Tourism in Bali returns to normal after riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Business in Bali has gradually returned to
\nnormal after Megawati Soekarnoputri supporters went on the
\nrampage on the resort island to protest her defeat in the
\npresidential race.<\/p>\n
Head of Bali's tourism supervision office Nyoman Suamba said
\non Friday the riot had not been "too damaging" for the tourist
\nindustry. He said the riots had disturbed the transportation
\nactivities, but otherwise had not affected tourists.<\/p>\n
"The situation has returned to normal. Some tour programs and
\nhandicraft centers are open as usual. I hope people outside Bali
\ndon't have a bad image about Bali because of the Thursday
\nincident," he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said the chaotic situation had calmed down soon after the
\nannouncement on Thursday afternoon of Megawati's election to the
\nvice presidency.<\/p>\n
Managing director of Merdeka Tour & Travels in Sanur, Frans S
\nSidharta, said his tour programs had run as usual on Friday. He
\nsaid dozens of foreign tourists had joined trips to several
\ntourist sites, including the most favorite tour program
\ndestination Kintamani, which is about a one and a half hour drive
\nfrom Sanur.<\/p>\n
"My guests said they were not afraid to travel around Bali
\nbecause they believe they are not the target of the protesters'
\nanger," he said.<\/p>\n
He said several of his city tour groups were stranded on
\nThursday in Ubud. He said he found accommodation for them at
\nnearby hotels before returning them on Friday morning to their
\nhotels.<\/p>\n
"I paid for their stay in Ubud. It may be a financial loss.
\nBut I like to see it as a promotion strategy rather than a
\nfinancial burden," he added.<\/p>\n
Bali was paralyzed on Thursday as thousands of Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) supporters launched
\nmass riots in several areas around Denpasar. They blocked the
\nroads and mobbed several buildings, including the Golkar branch
\noffice, and set fire to dozens of cars.<\/p>\n
Suamba said many arriving tourists were stranded at the
\nairport due to the roadblocks. He said some tourists were forced
\nto find accommodation at nearby hotels for the night because they
\ncould not go to the hotels where they had made reservations.<\/p>\n
"But all tourists had left the airport at 10 p.m. on Thursday.
\nI have not received any report of flight cancellations made on
\nThursday because of the riots."<\/p>\n
He emphasized that no hotels or tourist facilities were
\ndamaged during the Thursday incident.<\/p>\n
Reservation officer Emmy from Santika Beach in Kuta Tuban,
\nsaid hotels in her area were not affected by the Thursday
\nincident because the riots were concentrated in Denpasar and
\nnearby areas.<\/p>\n
She said her hotel, about 30 kilometers away from the airport,
\nwas one of several hotels which provided accommodation to the
\nstranded tourists.<\/p>\n
"We had about 40 rooms sold to stranded tourists, in addition
\nto about 30 rooms we had for reservations. Guests in the 40 rooms
\nhad already checked out this morning to go to their hotels," she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Communications director with Sheraton hotels in Nusa Dua, Lisa
\nHalim, said some of her guests were accommodated on Thursday
\nnight in hotels near the airport because road access to hotels
\nwas blocked by barricades or felled trees.<\/p>\n
She said guests had arrived at the hotel and that some
\ntourists had started on Friday morning their holiday activities.<\/p>\n
"However, we advised them to concentrate their activities in
\nthe Nusa Dua area to avoid being trapped in traffic jams in
\nseveral areas where people are still busy removing the chopped
\ntrees from the roads," she said, adding that the roads were
\nexpected to be cleared and ready for use by the afternoon.<\/p>\n
Lisa said her hotel had sent faxes and e-mail to Sheraton
\nchains and travel agents overseas to inform them about the easing
\ntension in Bali.<\/p>\n
"We also regularly inform our guests here about the
\ndevelopment in the area. Clear information is important to avoid
\npeople from being misinformed and losing interest in Bali and
\nIndonesia."<\/p>\n
Bali is the most popular destination in Indonesia. Some
\n683,083 foreigners visited Bali in the first half of the year,
\nreflecting a 32.3 percent increase over the same period last
\nyear. (cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tourism-in-bali-returns-to-normal-after-riots-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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