Batam, Batamnews - The Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) Batam, Riau Islands (Kepri) regreted that air travel conditions have been tightened again by the central government when the Covid-19 case in Indonesia has decreased, especially in Batam.

The chairman of Apindo Batam, Rafki Rasyid, said he did not agree with the policy. He said business players and tourism would be worse off if domestic travel conditions to and from Java-Bali were tightened.

Meanwhile, people have hoped that domestic travel requirements will be relaxed so that travel activities, including traveling, can increase.

"In this case, people will re-think again about traveling from Java to Batam and Riau Islands, for example," he said, Friday (22/10/2021).

He added that if the pandemic had slowed, community activities would automatically begin to be relaxed.

"Logically, if the Covid-19 case has slowed down, community activities will slowly begin to be relaxed. But in this case, the government has tightened domestic travel by requiring PCR for travel to and from the islands of Java-Bali after previously having an antigen test option," said Rafki.

However, he still hopes that the central government will revise the PCR obligation for prospective airline passengers. "Because it's time for the government to side with increasing economic activity when cases of Covid-19 transmission are sloping," he said.

Moreover, considering Batam as a city of Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition (MICE) which is very dependent on tourist visits and also working visits from Java Island.

"Moreover, the Travel Bubble with Singapore has not gone as expected," he said.

Meanwhile, Rafki also regretted the confusing news in the media due to the travel rules that required PCR.

"Relevant officials, as well as the media, should refrain from reporting until the complete technical regulations are issued. So people who will travel are not confused and worried," he said.