Bali | BNN | The opening of Bali's border access for international airlines and foreign travelers was greeted with great enthusiasm by Bali tourism players. The issuance of Circular Letter No. 4 of 2022 The National COVID-19 Task Force also became the formal basis for implementation in the field which took effect on February 1, 2022. The arrival of Garuda Indonesia's first commercial aircraft from Narita Japan to Denpasar Bali on Thursday, February 3, 2022 became the momentum for landing again international passenger flights at Ngurah Rai International Airport. The plan of the Singapore Airlines airline which will land at Ngurah Rai airport on February 16, 2022 also adds and strengthens the hope of opening Bali to foreign tourists. This will move other international airlines to land again in Bali.

Opening of Bali Tourist Tourism v.s. The Third Wave of COVID-19

The enthusiasm of Ukrainian tourists to Bali is very high. The main challenge is on flights to Bali (although Garuda Indonesia, Singpore Airlines and Jetstar have confirmed flying to Bali), entry regulations to Bali which still require quarantine and the absence of special visas for tourists. As a reference, entry requirements to Ukraine are very simple, which only requires a negative PCR test result, complete vaccinations and COVID-19 insurance purchased online before leaving.

The opening of Ngurah Rai International airport for foreign tourists still leaves some “homework (PR)” for tourism stakeholders, especially the government. First, when that hope began to grow new cases of COVID-19 were increasing and an official government statement was issued that the third wave of COVID-19 had already occurred in Indonesia. As of February 11, 2022, new confirmed cases in Indonesia reached 40,489 and in Bali it reached 1,834. Active cases in Bali reached 17,851, with occupied Referral Hospitals 1,322 (7.41%), Centralized Isolation 861 (4.82%) and Independent Isolation 15,668 (87.77%). From the Centralized Isolation capacity of 1,876 beds, 861 beds (45.90%) are occupied and the remaining 1,015 beds (54.68%).

The Director of Prevention and Control of Directly Infectious Diseases (P2PML) of the Ministry of Health did not deny that the surge in COVID-19 cases was contributed by the contribution of the transmission nature of the SARS-CoV 2 variant B.1.1.529 or Omicron. The good news is that although Omicron can spread quickly, it doesn't have a higher fatality rate than the Delta variant. Globally, several countries have considered the pandemic to be entering an endemic phase and treated SARS-CoV 2 like a common influenza virus, such as in Denmark and France. Several countries in Europe have also removed the COVID-19 test requirements for travelers coming to their countries, including: Spain, England, Cyprus, Switzerland and Sweden. Meanwhile, the European Union is pursuing a new, simplified travel strategy that will eliminate testing requirements in more countries.

The second homework is how the government's efforts can attract international airlines to fly more to Bali and land at Ngurah Rai International Airport.

The third homework is that a hotel that has been certified CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, Environmental sustainability) can be used as a warm-up vacation and can then stay there to spend the holiday period or continue to other destinations or accommodations that have been opened.

And what is no less important is how the government can be confident with all efforts to handle COVID-19, which is even recognized by the world for its success, dare to open borders in a measured and controlled manner for foreign tourists who have received complete vaccinations without having to be quarantined. As well as readiness to handle foreigners who, if infected with COVID-19 positive, can be handled in Indonesia at the expense of foreign tourists themselves. This is very essential as proof that Indonesia is worthy of going and becoming a medical tourism destination.

Thus, the hope of reviving the economy and making policies that are right on target, on time, with the right benefits and understanding the needs of the community are not just words but actually happen and are implemented in real terms. Currently, tourism facilities and infrastructure in Bali have reached 2,212 CHSE certifications, and more than 10,000 public facilities and facilities that use the PeduliLindung application.

Commemorating 30 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Ukraine and Indonesia

On June 2, 2022 Bilateral Cooperation Relations between Ukraine and Indonesia will enter a period of 30 years. Of course, it is hoped that future cooperation can continue to be improved which is mutually beneficial for both countries. The province of Bali can also seize opportunities for cooperation in the future. The cooperation sectors that are the focus of Ukraine consist of 8 fields such as Agriculture, Food Processing, Energy Industry, Mechanical Engineering, Transportation and Logistics, IT and Telecommunications, Pharmaceutical and Health Products, Tourism Industry and Creative Economy.

