Foreign Tourists Must Have Health Insurance

The government stipulates that foreigners using air transportation must undergo a 5X24 hour quarantine period and have health insurance with a minimum coverage of USD100 thousand.

The condition of the Covid-19 pandemic that has continued to swell in the country in the last few weeks has forced the government to gradually open international entrances, especially airplane users.

This decision was made to encourage the national socio-economic recovery. On the one hand, this policy is made carefully with expert input and takes into account the pandemic conditions in other countries.

After tightening quarantine rules and localizing the entrances for international arrivals, only through Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, and Sam Ratulangi, Manado, starting October 14, the government opened international arrival doors for foreign tourists at Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, and Hang Nadim, Batam, Riau islands.

Meanwhile, the entrance for international passenger travel for Indonesian citizens and foreigners other than tourism is Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado. Accordingly, the government has also updated its international travel policy.

Through the Circular (SE) of the Covid-19 Handling Task Force number 20 of 2021 and the Decree (SK) of the Kasatgas number 15 of 2021 regarding International Travel during the Covid-19 Pandemic Period.

There are some changes and additional settings through these two regulations. Like the quarantine period which was originally from 8 days to 5x24 hours after performing the first RT-PCR retest on the first day of arrival. The previous quarantine period was 8 days last July, based on the increase in the number of cases. Then, confirm the second RT-PCR time, which is on the fourth day of quarantine as a determination of the completion of the quarantine period.

"The decision to reduce the number of quarantine periods was recently made based on the current condition of relatively controlled Covid-19 cases in Indonesia," said Spokesperson for the Covid-19 Task Force Professor Wiku Adisasmito in a virtual International Media Briefing, at Graha BNPB, Tuesday (19/19/2020). 10/2021), which was also broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel .

Professor Wiku explained that efforts to mitigate the risk of transmission by reducing the quarantine period would be maximal if followed by taking six steps. Among them, first, international tourists are required to undergo quarantine.

Second, international tourists are required to implement health protocols during the quarantine period. Along with that, the local government provides a reference list of quarantine facilities.

Third, the government provides an accurate diagnostic test kit. Then fourth, the government increases efforts to trace close contacts and local governments ensure that vaccination coverage is met.

In addition, there are also travel arrangements for foreigners who will enter Indonesia. Therefore, centralization is carried out at the entry points of special airports for foreign tourists, only in the Province of Bali and the Riau Islands. Then, additional travel administration requirements other than vaccine certificates and negative PCR results.

The additions include a short visit visa or other entry permit, proof of ownership of health insurance with a minimum coverage of USD 100,000 which includes financing for handling Covid-19, and proof of confirmation of booking and payment for accommodation during your stay in Indonesia.

As another support, based on the latest Minister of Law and Human Rights Decree that in the context of national economic recovery, currently the granting of visas is allowed to tourists for tourism and film-making purposes. This includes commercial and educational purposes.

Referring to the Circular of the Ministry of Transportation number 85 of 2021, travelers from outside need to fill out e-HAC for international travel through the PeduliLindung application or manually in the country of origin. Furthermore, they must perform an isothermal molecular test (NAAT/other types) or RT-PCR at the arrival airport whose results are published within one hour. After the Covid-19 test, tourists are required to carry out a centralized quarantine for 5x24 hours.

Then, travelers must use direct flights from their home countries. Regarding vaccination, SE 85/2021 indicates that international travelers who have not received the vaccine abroad can obtain the vaccine at a quarantine place upon arrival in Indonesia after receiving a negative RT-PCR examination.

Foreigners can also receive vaccines on condition that they must meet the requirements of being 12-17 years old, hold a diplomatic or service residence permit, and hold a KITAS and KITAP.

As for foreigners who are already in Indonesia and will travel both domestically and internationally, they are required to vaccinate through a program or mutual cooperation scheme in accordance with statutory regulations.

Vaccine card obligations are excluded for foreigners who enter through the travel corridor arrangement scheme , travelers under 18 years of age, and travelers who have special or comorbid health conditions.

As for travelers with comorbid conditions, they are required to show a certificate from the government hospital of the country of departure in English, in addition to the language of their country of origin, reads SE 85/2021.

19 Countries Can Enter

In addition, as stipulated in SK Kasatgas 15/2021 that the 19 countries of origin of commuters allowed to enter Indonesia are Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Italy. , France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Norway.

The selection of the nineteen countries was carried out taking into account the number of cases and the low positivity rate based on WHO standards. "In this regard, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, has reminded him to continue to carry out weekly evaluations to mitigate the possible adverse impacts," said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Therefore, all parties, both field officers and travelers, are asked to comply with the existing rules. In principle, if everyone complies, the gradual opening of activities as before the pandemic can be achieved by adhering to high collective health protocols.

Learning from the trend of increasing cases in late 2020 and the 2021 Hari Raya holiday, it is important to analyze the right momentum for a gradual opening. In addition to considering positive case data and bed occupancy ratio(BOR) in hospitals, it is also necessary to pay attention to the effective reproduction rate (Rt). This figure shows the average number of cases that can occur from one positive person in a certain period of time.

At the time of the second spike in cases, the national Rt was 1.41. Currently, the national Rt is 0.70. An Rt value of less than 1 indicates a low potential for transmission in the community. "Therefore, it is hoped that activities can be resumed, although with full vigilance. Control measures are also being prepared by studying the pattern of increasing cases in the past," said Wiku Adisasmito.

https://www.indonesia.go.id/kategori/editorial/3362/turis-asing-wajib-miliki-asuransi-kesehatan