Bali Gears Up for Holiday Season as Tourists Start Flocking

TheIndonesia.co - Bali is gearing up to face the coming holiday season amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, by tightening control in borders.

Bali Regional Police deployed 1,459 personnel to safeguard entry points to the island.

“We appoint 1,459 members of the police at a number of security posts, including at entry points to Bali,” Bali Police Chief Pol. Inspector General Putu Jayan Danu Putra said in Kedonganan, Badung, Bali, on Monday, December 20.

These spots include Gilimanuk port, I Gusti Nguraih Rai airport, Padangbai port, among others. He said, if necessary, the police will employ traffic diversion and open-close system.

Meanwhile, SuaraBali.id reported the number of domestic tourists coming to Bali has been increasing. As Bali Governor Wayan Koster revealed, it has reached 25,000 tourists per day, and he expected the number to keep increasing in the days to come.

He warned the public to always oblige the rules and policies as regulated by the government. As mandated in circular letter No. 20/2021 issued by the COVID-19 Task Force, Bali will ban parades, carnivals, processions, parties, and other forms of celebration activities as they have the potential to create crowds.

“As per the Minister of Home Affairs’ Instruction, there are rules about avoiding crowds so that COVID-19 can be contained faster,” Koster said on Monday.

Shopping centers and restaurants may open from 09.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. Central Indonesian Time (WITA) with 75 percent capacity. Meanwhile, tourist destinations may operate with also 75 percent from their total capacity.