Looking at the focus of developing cooperation with Ukraine above, there is a large proportion of conformity with the priority directions of policies and development programs for the New Era of Bali, which are based on a universally planned development pattern with the vision of Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali. With the meaning of maintaining the sanctity and harmony of Bali's nature and its contents to realize a prosperous and happy life of Balinese manners and happiness, on the scale of the life of Balinese manners and gumi. The focus of Bali's development is implemented on Jana Kerthi, Jagat Kerthi, Danu Kerthi, Wana Kerthi, Segara Kerthi, Atma Kerthi who are escorted by establishing regulations in the form of Governor Regulations and Regional Regulations.

In line with the Bali Opening Program for foreign tourists and the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's bilateral relations with Indonesia, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Denpasar Bali, I Nyoman Astama, who is also the Managing Director of Pacific Holidays DMC, traveled to Ukraine from 30 January to 15 February 2022. “This trip is to 'pick up the ball' in anticipation of the planned opening of Bali to foreign tourists, as well as real efforts to increase bilateral cooperation between the two countries that has been well established so far. In addition, this opportunity is also used as an opportunity to be creative and innovate in diversifying to anticipate the stagnation of tourism activities in the last two years. The challenges are also not small, especially since this trip in winter to minus 15 degrees and the widespread media coverage that exposes the heating up of relations on the border between Ukraine and Russia, "said Nyoman Astama.

Nyoman Astama added that there were also many questions from friends who showed their concern by asking the circumstances and the situation of the war in Ukraine and Russia. Some even sent videos and links to media news asking if it was true that the Third World War had already occurred and so on. Media coverage is very easy to trigger different perceptions, therefore objective news from trusted sources must be a reference. Checking back to the news sources and to the parties involved and authorized is a must. Moreover, we already have a lot of experience and have seen incidents that the result of easy provocation can lead to riots and even civil wars to the destruction of a country.

"Intense and current coordination was carried out to find out the latest situation and conditions in Ukraine before we left for Kyiv, both with the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv and the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs," said Nyoman Astama.

Based on comments from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine from the Division of Diplomatic Mission Functions stated that in the territory of Ukraine there are 129 Embassies and Consulates from foreign countries as well as missions of international organizations.

As of January 24, 2022 only four countries announced their intention to evacuate family members and staff or allow them to leave Ukraine voluntarily, namely: the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany.

While other countries and international missions have no plans to evacuate or reduce staff at this time because there is not enough reason to do so.

In the current situation it is very important to avoid measures or dissemination of information in the public sphere that can be used to increase tension in society because it affects economic and financial instability.

It is at times like this that the unity and solidity of Ukraine and its partners is needed because it becomes a common strength.

This includes our efforts to take real action to get out of the impact of the current pandemic.

B2B and G2G Trading Opportunities in Ukraine

On the occasion of this trip, Nyoman Astama, who is also the Representative of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, held a meeting with UCCI (Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and Industry - KADIN Ukraine) to open up opportunities to improve trade relations in a broad sense to assist the activities of companies and MSME businesses in both countries. . Meetings were also held with businessmen and members of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on a hybrid basis; face-to-face and online.

Opportunities that are also open in Ukraine are the need for agricultural products that do not exist in a country of 45 million people, especially in winter. Meanwhile, Ukrainian agricultural products, which are abundant and become the mainstay of the largest country's exports in one European continent, are grains and derivatives from sunflowers.

At the G2G level, the Bali provincial government can also seize opportunities for future cooperation. The cooperation sectors that are the focus of Ukraine consist of 8 fields such as Agriculture, Food Processing, Energy Industry, Mechanical Engineering, Transportation and Logistics, IT and Telecommunications, Pharmaceutical and Health Products, Tourism Industry and Creative Economy.


For further information, please contact:
I Nyoman Astama, SE, MM, CHA
Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Denpasar Bali