KARANGASEM, Indonesia (Reuters) – Bali performed mass prayers on Sunday as the Indonesian resort island prepares to resume to travelers shut out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than a thousand individuals attended a prayer at Besakih Hindu temple in the town of Karangasem, revealing thankfulness for the handling of the new coronavirus on the island and looking for blessings for the start of a “new regular”.
Bali has actually reported 1,849 coronavirus infections and 20 deaths so far, while Indonesia as a whole has actually recorded 63,749 cases and 3,171 deaths because early March.
The idyllic Southeast Asian island will slowly reopen this month for domestic travelers, while preserving a “stringent health procedure” to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, Bali provincial secretary Dewa Made Indra informed press reporters.
The city government anticipates to resume Bali to foreign arrivals in September.
Tourism is Balis primary income source. Travel limitations due to the pandemic have hammered the regional economy.
The tenancy rate at Balis starred hotels plunged to 2.07% in May, according to Bali stats bureau data, from 62.55% in December before the pandemic hit and down from 51.56% in May 2019.” What I hope is the best for Bali and … all the tourists will concern Bali and everyone will be healthy and pleased again,” Robin Tesselar, a Dutch citizen staying in Bali, told Reuters after participating in the Besakih prayers.
Tourism-related services are preparing to for the reopening by carrying out the health protocols, intending to improve them up until Bali resumes for global tourists, stated hospitality executive Yoga Iswara.
Reporting by Sultan Anshori in Karansem; Additional reporting by Fransiska Nangoy in Jakarta; Editing by William Mallard
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