Indonesia closed to foreign tourists in 2020; Covid-19 cases hitting 140,000 as death toll hits 6,150

Indonesian folk dancers are wearing masks and wearing traditional outfits during a dance rehearsal to commemorate Indonesia’s Independence Day. Indonesia's National Day falls on Monday (Aug 17). - AFP

JAKARTA, Aug 16 (dpa): Indonesia will not be allowing in foreign tourists for the rest of the year, with authorities instead focussing on reviving the hard-hit tourism sector with domestic demand, a senior minister had announced.

"It looks like we will not be welcoming foreign tourists until the end of the year. We will just be consolidating first," Luhut Pandjaitan, the chief minister for maritime affairs and investment, told Indonesia's business community in a virtual forum on Thursday.