Wayan Koster, the Governor of Bali, and Sandiaga Uno, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, will press for the return of visas on arrival to help streamline tourism on the island.
“Both the governor (Wayan Koster ) and I have agreed to push for reinstating the visa on arrival,” Sandiaga said in an audio Wednesday.
Bali relaunched its reopening on Feb. 4 with direct flights, quarantine resorts, and e-visas, since it was unable to attract tourists when it originally reopened on Oct. 14,
However, the “e-visa” referred to the old (B211A) business e-visa, which is currently serving as a tourist visa but remains difficult to get.
To begin with, approval process can take more than 14 days. Visitors have the option to acquire it earlier for a higher charge.
While admitting the importance of restarting the program, Sandiaga stressed the need of maintaining their COVID-19 pandemic safety standards.
Both officials, however, are said to have discussed Koster’s proposal to terminate quarantine for overseas visitors to Bali and the rest of the country by April.
Koster believes that quarantine should be lifted as the current COVID-19 crisis is manageable.
“We just have to see the development in the following week. If the [cases] are consistently decreasing and it can be stable, I think that will be conducive,” he said.
According to the governor, only one out of 150 passengers on the past couple of flights landing in Bali tested positive for COVID-19, therefore it would be unfair if the others had to undergo mandatory quarantine as well.
The central government must yet approve all these recommendations, said the governor.
In the interim, the required quarantine period for those who have received a booster shot has been reduced from five to three days.
Another good news is that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Scoot Tiger Air, and Jetstar Airways are all due to resume service to Bali in the next weeks.