Health and security protocols will attract tourists. We continue to work hard to formulate strategic moves to prepare a health protocol in an effort to accelerate the recovery of the tourism sectorJakarta (ANTARA) - The implementation of standard procedures for a new normal in public facilities will help the tourism and creative economy sector make a quick recovery, according to the COVID-19 Impact Handling Task Force for the sector.
The promulgation of standard procedures for public facilities is aimed at ensuring public adherence to the health protocol, said spokesperson for the COVID-19 Impact Handling Task Force for the tourism and creative economy sector, Ari Juliano Gema, in a statement here on Wednesday.
"This is part of efforts to ensure public readiness to implement the new normal, to boost national economy, including in the tourism and creative economy sector," Gema said.
The protocol to adapt to the new normal has been prepared by the Health Ministry and would be disseminated to the public, he added.
The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Gema informed, has also prepared a Cleanliness, Health and Safety (CHS) program that would be implemented in tourist destinations as part of disciplinary measures.
The program will initially be implemented in Bali, Yogyakarta, and Riau Islands, followed by five other super-priority destinations and other regions in Indonesia.
The program will focus on public hygiene, availability of facilities to wash hands with soap, and installing trash bins, among others.
The task force will work in coordination with operators of tourist destinations, local hospitals, the military, and police to implement the program.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked Indonesians, and businesses entities in particular, to prepare to coexist with COVID-19, which would necessitate a new normal of social distancing and observance of health protocols.
In preparation for the transition toward a new normal amid the lingering pandemic, the government is drafting protocols for various activities to ensure that people stay safe and healthy.
Indonesia's Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Wishnutama Kusubandio, has urged the tourism industry to implement health protocols as part of the new normal.
"Health and security protocols will attract tourists. We continue to work hard to formulate strategic moves to prepare a health protocol in an effort to accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector," he stated.
The minister was upbeat about Indonesia's tourism industry recovering sooner than expected, or taking less than five years to return to normalcy.
The closure of tourist destinations owing to the pandemic should be viewed as an opportunity to evaluate and rearrange locations so operators can improvise services and bring about sustainable tourism development, he said. (INE)
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Translator: Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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