JAL doubles RI flights despite security concerns<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Japan Airlines (JAL) is doubling its flights to
\nIndonesia despite growing concern over security in the country.<\/p>\n
Starting April 1, JAL will fly 14 times a week to Indonesia, a
\nmarked increase over its current seven flights a week to the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
JAL currently operates a daily Osaka-Denpasar-Jakarta-Osaka
\nroute served by DC-10 aircraft, in addition to a daily Narita-
\nJakarta-Denpasar route served by B747 aircraft.<\/p>\n
Shuichi Sakamoto, JAL's marketing manager in Indonesia, said
\nhere on Monday the expansion was in anticipation of a future
\nincrease in the number of air passengers to and from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"We are expecting at least a 10 percent increase in the number
\nof Japanese visitors to Indonesia this year,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He attributed the estimated increase of visitors from Japan to
\nIndonesia to the expected recovery of Japan's economy in 1999.<\/p>\n
\"Japan's economy this year will likely be much better than
\nlast year, especially due to the government's efforts to develop
\nproper policies to stimulate the economy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sakamoto estimated the number of travelers departing from
\nJakarta and Bali also would increase by about 20 percent this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
He said the number of passengers from Japan to Indonesia
\nreached 130,000 people last year, almost the same number recorded
\nin 1997.<\/p>\n
He believes this year's 10 percent increase in the number of
\npassengers to Indonesia can be achieved despite fears over
\nreports of escalating social unrest in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Many foreign tourists have canceled trips to Indonesia due to
\nreligious and ethnic conflicts in several parts of the country.
\nMany people also fear the security situation in the country could
\ndeteriorate ahead of and after the general election scheduled for
\nJune 7.<\/p>\n
He said the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia had issued warnings
\nto Japanese visitors due to the country's unstable security
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
A second-grade warning was given to Jakarta, meaning that it
\nwas recommended only business travelers visit the city. No
\nwarning has been issued for Bali, Sakamoto said, adding that a
\nthird-grade warning was given to Ambon, meaning the embassy was
\nrecommending against all travel to the area.<\/p>\n
\"At this stage, there is likely no plan for the (Japanese)
\nembassy to change its warnings, so we can still expect Japanese
\npeople to come here,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In addition to the expansion of the number of its flights, JAL
\nIndonesia also launched two new tour packages from Jakarta to
\nChina and Europe and continued to promote its Jakarta-Las Vegas
\ntour package. The moves were made to anticipate an increase in
\noutbound visitors, said Daniel Surjadi, managing director of JAL
\nIndonesia's subsidiary, PT Taurina Travel Jaya.<\/p>\n
He was upbeat the new packages would sell, mainly because of
\nlower prices. \"Our trip to Europe is seven days longer than those
\noffered by other carriers, but ours is US$300 cheaper than
\ntheirs.\"<\/p>\n
Not for exodus<\/p>\n
Both Daniel and Sakamoto denied allegations the increased
\nnumber of flights and the new tour packages were part of JAL's
\nstrategy to anticipate a possible exodus of Indonesians and
\nexpatriates wishing to avoid possible riots ahead of the June
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"The flight increases and the tour packages were certainly not
\ncreated because of a possible exodus. Though we can't deny the
\nfact that there might be an increase in the number of outbound
\npassengers from Indonesia during the election period,\" Daniel
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
JAL increased its number of flights to 10 flights a day after
\nmassive riots hit Jakarta on May 13, 1997, mainly to serve
\nJapanese expatriates and their families, he said.<\/p>\n
Thousands of foreigners and Chinese-Indonesians fled the
\ncountry after the riots, which killed hundreds of people and led
\nto the resignation of president Soeharto after 32 years in power.<\/p>\n
He also denied allegations the tour packages would mainly be
\nused by Indonesians wishing to avoid the election, saying that
\nIndonesian passengers who were traveling abroad during the
\nelection could still exercise their right to vote.<\/p>\n
\"We are not encouraging people here not to vote and leave the
\ncountry to avoid unwanted trouble. We will help passengers who
\njoin our China and Europe tours and who wish to vote visit
\nIndonesian embassies or appointed offices in destination cities,\"
\nhe added. (cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jal-doubles-ri-flights-despite-security-concerns-1447893297",
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