Preparation to Open Bali for Visitors by Implementing “New Era Life Order Protocol”

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of life everywhere, including Bali. The impact of the pandemic on Bali's economy has begun to be felt, namely; paralysis of tourism decreased sales turnover of MSMEs and cooperatives, and decreased sales of agricultural products and handicraft industry, which had resulted in a contraction in Bali's economic growth, as many as -1.14% and in Quarter II of -10.98%. 2,667 workers in the formal sector of the tourism service business have experienced layoffs.

The Provincial Government of Bali, along with every component of society,  has been working moving together according to the directions and policies of the Central Government and achieved good results in controlling the spread of COVID-19, with controlled new positive cases (a cumulative total of 4,446 COVID-19 cases), high cure rates (reaching 3,881 people, 87.29%), and relatively low fatality rate (52 people, 1.17%).

The Governor, along with the Regents/Mayors, in Bali have agreed to carry out productive and safe community activities for COVID-19 gradually, selectively, and in a limited manner by implementing the New Life Order Protocol. The stages include:

• The first stage, carrying out limited and selective activities only for the local community in Bali, starting from 9 July 2020. For this First Phase, according to the direction of the National Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19, the implementation of the New Life Order, is limited to: a) health; b) Government offices; c) customs and religions; d) finance, industry, trade, logistics, transportation, cooperatives, UMKM, traditional markets, modern markets, restaurants, and stalls; e) agriculture, plantation, marine/fisheries, and livestock; and f) services and construction.

• The second stage, to carry out activities more broadly, including the tourism sector, but only limited to domestic tourists, starting from 31 July 2020.

• The third stage, which is planned to carry out activities more broadly in the tourism sector including for foreign tourists, will start from 11 September 2020.

The activities of the first and second stages have been relatively successful. The evaluation results showed that the activities of the first and second stages did not create an impact on the increase in new cases of COVID-19 and did not create a new cluster of COVID-19 cases. Since its opening on July 31, 2020, the number of domestic tourists visiting Bali through the gate of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport has increased to more than 100%. Until August 14, 2020, the number of domestic tourists passing through the gates of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport has reached around 2300-2500 people per day. However, regarding the third stage of New Life Order protocol, Bali still has not been able to open up to foreign tourists as previously planned on September 11. Following the central government / RI, Indonesia will still extend the travel ban until at least the end of 2020.