Indonesia temporarily bans foreign arrivals at Jakarta airport after surge in COVID cases

Indonesia is currently facing a spike in the number of COVID 19 cases, which is being blamed on the omicron variant of the virus. The country has thus decided to temporarily ban international tourists from entering the country through Jakarta’s airport.
The country’s Transport Ministry confirmed this decision to ban foreign travellers from entering through Jakarta, suggesting that it should slow down the spike in covid cases. The country recorded a total of 36000 infections on Sunday, while occupancy rate at hospitals in Jakarta reached 63 per cent.

Bali had only recently welcomed its first international flight in nearly two years. The latest rule has been imposed for foreign visitors and also Indonesians who went abroad for holidays.
However, those flying in from abroad can still arrive at the Bali airport, the Batam airport, and the Tanjung Pinang airport in Riau Islands. It should also be noted that Jakarta is currently under a curfew from midnight to 4 am. It is being estimated that this surge may peak in late February.

Bali on the other hand had opened its doors to foreign visitors from 19 countries last October.

Indonesia is a major tourist attraction in Asia, with Bali being a hotspot for foreign travellers. Bali is known for its exceptionally beautiful beaches, and spectacular culture and heritage. With the rise in covid cases in the capital, the country is now moving ahead with caution as far as tourism is concerned.