Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - Gembira Loka (GL) Zoo, located in Yogyakarta and designated as a pilot tourism destination, reopened for a health protocol trial in the city, replacing Taman Pintar Yogyakarta Science Museum currently under the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry's review.
"GL Zoo is more prepared for the reopening, as the tourist attraction has received a health protocol implementation certificate," Yogyakarta Deputy Mayor Heroe Poerwadi stated in Yogyakarta, Friday.
The change is made despite the zoo and Taman Pintar having received eligibility certificates from the Yogyakarta Tourism Office, he stated.
The GL Zoo has received the Clean, Healthy, Safe, and Environmentally Sustainable (CHSE) certificate from the ministry as a principal prerequisite for reopening a tourism attraction, while the Taman Pintar review for the certificate had yet to be completed, Poerwadi remarked.
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"In principle, Taman Pintar has properly implemented health protocols at the premises, but the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has to also give direct permission for the reopening of tourist attractions. We hope the review would be completed soon and Taman Pintar would also follow suit to reopen," Poerwadi stated.
The deputy mayor urged other tourism attraction operators to apply for a CHSE certificate from the ministry despite already being granted an eligibility certificate from the city's tourism office.
"CHSE certificate has become the most important criteria necessary for reopening tourism attractions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the activities restrictions enforcement (PPKM) period. I expect the tourism industry actors to apply for the CHSE certificate," he remarked.
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Tourism attractions with CHSE certificate would conveniently operate after the authority permitted tourist attractions to reopen in the near future, Poerwadi noted.
Meanwhile, Gembira Loka Zoo marketing officer Yosi Hermawan admitted to not yet having received the timetable for the reopening despite the zoo being designated as a pilot tourism attraction in Yogyakarta.
"We are not informed yet on the reopening date, and we are also waiting for the newest information," Hermawan stated.
Apart from awaiting the reopening date, the zoo is still waiting for the specialised QR Code required to be scanned by zoo patrons through the COVID-19 contact tracing mobile application, PeduliLindungi, he noted.
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