No foreign tourists visited W Sumatra since last three months

Jumat, 4 September 2020 14:04 WIB

Residents are active at the Bukittinggi Clock Tower in West Sumatra. (ANTARA / Iggoy el Fitra)

Padang (ANTARA) - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of W Sumatra noted that from the last three months in April to July 2020, foreign tourist visits to the area were zero due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There were 2,495 foreign tourists visiting West Sumatra in March 2020 and after that there were no more arrivals," said the Head of West Sumatra BPS, Pitono in Padang, Wednesday.

He mentioned that in January to April 2020 there were 10,874 foreign tourists who had visited West Sumatra, dominated by 8,831 people from Malaysia, 296 people from Australia and 255 people from China.

On the other hand, in July 2020 the number of air passengers at Minangkabau International Airport (BIM) began to increase compared to the previous month.

In June 2020 the number of passengers departing was only 192 people. In July 2020, up to 331 people or an increase of 72.40 percent.

Meanwhile, the number of passengers who arrived in June reached 183 people and in July 2020 it increased to 334 people, an increase of 82.51 percent.

Previously, the West Sumatra Provincial Government was ready to welcome tourists in new normal era by promoting the implementation of health protocols.

"We have taken a number of steps to ensure all elements are ready to welcome tourists who come to West Sumatra," said Head of the West Sumatra Tourism Office, Novrial.

He added that the West Sumatra Tourism Office has prepared a guide as SOP for the regency and city government starting from the operation of tourist objects, restaurants to hotels.

The implementation of SOPs at tourist attractions was reviewed directly by the Governor and Deputy Governor of West Sumatra with good results. For example, restaurants have started implementing health protocols.

Hand washing places are provided in several places, providing thermogun, waiters wearing masks and even face shields so that some have applied non-cash payments to avoid face-to-face contact.

"We are also conducting a joint study of the tourism pentahelix. The direction of tourism in this new normal era is like the concept of mindfulness tourism," he said.

Government also facilitated free swabs were for airplane passengers, tourism frontliners at hotels and tourist attractions as well as providing PPE assistance so as to create safe COVID-19 tourism.

Transleted by: Mutiara Ramadhani