SARS won't delay PATA conference<\/p>\n
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The planned Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) conference
\nin Bali will not be delayed despite an outbreak of a deadly new
\npneumonia-like virus in the region.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Culture and Tourism Board (ICTB) has remained
\nadamant about pushing through with the event, which will host
\ndelegates from around the world -- including those countries that
\nhave been hardest hit by the virus.<\/p>\n
\"We have not yet received any cancellations from participants
\ndue to fears over the disease,\" ICTB chairman Setyanto P. Santosa
\nsaid on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a press conference, Setyanto expressed optimism
\nthat some 800 foreign delegates and 500 domestic participants
\nwould show up for the 52nd PATA annual conference.<\/p>\n
\"As of today, some 742 participants from 41 countries have
\nconfirmed they will attend the conference,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The PATA conference will be held from April 13 to April 17 in
\nBali.<\/p>\n
Setyanto said that the board would not ban any participants
\nfrom Singapore, Hong Kong or China where the illness, known as
\nSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was reaching epidemic
\nproportions.<\/p>\n
The ICTB is a unit of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and
\nCulture whose main job is to promote the country's tourism
\nsector.<\/p>\n
Setyanto added that the board had teamed up with the
\nIndonesian Travel Health Society (ITHS) to prevent any delegates
\ninfected by SARS from coming to the conference.<\/p>\n
\"We are on alert, we will place at least 15 doctors at the
\nNgurah Rai airport in Bali,\" Setyanto said.<\/p>\n
ITHS is a non-governmental organization which consists of both
\ndoctors and tourist industry experts.<\/p>\n
Tourist experts have warned that SARS could become a new
\nthreat to the country's tourist sector, which had just begun to
\nshow signs of recovery after the devastating impact of last
\nyear's Bali terror bombing.<\/p>\n
To date, about 80 people have reportedly died from SARS around
\nthe world and there have been 2,000 suspected cases reported.<\/p>\n
Two of the worst affected areas are Hong Kong and Singapore,
\nboth of which are among Indonesia's most important tourism
\nmarkets.<\/p>\n
The upcoming PATA conference will be aimed at providing
\nopportunities for international tourism executives to expand
\ntheir networks and achieve a greater understanding of the trends
\nmaking an impact on tourism.<\/p>\n
The conference, with the theme of \"Culture and Tourism: From
\nHeritage to Legacy\", will be kicked off by President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
The theme is expected to raise greater awareness among the
\ndelegates about their responsibility for protecting and passing
\non local culture and heritage to subsequent generations.<\/p>\n
For Indonesia, the event is considered significant as it could
\ncontribute to the recovery of Bali's tourism.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Setyanto said that the government has projected
\nthat between 3.8 million and 4.5 million foreign tourists would
\nvisit the country this year.<\/p>\n
He said that despite concerns over the local reaction to the
\nwar in Iraq and SARS, the low-end range of the target could still
\nbe met.<\/p>\n
Last year, the number of foreign tourists fell to around 4
\nmillion from 5.15 million in 2001.<\/p>\n
Tourism is the country's second largest non-oil and gas
\nforeign exchange earner.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sars-wont-delay-pata-conference-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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