Holiday to W Sumatra use health protocol, why not?

Padang (ANTARA) - Minangkabau International Airport (BIM) began busy after the status of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) in W Sumatra ended on June 7, 2020. Flights began to be permitted, passengers began to arrive.

W Sumatra has succeded to control the spread of COVID-19 with a 1.45% positivity rate (PR) so, waiting is not an option and many things can be done only by implementing a health protocol.

The application of health protocols of COVID-19 needs to be familiarized with such as wearing a mask, washing hands frequently and keeping a distance.

"If people are discipline applied the health protocol, traveling anywhere will be safe," said Head of Marketing of the West Sumatra Tourism Office, Hendri Agung Indrianto.

He proved his words by visiting Jakarta by always being disciplined in applying health protocols. The main agenda for several days in Jakarta was the "Sales Mission" at the Hotel Hall. But he also took time visited several places, including malls.

He wanted to convince himself and tourists who want to come to W Sumatra that by implementing health protocols, transmission of COVID-19 can be prevented and various activities can still be carried out.

After returned from Jakarta, he did a PCR Swab test is provided free of charge at BIM. Then, he went home and carried out independent isolation until the test results came out. Finally, his result test was negative.

The result proved that the application of health protocols is indeed the only relatively safe way to travel. If tourists who come to W Sumatra also applied discipline, the tour will be safe and stay comfortable. Moreover, W Sumatra is also ready to welcome tourists in the new normal

Tourism has indeed become the locomotive chosen by the West Sumatra Provincial Government as a generator of the economy during the new normal. The W Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno said that if tourism develops, other sectors will also develop.

Therefore, a number of stimulus were prepared to encourage the sector to rise faster, including providing a free PCR Swab test for tourists who came through BIM.

All hotel employees are also given a free PCR Swab test to ensure that hotels in W Sumatra are safe from COVID-19. Service also reduces face-to-face and applied health protocols.

The non-cash system is promoted so that payments for a number of services can be done digitally, without face to face.

Promotion was also initiated. "Sales mission" is one of them. Minang nomads in Jakarta are gathered and "invited" to return home and travel to enjoy the beauty of nature in W Sumatra.

So far, the nomads have become one of the contributors to tourist visits, especially during the Eid holiday. They will usually visit tourist attractions nowadays. Sometimes it's just for photos and sharing on social media.

Meanwhile, the Head of the W Sumatra Tourism Office Novrial said, a "sales mission" was held to inform the steps that had been and were being carried out by the West Sumatra Provincial Government in the new normal with a tourist-based economic recovery orientation.

Currently with the tourism association, the local government is also preparing a Great Sale Tourism W Sumatra Package which offers tour packages with minimum plane ticket prices, hotel discount fixed rates and fixed coach discount rates that are valid for three months (August-October 2020).

This is expected to be a booster so that tourist visits will continue to increase from time to time, and the image of W Sumatra tourism is getting better after the COVID-19 pandemic.