Soekarno-Hatta Starts Rejecting Entry of Foreign Travelers
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, started rejecting entry of foreign travelers in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The same measures have also been applied in other airports in all regions in Indonesia.
By
I GUSTI AGUNG BAGUS ANGGA PUTRA
·3 minutes read
TANGERANG, KOMPAS - PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero), the operator of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, started rejecting entry of foreign travelers at the country’s largest airport on Thursday in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In addition to Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the same measures have also been applied in other airports in all regions in Indonesia.
The policy was taken following the issuance of Law and Human Rights Ministerial Regulation No. 11/2020 concerning the temporary ban on foreigners entering the country’s territories. In line with the regulation, all foreign travelers who arrive or transit at Soekarno-Hatta Airport will be rejected.
Diplomatic passport holders and foreigners who hold a permanent residence permit or work permit in Indonesia will, for example, be exempt from the regulation.
PT Angkasa Pura II senior manager for communication and legal affairs, Febri Toga Simatupang, explained that the ban on the entry of foreigners was imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
However, a number of foreigners are still allowed to enter the airport. Diplomatic passport holders and foreigners who hold a permanent residence permit or work permit in Indonesia will, for example, be exempt from the regulation.
"In addition, assistants and support staff for medical and food, crew of air, sea and land transportation facilities as well as foreigners who work national strategic projects are still allowed to enter Indonesia through Soekarno-Hatta Airport," Febri said in a press release.
Febri explained that a number of international flight routes at Soekarno-Hatta Airport were still allowed to operate to serve foreigners returning to their home country and to Indonesian citizens returning from overseas trips.
"We make it clear that international flights are not closed, but we ban foreigners from entering Indonesia," said Febri Toga.
Related to the implementation of the ban, PT Angkasa Pura II has coordinated with related agencies the airport authority, the immigration office, the port health office, airlines and other related stakeholders
We make it clear that international flights are not closed, but we ban foreigners from entering Indonesia.
Separately, the head of the public relations and international cooperation section of the directorate general of civil aviation at the Transport Ministry, Budi Prayitno, said the policy of rejecting foreigners had also been implemented in other airports that serve international routes throughout Indonesia.
"This is in line with the protocol of the relevant ministries which are in charge of the restriction on the entry of foreigners," said Budi, adding that the ban applied to foreigners who would enter Indonesia. He
stressed, airports can still allow the entry of aircraft carrying supplies. Apart from that, there is no instruction to close airports in regions.
"The policy is intended to prevent passengers from other countries that have the potential to transmit COVID-19 in Indonesia," he said.