Strengthening Domestic Tourism, Become Riau Islands Government Strategy in New Normal

TRIBUNBATAM.id, BATAM - Chairman of Covid-19 Task Force in Riau Islands which is also the Secretary of Riau Islands Province, TS.Arif Fadillah hopes that the New Normal situation with Covid-19 protocol rules will be obeyed by the public.

That way, government can slowly reopen the centers of crowd, including tourism sector.

"Some tourist areas such as Lagoi and Nongsa have asked me whether they can be reopened as before. We all hope that all the centers and the tourism sector can work.

Therefore we must strictly follow New Normal health protocol, when it is opened and active again there will be no new surges exposed by Covid-19, " explained Arif when answering media questions about the condition of Riau Islands tourism, after handing over one million masks from Temasek Foundation , Tuesday (6/16/2020) in Tanjungpinang.

A number of strategies began to be considered by Riau Islands Provincial Government.

Head of the Riau Islands Tourism Office, Buralimar, said one of the strategies to be carried out was to strengthen domestic tourism.

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"We hope that Riau Islands tourism will continue to move even in the midst of the global Coand-19 pandemic.

Promotion of tourism abroad may, but we cannot expect the arrival of foreign tourists fully to move our tourism sector.

Therefore, we must move domestic tourism. The important thing is we can move in the middle of this pandemic, "explained Buralimar.

"In the past we spoiled foreign tourists, in these difficult times we spoil domestic tourists," he added.

The development of Covid-19 pandemic in several regions in Indonesia has begun to show a decline. And those who have been staying at home, have started to look for a different resting place.

Riau Islands Tourism by applying New Normal health protocol can be the main choice for domestic tourists.

Realizing this, Buralimar invites the travel to sell cheap packages, between regions.

Hotels lower their rates which are adjusted to the style of domestic tourists.

In addition, by providing virtual tour tours by visiting museums, attractions, parks, to botanical gardens in cyberspace.