Indonesia declared the elimination of travel restrictions and the quarantine requisite for overseas travelers starting 21 March 2022. The travel restrictions and other international regulations were implemented in accordance with the health protocols of COVID-19 pandemic.
Sandiaga Uno, the Indonesian Minister of Tourism, announced the government’s decision to lift the restriction for international traveling. This concession was previously implemented in tourism-heavy areas like the islands of Bali and Bintan and the effort has been successful.
The lifting of the travel restrictions and implementing quarantine free traveling in the tourism-heavy areas have not created an increase in migrating COVID-19 cases. According to the Minister of Tourism the success in Bali and other tourism-heavy zones served as an incentive for the new decision. According to the CSA of Indonesia 80% of the economy of Bali depends on tourism.
Indonesia also plans on implementing a regulation to allow fully vaccinated foreigners to enter the country without a recently conducted antigen test. The Indonesian government is currently bent on repairing the damages it had to sustain due to the travel restrictions that disrupted its economy.
Indonesia, after successfully negating the third wave of COVID-19, the Omicron variant, made the decision to negotiate the health protocols. But the health sector deems this unwise. Professionals in the medical field stated their concern about it not being the prime time to lift all restrictions. With the other variants besides the Omicron variant still around, they claim it is practically impossible to completely disregard health protocols like quarantine just yet. Amidst the concerns Indonesia is now open for foreign travelers.
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