Garuda's flights to Europe<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post published my previous letter in which I
\nexpressed my disappointment in our national airline, Garuda
\nIndonesia, for canceling flights to and from the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
I was unhappy because I had been expecting some friends to
\nvisit Bali and the cancellation of their return flight would have
\nmeant that their entire holiday would have had to be canceled and
\nI felt that many other people must have been in the same
\nposition.<\/p>\n
I also suggested that despite possible losses in revenue,
\nGaruda should be actively encouraging tourists to come to
\nIndonesia and not just giving up because the \"Doom and Gloom
\nmerchants\" say Bali is finished as a tourist destination.<\/p>\n
Bali is nowhere near finished and hotel occupancy rates are
\nalready increasing less than seven weeks after the bombing.
\nI am very pleased to be able to say that a few days after my
\nletter was printed, Garuda had a change of heart and reinstated
\nthe Bali-London flights so my friends and I are very happy about
\nthis. It seems that the cancellation of the schedule has been
\npostponed rather than abandoned entirely, so this is still
\ndisturbing, but Garuda has certainly made a move in the right
\ndirection and I think credit should be given where it is due.<\/p>\n
I feel sure that demand will increase in the next few weeks so
\nmaybe Garuda will be able to continue with flights to and from
\nEurope without any need for further cancellations.<\/p>\n
If government warnings against travel to Indonesia could be
\nlifted, this would help enormously and, in Europe, the
\nNetherlands seem to be leading the way.<\/p>\n
ANDREW CHARLES, Canggu, Bali<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/garudas-flights-to-europe-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }