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Despite low airfares, people avoid travel as fears grow amid COVID-19 outbreak
Undeterred: Taman Sari Park in Yogyakarta still receives a large number of visitors every day despite fears about the coronavirus outbreak
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ndeterred: Taman Sari Park in Yogyakarta still receives a large number of visitors every day despite fears about the coronavirus outbreak. The park was originally a garden that was created by Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengku Buwono I in 1758.(JP/Tarko Sudiarno)
Many people are reluctant to travel despite a number of travel incentives and lower domestic airfare offered by airlines amid growing fears over the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.
Fears have escalated after the government confirmed the first two cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia on Monday. The government announced two new patients tested positive on Friday.
Surabaya resident Ima Permatasari said she did not plan on traveling anywhere as a precautionary measure.
“It’s worrisome. I will wait at least until the situation returns to normal or until the virus can be contained before traveling again, although there are big airfare discounts,” she told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Syesa, who works in Jakarta, is also avoiding travel as she believed crowded places, including, tourist destinations, posed higher risks of contracting the virus. “It’s a big no [to travel], especially to tourism spots. My main consideration is my child since he is still a toddler,” she said.
Syesa also hopes the government focuses more on other aspects, such as controlling the prices of basic needs ,which have increased sharply. Many people, especially in Jakarta, have stocked up on basic necessities as they fear the coronavirus outbreak may leave them house-bound, causing an increase in prices. She also urged the government to improve surveillance at points of entry, such as airports.
Meanwhile, Sugiri Adiyasa, also based in Jakarta, said he was avoiding air travel despite the low airfares. He is also taking further preventive measures by not using public transportation to go to work and avoiding crowded places.
The novel coronavirus has begun to affect the country’s travel-related industry. Many visits were canceled following a ban imposed on visitors from China.
Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) secretary-general Maulana Yusran explained that the country's overall occupancy rate had fallen below the regular low season average of 50 to 60 percent to 30 to 40 percent since the outbreak of the coronavirus in China in early January.
Occupancy rates at some hotels have dropped as low as 20 percent after Indonesia confirmed its first two cases. Maulana said Bali, Jakarta, Manado in North Sulawesi and Batam and Bintan in Riau Islands were currently the worst-hit areas.
Earlier last week, the government announced a stimulus package of Rp 10.3 trillion (US$742 million) in the form of incentives to airlines and travel agents to help reduce the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy.
Approximately Rp 443.39 billion will be allocated to improve domestic travel, including by providing airfare discounts to 10 tourist destinations. Meanwhile, Rp 298.5 billion will be allocated to attract foreign tourists through incentives for airlines and travel agents, joint promotions, as well as familiarization trips and hiring influencers for promotion.
National flag air carrier Garuda Indonesia, along with its low-cost subsidiary Citilink Indonesia, has started offering discounted fares as part of the incentive package. Garuda is offering discounts of up to 50 percent for flights to 10 destinations, such as Batam, Denpasar, Yogyakarta, Labuan Bajo, Lombok and Manado.
However, the government decided on Monday to hold off on giving out incentives to attract foreign tourists after it announced the two confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“For now, we will focus on handling foreign tourists that enter Indonesia, while improving the quality of our tourist destinations through environmental sustainability, health and hygiene, safety and security,” said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio.
Following the announcement of confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday, the Transportation Ministry also ordered all international airports to increase surveillance.
“We have ordered comprehensive surveillance, including the surveillance of passengers and crew. And all passengers, please be cooperative and report your condition to airport staff if you are feeling unwell while at the airport. Do not ignore symptoms for the sake of your own health and others,” said the ministry’s director general of civil aviation, Novie Riyanto.
