Travel to Bali without quarantine from March 7

Jakarta: Indonesia will be allowing foreign travellers to enter without quarantine to Bali from March 7.

Visitors from 23 countries, including the US, UK and Australia, can get a visa on arrival as well, given they are fully vaccinated and test negative for Covid-19 prior to departure, said Bali Governor Wayan Koster in a notice on March 4.

Travellers will be tested again upon arrival on the island, with those positive for the virus required to isolate in a hotel or hospital until a follow-up swab on the third day.

They must also have health insurance with Covid-19 coverage.

Major tourist destinations in Southeast Asia are gradually easing restrictions. Malaysia also announced the removal of curbs on travellers from Thailand and Cambodia.

Indonesia is accelerating its vaccination campaign by shortening the gap between the second dose and a booster dose to three months from six.

Bali’s local government is accelerating its booster programme to reach at least 30 per cent of its population by the time tourists can enter without having to quarantine.

Indonesia on March 4 confirmed 26,347 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total tally to 5,693,702, the Ministry of Health said.

According to the ministry, the death toll from Covid-19 rose by 328 to 149,596, while 40,462 more people recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 5,026,853 in the South-East Asian country.