"You can apply for the tourism village reopening permit to the ministry, and we could supervise the trial, but it is essential to persist with the health protocol enforcement and ensure responsible travel," Minister Uno told Malang municipal officials in Malang, East Java, on Saturday.
If thematic tourism villages are allowed to reopen, the decision on whether to allow children under 12 to enter the tourism attraction or not will be within the discretion of the Malang city government, he added.
However, children under 12 should be allowed entry if their parents have completed the second vaccine dose and cleared the mobile COVID-19 contact tracing application PeduliLindungi's screening, he advised.
"We will allow tourism attraction operators to decide whether to allow children under 12 to enter their premises. We will also authorize the regional government and local COVID-19 task force to decide on the same matter," the minister said.
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He said his suggestion on the entry of children is based on reports that the number of visitors to several tourism attractions has remained low despite their reopening as most families have refrained from traveling due to the age restriction.
"Because most tourist attractions are family-based, it is understandable they are struggling to attract visitors if the minimum age restriction remains," Uno noted.
Malang government had earlier applied for tourism villages reopening trial, but the central authority had rejected the application on the basis that tourist attractions in the city were yet to satisfy several prerequisites for the reopening trial.
The government has instructed tourist attraction operators to implement PeduliLindungi's QR code as the main condition for reopening and commencing the operational trial.
Related news: Tourism villages to help revive economy: Uno
Translator: Vicky F, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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