Indonesia prioritizes pandemic over tourism as omicron worries swirl

Minister says tough controls will help country as it gears up to chair G-20

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Despite Indonesia's reopening, Bali's Nusa Dua beach remained empty in mid-November. (Photo by Shotaro Tani)

SHOTARO TANI, Nikkei staff writer

JAKARTA -- Indonesia is prioritizing COVID-19 control over tourism in the short term by continuing with tougher quarantine rules than many of its neighbors, a senior minister told Nikkei Asia, especially as the country gears up to chair the Group of 20 nations and host a series of meetings starting in December -- mainly in Bali.

Sandiaga Uno, the minister of tourism and the creative economy, said in an online interview on Saturday that it is "prudent" for Indonesia to keep imposing tight quarantine regulations, particularly as concerns swirl around the world over the new omicron variant of the coronavirus.

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