Welcoming New Normal, Tourism Stakeholders in Bintan are Urged to Prepare Health SOPs

TRIBUNBATAM.id - All tourism stakeholders, both the community and tourism managers in Bintan, are encouraged to prepare the Operational Standards (SOPs) and health guidelines to welcome New Normal or New Normal arrangements.

This was conveyed by the Deputy for Tourism Products and the Organization of Activities (Events) of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) or the Agency for Tourism and Creative Economy (Baparekraf) in a web seminar (webinar), Tuesday (09/06/2020).

According to her, Bintan is a destination that is ready to open, if Singapore has opened its border area. 

"Because we know in the tourist area of Lagoi and its surroundings, this SOP has been implemented. But health protocols are needed to welcome tourists so that when they come, they will feel safe when traveling in Bintan, "she said. 

On that occasion, she said, the Covid-19 pandemic had the effect of changing the tourism sector.

"First the market, then the second is the destination itself, where changes in the destination can be seen from the attractions, access and amenities sector," Rizky said.

Furthermore, she said, in terms of market, it will also experience changes, both in terms of quantity and segment or quality.

"Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Minister of Tourism (Menpar) had declared that the tourism sector in the future would be transformed by emphasizing quality tourism". 

In her written statement, she also said, going forward, there will be three travel scenarios. 

The first is travel defense or those who travel without thinking about the current conditions. In other words, they're just traveled.

"This is certainly very worrying because the outbreak of this virus is not over yet," she said.

Then, the second travel scenario is travel phobia or those who don't want to go anywhere at all.

"And the third, travel wise, namely tourists who are very concerned about many aspects, especially the health protocol," she added. 

Therefore, she considered, SOP is needed as a guide in managing tourist destinations.

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"For the subject, which is the protocol for workers, tourists, managers, to third parties, in this case, tour operators or travel agents," said Rizky.