Since new normal, tourist visits to KWBT Mandeh have started to increase

Painan (ANTARA) - Since new normal, tourist visits to KWBT Mandeh have started to increase

View of the waters of the Mandeh area from the top of the Mandeh, (ANTARA / Didi Someldi Putra)

Painan (ANTARA) - Tourist visits to Mandeh marine tourism area (KWBT), Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra have started to increase since the implementation of the new normal era in the local province.

"In July 2020 there has been an increase in tourist visits to Mandeh, at least I received an order for three packages," said one of the tourism service providers in Mandeh, Elfi Wahyuni in Painan, Friday.

Whereas previously, there were no visits to Mandeh at all due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

"We are grateful that tourism in Mandeh has increased again, even though the number of visits is not as many as before COVID-19 occurred," he said.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, he received at least five to seven visit packages per month, these packages were not only ordered by tourists inside the province but also outside the province and even foreigners.

"Currently, only tourists from this province that order packages, hopefully in the future, tourists outside the province will return to visit KWBT Mandeh," he said.

Tour packages offered to tourists such as traveling around the Mandeh waters by boat, staying on the island, trying various water rides, fishing and others.

However, he together with other tourism service providers in Mandeh continue to put forward the government's appeal in efforts to minimize the spread of COVID-19, such as ask tourists to keep their distance, use masks and wash their hands frequently.

"We also limit visits to people who are at high risk of being exposed to COVID-19 such as having a history of comorbidities, and older people, this is also in accordance with the government's appeal," he explained.

Meanwhile, for foreign tourists, he said, they must include a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result stating that they are negative for COVID-19.

Transleted by: Mutiara Ramadhani