Fuel shortage deters domestic tourists<\/p>\n
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Fuel scarcities and increasing street protests had discouraged
\ndomestic tourists from visiting Yogyakarta over the past week, a
\nnumber of travel agents said on Friday. However, they added that
\nthe fuel crisis had not affected the number of overseas tourists
\nvisiting the city.<\/p>\n
\"In the past week, no domestic tourists booked our services to
\ntravel to tourist attractions in Yogyakarta. In normal times, we
\nusually get between 10 and 15 domestic tourists every week,\" said
\nAlim, the manager of Annisa Tour and Transport.<\/p>\n
Domestic tourists, mostly from other cities on Java island,
\nhave apparently been discouraged by the fuel shortages and the
\nrising price of gas.<\/p>\n
People have become reluctant to spend money on leisure
\nactivities with the government set to raise the price of oil-
\nbased fuels on Oct. 1, which will consequently reduce people's
\npurchasing power. Most people apparently know prefer to save
\nmoney to anticipate the rising prices of basic necessities
\nfollowing the fuel price hikes, said Alim.<\/p>\n
Domestic tourists had also been discouraged from visiting
\nYogya as many travel agents had already raised the prices of
\ntheir packages ahead of the fuel price hikes, which are set for
\nOct. 1, said Alim.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Yogyakarta branch of the Indonesian Hotel
\nand Restaurant Association (PHRI), Stev. B Indarto, confirmed
\nthat the number of tourists visiting Yogya had declined in the
\npast week.<\/p>\n
\"I have heard some travel agents complain about a decrease in
\ndomestic tourists but I haven't got the exact figures,\" said
\nStev. Each year, up to 1.6 million domestic tourists visit Yogya.
\nHowever, he also said that the number of foreign tourists
\nvisiting Yogya has held steady in the past week.<\/p>\n
Marwoto, the manager of Kresna Tourist Service, which provides
\npackages to foreign tourists, said his company had not been
\naffected by the fuel crisis and was still serving at least seven
\ncustomers a week. Between Sept. 25 and Sept. 29, the Kresna
\nTourist Service had arranged travel and accommodation for 33
\nforeign tourists, he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fuel-shortage-deters-domestic-tourists-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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