Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - Chairman of the Indonesia Travel Association’s (Asita's) East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Chapter, Abed Frans, spoke of the province having begun receiving requests for tour packages from foreign tourists.
"The average booking for tour packages from abroad is for the end of 2020," he remarked when contacted in Kupang on Tuesday.
Frans pointed out that NTT's tourism sector has borne a major brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. NTT has currently applied the new normal concept and has begun receiving tour bookings, he noted.
Frans, concurrently the owner of PT Flobamor Tours, admitted to his side also receiving reservations for nearly 10 tour packages from abroad.
"Others (travel agents), such as Panorama, have also received several bookings, and I am sure other colleagues have also begun receiving bookings," he stated.
"It is estimated that bookings of incoming tour packages for all tour operators in NTT have reached dozens," he remarked.
Most bookings received are for the tour to Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai District, which is well-known for the Komodo National Park tourist destinations while several are for Timor Island.
In fact, domestic tourists have also begun visiting NTT, he noted.
Frans added that his travel agent had continued to digitally promote NTT tourism.
In the meantime, tourists planning to visit Labuan Bajo and the Komodo National Park in the new normal period can register online through a certified local travel agent, the Tourism Bureau of West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, in July.
"During the new normal (period), we (will) limit (the number of) tourists visiting Labuan Bajo as well as the Komodo National Park. Hence, everyone (planning to visit the areas will) have to first secure online registration,” head of the bureau, Agustinus Rinus, told ANTARA, on July 22.
"They will also have to select an official travel agent registered on our database, (and) who has an office here in Labuan Bajo. Apart from that, they would not be permitted (to visit the areas)," he elaborated, adding that the measure has been taken to help travel agents sustain their businesses.
The bureau plans to allow up to 25 tourists a day in a bid to limit coronavirus transmission. Tourists can register themselves on https://booking.labuanbajoflores.id/.
A limit will also be placed on the number of boats entering tourism spots to avoid their crowding at each location.
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