As popular tourist spots across the Asia-Pacific reopen, locals are hopeful but

Popular tourist destinations across South-East Asia and the Pacific are beginning to reopen their borders to international visitors, with measures in place to try and minimise the risk of further outbreaks.

Thailand has already experimented by reopening its biggest island, Phuket, to overseas tourists as a “sandbox”, and Vietnam plans to follow suit allowing international visitors to the island of Phu Quoc, starting next month.

Places like Fiji and Indonesia have announced plans to reopen their borders to foreigners by November.

Meanwhile, following a devastating wave of infections that lasted more than two months, Indonesia has begun easing restrictions for local tourists on its most popular island, Bali, with an eye to welcoming international visits too.

Balinese local Rezuwana Burrhan said seeing visitors had been refreshing after months of strict travel restrictions.

“At first, it was like a ghost town,” she said.

“But now it’s like everyone’s trying to make a life again, especially around the Kuta area.

Although Bali remains under some restrictions, popular tourist spots like Kuta Beach, Tanah Lot temple and Sangeh Monkey Forest are now open to locals.

To be granted entry, visitors must be fully vaccinated, and have their certificates stored in a digital app.

In some places, like the Tanah Lot temple, QR codes are being used to check whether people meet the requirements before they enter. 

Ms Burrhan said the new safety measures provided a sense of security to local communities.

“It’s still lockdown, but not as strict as before. Now the beach can open, and public places can operate almost as usual,” she said.

Ms Burrhan said she was excited, but cautious about further disruptions. 

“Especially those who work in tourism, we want everything to be open,” she said.

“But we are afraid if we open those gates, another outbreak will come and it will be another one year or two years of the same situation.

“We need to eat, but we don’t want the coronavirus to stay here any longer than it needs to.”

Ni Luh Ekayani, who goes by Caca, worked as a tour guide for French travellers in Bali before the pandemic.

She and her father both lost their livelihoods during the pandemic due to the lack of foreign tourists.

But with things returning to…