On May 17th, the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo announced that the country no longer requires vaccinated travelers to present a negative Covi-19 test upon entering the country. Indonesia had lifted the test requirement for fully vaccinated domestic travelers in March but those arriving from overseas still had to take a pre-departure Covid-19 test. This is no longer the case.
Domestic and international travelers who are fully vaccinated no longer need to take PCR or antigen swab tests
Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia
The president said the Indonesian government is also loosening its policy for mask wearing. “If people are conducting activities in outdoor spaces which are not crowded, they are allowed to not wear masks. However, for indoor activities and on public transportation, people must still wear masks,” he said.
Wiku Adisasmito, Spokesman for Indonesia’s Covid-19 task force, warned that authorities would keep track of how the situation in the country evolved after the easing of measures. “We hope the policy will be implemented well. However, people are expected to remain vigilant and adapt to future changes,” he said.
Out of Indonesia’s 270 million population, 166 million people have been fully vaccinated.
These are five locations you cannot miss while in Indonesia.
1. Bali
Bali is the most popular island holiday destination in the Indonesian archipelago. It’s home to an ancient culture that’s known for its warm hospitality. It has unique temples and palaces set against stunning natural backdrops.
There are volcanoes and pristine jungles that offer plenty to see and do, but you won’t want to stay away from the coastline for long. Popular beach resorts include Kuta, Seminyak and Jimbaran where many of the finest hotels and villas with surf spots. Bali’s lesser travelled eastern and northern regions also offer wonderful diving spots in calm bays, with coral gardens teeming with colorful marine biodiversity.
2. Raja Ampat
Comprising hundreds of jungle-covered islands, it’s archipelago off the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula in West Papua. Raja Ampat is known for its beaches and coral reefs rich with marine life. Ancient rock paintings and caves are on Misool Island, while the crimson bird of paradise lives on Waigeo Island. Batanta and Salawati are the archipelago’s other main islands.
3. Sumba
The island of Sumba lies south of Komodo and Flores and is well off the worn tourist path in Indonesia. The island is famous for its production of ‘ikat’ textiles, in which a pattern is dyed onto the warp threads before they are woven into the cloth. With unique and ancient rituals, Sumba is one of the few places in the world where the Bronze Age practice of burial underneath megaliths remains intact. Christianity is the dominant religion, but about a third of the indigenous population still follows the animist ‘Marapu’ religion.
4. Borobudur
Borobudur, also transcribed Barabudur is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, not far from the town of Muntilan, in Central Java, Indonesia. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO’s help in the 1970s.
5. Likupang
Likupang is one of famous beaches in North Sulawesi Province with green hills and blue sea water that refreshing mind. The waves are relatively quiet because in front of the beach there is Bangka island that also served as a barrier. The panorama in coastal area is also wonderful. It is possible to do snorkeling, diving and fishing.
Visitors can cross over to Bangka Island by motor boat; from beach Likupang to Bangka Island, the journey time is only about 20 minutes away. Likupang beach is much visited by tourists, both domestic and foreign. Some facilities such as diving equipment rental, food stalls, parking areas and lodging is available in this coastal region.
