23 October 2020

Most of the Indonesian workers and students will have a long holiday next week to celebrate the Prophet Mohammad’s Birthday. Offices and schools start their days-off at 28 to 30 October, then continue with weekend from 31 October to 1 November; so accumulatively it will be five days holiday. Normally, people from big cities will go travelling to neighbouring countries like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Still, since the Covid-19 happens, domestic recreational places like Bali, Lombok and Labuan Bajo are the only accessible choices by now. 

International visitors with urgent purposes are also starting to come back to Bali. Though Indonesia still not allow foreign visitors to enter for tourism purposes and free visa on arrival is deactivated until further notice; applying for a B-211 Social Visa Culture can be a solution for international visitors to come back at the island of gods..

Once your travel documents (visa) and flight have been confirmed, there are several mandatory travel requirements that you must follow and understand:

1. Domestic flight
   1. Every passenger must possess a non-reactive rapid test result or negative PCR/swab test result. If passenger unable to show the health certificate upon check-in, you will be still allowed to fly to Denpasar/Bali. However, you must go through a rapid or PCR/swab test when landed in Ngurah Rai international airport; the cost is IDR 85.000 (rapid test).
   2. Fill up the data form at Health Alert Card from the Indonesian Ministry of Health or E-HAC (Electronic Health Alert Card) that you can access here.
   3. You must undergo a self-quarantine phase until the test result is issued. If the result is reactive for the rapid test or positive on PCR/swab test, you will be directed to the nearby hospital appointed for handling Covid-19 on the island.
   4. For departures from cities or regions that do not provide a COVID-19 test facility, may substitute it with a Health Certificate from a doctor/ hospital which stated that customer shows no symptoms to influenza-like illnesses.
   5. You are required to register your visit at the LoveBali website here.
2. International flight
   1. Indonesia authority is strictly limiting the international flights to the country; therefore, direct flight to Bali and other regions are negated. All international flight will need to transit at Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), for the transit regulations, check here.
   2. Follow the entry requirements to Indonesia following the provisions of the IATA Travel Center. Or follow the instructions from your visa agent, recommendation here.
   3. Fill up the data form at Health Alert Card from the Indonesian Ministry of Health or E-HAC (Electronic Health Alert Card) that you can access here.
   4. Every passenger must possess a negative PCR/swab test result. If passenger unable to show the health certificate upon check-in, you will be still allowed to fly to Denpasar/Bali. However, you must go through a PCR/swab test when landed in Ngurah Rai international airport. 
   5. You must undergo a self-quarantine phase until the test result is issued. If the result is positive on PCR/swab test, you will be directed to the nearby hospital appointed for handling Covid-19 on the island.
   6. You are required to register your visit at the LoveBali website here.

Besides all of the requirements above, passengers may go through additional health checks or to fill other forms/statement letters required by local authorities/local government. You may also be required to provide a copy, and original documents once check-in at the departure or landed at the destination. The airlines are not responsible for any lack of the required documents and have the right to cancel the flight of the passenger who could not complete the flying requirements.

Wearing a face mask is compulsory at the airport and during the flight. Most of the airlines have their own policies of social distancing which cause the flight may only be filled by a half of the capacity or less. It is also advised that passengers do not communicate with others during flight, and delay meals or drink times if possible in short flights. If you are on a long hours flight, consider bringing your own cutleries and personal hygiene kits. These measures are parts of the #safetravel and #welovebali campaign created by the authority, to revive the tourism industry in the island of gods.

In Bali, the Police Inspector General Peter Reinhard Golose explained to media that his team had been prepared for the possibility of surges visits in Bali’s popular tourist attractions, harbours and airport next week.