Australian tourists flock to Bali despite terror warnings
Cindy Wockner and Komang Suriadi
TOURIST arrivals in Bali are at an all-time high despite warnings Australians could be targeted once the three Indonesian bombers are executed.
The number of Australians visiting the holiday island has almost doubled in the past year and 3500 extra plane seats a week have been added since December.
Tourism authorities are confident any impact from the executions, scheduled for early next month, will be short term.
And they are optimistic security is now so tight that a repeat of the 2002 and 2005 bombings can be avoided, although many privately admit nothing can be ruled out.
They pointed to recent terrorist arrests, which have foiled plots to commit bombings in Jakarta and Sumatra.
Optimism was also high out and about on the streets of Bali, particularly in popular Kuta Beach, where travel operators and shopkeepers report strong turnover.
Some were disappointed in the renewed travel warning from the Federal Government at the weekend, fearing it might drive away tourists.
The Indonesian Government has said convicted bombers Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra would be put before the firing squad in “early November”.
Preparations were reportedly under way in Central Java, near where they would be executed, with increased security around the perimeter of their jail.
Bali Tourism Board chairman Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya said the number of foreign tourists arriving in Bali was the highest on record.
“Last year was the highest ever and now we have increased 20 per cent more than that in the year to date,” Mr Wijaya said.
The number of Australian visitors has now jumped back to second place behind Japan after slumping in the wake of the two terror attacks.
In the six months to July this year, the number of Australians in Bali almost doubled compared with the previous year.
“The travel warning has always been there. Australians have been coming to Bali for a long time,” Mr Wijaya said.
Komang Ramini, who works in a travel kiosk selling tours, believes the renewed warning is not fair.
“There are many Australian tourists who still come to Bali and think Bali is still safe,” Ms Ramini said.
She also had faith that Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, a former police chief who led the Bali bombing investigations, would ensure security was good.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/
Add comment October 28th, 2008