We must develop programs that can improve the quality of domestic tourism to make tourists more comfortable traveling in Indonesia in a controlled COVID-19 pandemic condition.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has launched the ‘Wisata Nusantara’ (Tour of Archipelago) program to support the #DiIndonesiaAja (#StayinIndonesia) movement for expediting national tourism recovery.

Garuda Indonesia and the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry are collaborating through the program to optimize tourism at five super-priority destinations -- Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Borobudur Temple (Central Java), Mandalika Area (West Nusa Tenggara), Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara) and Likupang-Manado (North Sulawesi), president director of the airline, Irfan Setiaputra, informed.

"Garuda Indonesia will provide added value to the flight experience for domestic tourists who travel individually or in groups," he said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.

Tourists will be given special price offers and bundling packages for land arrangements, such as hotels and other supporting accommodations, at the five tourism destinations, he added.

The program will cover reservations made from January 17–January 23, 2022, for travel between January 17 to December 31.

The president director said that the program is a part of the company’s commitment to accelerate the recovery of the national tourism ecosystem by providing air accessibility to prominent tourism destinations.

"Garuda Indonesia provides safe and comfortable flight services by always conducting strict health protocols and providing various value-added services," he added.

The ‘Wisata Nusantara’ program can be accessed through the Garuda Indonesia Sales Office, the corporation’s selected travel agent, and various partner online travel agents, he said.

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Meanwhile, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno welcomed the program and movement.

“We must develop programs that can improve the quality of domestic tourism to make tourists more comfortable traveling in Indonesia in a controlled COVID-19 pandemic condition," he remarked.

However, the minister urged that the program be carried out with vigilance since local transmission of the Omicron variant has been detected in the country.

Thus, the implementation of the health protocols must be tightened, while regular and booster vaccinations must be expedited so that the Omicron variant does not shut off attempts to revive the national economy, he added.

Related news: Uno optimistic of Garuda Indonesia's revival



Translator: Adimas Fahky, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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