards new-normal.

We have enough experience from the past three years and now how we can manage COVID-19. As you get into Wonderful Indonesia everyone has to be checked. We do checking at airports for safe travel. We all welcome to Indonesia. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia has re-opened Indonesia for international tourists.

Our visa process is also very simple and it is good news that India has the facility of visa on arrival. You just come, go to the booth at the immigration centre and take a visa on arrival for only just 35 USD. You can also use online payment prior your arrival to Indonesia.

This is what our honourable President wants. Post- COVID-19, tourism is a main sector for our growth.

Protocols

In order to control the spreading of coronavirus, the Government of Indonesia has already implemented a policy to enter Indonesia. The international travellers who will enter the country shall make readjustments with regards to their travel documents, to ensure compliance with the provisions regarding categories of foreign nationals allowed to enter Indonesia.

• Take possession of Proof of Vaccination or Vaccination Certificate (physical or digital).
• Download and make use of app of Peduli Lindungi.
• There is no need to present a Negative proof of RT-PCR test.
• There is no need to present proof of health insurance.

Travel And Tour World: Indonesia is always playing good for sustainable tourism. What are the measures or policies you have taken for the hoteliers and industry stake holders to promote sustainable tourism in Indonesia?

Ni Made Ayu Marthini: If you don’t think of sustainable then you don’t sustain. Indonesia is one of the major countries in South East Asia transforming at a rate faster in sustainability than at any time in its history. Sustainability and responsible tourism is one of the major factors for the tourism programme, as sustainability is a focal point and it resulted in the promotion of eco-tourism.

World Tourism Organisation last year, stresses on sustainability issue and future tourism. The future of tourism lies here. We are also promoting our culture like India. We believe in “Tri Hita Karana” philosophy in sustainable tourism and promotion of this to boost tourism. Tri Hita Karana is a traditional Indonesian philosophy for life concentrated among the people of Bali, Indonesia.

3 principles of Tri Hita Karana

• Harmony with God
• Harmony among people
• Harmony with nature or environment.

What is CHSE programme?

The coronavirus pandemic has brought a huge impact on the business of tourism industry all over the country.  During COVID-19, our government introduced CHSE programme. The CHSE programme (Clean, Health, Safety, and Environment) is a certification program from the house of Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

How it serves?

The CHSE programme (Clean, Health, Safety, and Environment) serves as a guarantee to tourists and the public that the products and services provided have met protocols for cleanliness, health, safety and environmental sustainability.

Since CHSE certification was started at the beginning of November 2020, there are now around 6.626 companies registered from 34 provinces and 300 cities.

Carbon Footprint Calculator

We have carbon footprint calculator, as a pilot project, as Indonesia believes in complete zero-carbon initiative to make a better world. Indonesia has been contributing through the efforts of sustainable tourism that provides a lot of positive impacts for the environment and community. For e.g., if you fly from one city to another, the carbon footprint calculator will say, how much you travelled, and compensate it with the mangrove plantation. In this way, you can be a part of the sustainability of the natural ecosystem while exploring the beauty of Wonderful Indonesia.

Focusing on rural tourism

Secondly, our government, in post Covid-19, is promoting rural tourism. What we can call as village tourism also. There are about 75000 villages in Indonesia and out of which 3500 villages are now promoting sustainable and village tourism. Once they receive the CHSE programme (Clean, Health, Safety, and Environment), we promote these villages for tourism. Surprisingly, what we see a lot of Indonesian do not know about these villages. This helps in both ways. The private sector is also playing a pivotal role in promoting rural tourism- promotion of villages, its community and its culture. This helps to the community most.

You can visit these places without any hectic because they are strictly following the Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability (CHSE) protocols implemented by of Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, which include limiting visitors, providing hand-washing facilities, and obligatory use of masks.

Travel And Tour World: International travellers are getting bored of the stereotype tourism. They all know the mainstream tourism attractions in Indonesia. What are the regions you want to promote apart from the known destination?

True. The international travellers are very tired of seeing the same old mainstream tourist destinations. In World Travel Market London, Indonesia is a known country. We have high competitive index destinations. We build destinations for last five-six years on priority basis. Apart from Bali, which is the world famous, the Government also actively promoting other destinations to taste the impact of tourism, because the other regions in the country need to enjoy the contribution tourism for the economy. We are promoting Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in lombok Island, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara Province, and Likupang in North Sulawesi. Another focus was also given to the development of rural tourism. Our government is highlighting on cleanliness, waste management, and promotion of eco tourism with home stays. The international tourists, especially Europe, want to more to explore local food and culture.