BALI - Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has stepped in to order Badung Tourism Agency to close two beaches it has opened for surfers.
“I disagree [with the reopening] and the decision should be annulled," Koster said on Tuesday, according to kompas.com.
Koster said he had issued a circular that regulates the closure of tourist destinations in Bali until further notice and he had not yet revoked it.
“We are prioritising health in Bali. The [Indonesian] president has also agreed that tourism will be [considered] last,” Koster said.
This week Badung Tourism Agency opened access to two beaches in Badung regency, Canggu Beach and Labuan Sait beach, exclusively for foreign surfers.
The Badung agency head, I Made Badra, said surfers were “stressed out” after staying indoors for months, “so we gave them a little leniency as long as they follow health protocols”.
There are plans for Bali to become the pilot location in the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s Cleanliness, Health, and Safety (CHS) programme, which is currently being prepared to welcome visitors after the coronavirus pandemic.