INDONESIA will gradually reopen Bali to international tourists from February 4 – a much-needed move to revive the resort island after the Covid-19 pandemic battered its economy.

The government has also shortened the mandatory quarantine period for fully vaccinated travellers to five days from seven days, despite a steady rise in coronavirus cases this month.

However, travellers who have received only one vaccine dose still need to undergo a seven-day isolation.

“It is necessary to change the strategy in line with the high number of cases due to local transmission,” said Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in a briefing.

Indonesia is also emphasising on reallocating quarantine facilities to prioritise domestic Covid-19 patients over travellers.

The fourth most populous country in the world reported 10,185 new coronavirus cases today.

The Health Ministry said it expects Omicron infections to reach their peak at the end of next month. – Bernama, January 31, 2022.