UNAIR NEWS – The ban on Eid Al-Fitr 2021 exodus was followed by a policy to keep opening tourist attractions and restaurants. This seemingly contradictory policy should be questioned regarding health protocol compliance to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Novianto Edi Suharno, SST.Par., M.Si., UNAIR tourism expert, responded and gave his evaluation on tourist destinations that remain open during the last Eid holiday.
The lecturer of Tourism Three-year vocational program (D3) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) said that several cities in East Java have the potential to attract crowds during the Eid holiday. “In East Java, there are several popular regions; the city of Batu and Lamongan Marine Tourism have the potential to attract people to gather,” he said.
However, with the East Java provincial government policy to seal the border area, most tourists are the locals. “From the results of field observations, I see tourists still visit tourist cities, but on average, the visitors come from nearby areas,” he added.
He also mentioned that tourist attractions in East Java had implemented instructions from the tourism ministry regarding CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environment Sustainability). It can be seen clearly, especially in limiting the number and monitoring of health protocols.
Also, restaurants, which are often used as places for iftar gathering, have obeyed the 50% limit of the normal capacity. Novianto also mentioned that there have been CHSE certificates issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, as a guarantee for the implementation of health protocols. “The CHSE certificate for restaurants and hotels is one of the benchmarks for people who will visit,” he said.
On the last Eid holiday, Novianto also revealed that many promotions and discounts had become a strategy for hotels to get visitors. “Many who do not go to their home town can spend quality time with their families at the hotel,” he explained. With so many choices, seeing the implementation of health protocols through a CHSE certificate can be a consideration for choosing a safe tourist destination.
UNAIR, as one of the best universities in Indonesia, supports the entire academic community to contribute to the wider community.
Author: Stefanny Elly
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
