Fully vaccinated travellers who have also received their booster shot can now serve a shorter on-arrival quarantine when they enter Indonesia, with plans by the government to abolish this requirement by April 1, 2022.
According to instructions issued by the Indonesian Covid-19 Task Force, the reduced quarantine requirement from five to three days applies to travellers coming through international airports in Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Batam, Bintan, Manado and Lombok, as well as seaports in Bali, Batam, Tanjung Pinang, Bintan, and more. This came into effect February 16.
However, travellers are still required to take a PCR test upon entry, before exiting their quarantine, and on the fifth day of their time in Indonesia.
Sandiaga Uno, Indonesia’s minister of tourism and creative economy, said: “If the condition continues to improve, vaccination rate keeps on increasing, and (health protocols are strictly applied), the government will consider revoking quarantine rule (for fully vaccinated and boosted travellers) by April 1.”
Pauline Suharno, president of Association of the Travel Agencies in Indonesia (ASTINDO), said the announcement was a timely one, as the association is planning to organise the ASTINDO Fair from March 3 to 8.
Fransiska Handoko, chairman of Bali Hotel Association, said the move was in harmony with industry players’ request, adding that Bali can soon compete with other destinations, such as the Maldives and Thailand, which have also removed quarantine on arrival.
To improve the country’s competitiveness, Fransiska hopes that the government would reinstate visa-on-arrival or roll out a special permit for travellers to obtain a visa without going through sponsoring travel companies.
Ultimately, tourism stakeholders wish for the complete removal of quarantine for arriving travellers.
Jongki Adiyasa, vice chairman of Indonesian Inbound Operators Association, said studies have proven that traveller quarantine is ineffective in curbing local infections. He opined that PCR tests and monitoring through the national Covid-19 contact tracing app, PeduliLindungi, would suffice.
