Travel Corridor Agreement Indonesia
Travel Corridor Agreement Indonesia: A Step Towards Reopening Tourism
On September 2021, the Indonesian government signed a travel corridor agreement (TCA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the first TCA Indonesia has made since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This agreement allows vaccinated travelers between the two countries to bypass quarantine requirements upon arrival. As Indonesia is a popular destination for UAE travelers and vice versa, this agreement is a significant step towards the reopening of tourism and the revival of the tourism industry in both countries.
What is a Travel Corridor Agreement?
A travel corridor agreement is an agreement between two countries that allows travelers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel between them without undergoing quarantine or testing upon arrival. This agreement aims to reopen international travel while maintaining public health and safety. Countries that have successfully managed the COVID-19 pandemic and have high vaccination rates are more likely to enter into a TCA.
What Does the Indonesia-UAE Travel Corridor Agreement Mean?
Under this TCA, vaccinated travelers from Indonesia and the UAE are allowed to enter each other`s countries without undergoing quarantine upon arrival. However, travelers are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours before departure and download and register on the health application in the destination country.
The agreement only applies to travelers who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine recognized by the World Health Organization or the Indonesian National Agency of Drug and Food Control and have passed 14 days since receiving the final dose. Specific details of the agreement, such as the maximum length of stay and the number of flights and travelers allowed, have not yet been released.
What Are the Benefits of the TCA?
The TCA between Indonesia and the UAE is beneficial for both countries. For Indonesia, it is a significant step towards the recovery of the tourism industry, which has been heavily impacted by the pandemic. The agreement will attract more tourists from the UAE to Indonesia, one of the top destinations for UAE travelers pre-pandemic. It will also boost Indonesia`s economy and create job opportunities in the tourism industry.
For the UAE, the TCA will strengthen its relationship with Indonesia, one of the largest economies in Southeast Asia. It will also provide UAE nationals and residents with another destination to travel to during the pandemic. Moreover, the UAE has been one of the leading countries in the vaccination drive, and the TCA will showcase its efforts in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion
The TCA between Indonesia and the UAE is a promising step towards reopening international travel and reviving the tourism industry. However, it is crucial to continue to prioritize public health and safety measures despite the TCA. The TCA also opens up opportunities for other countries to enter into similar agreements with Indonesia, which can lead to the recovery of the tourism industry in the region.