Tourists slow to return to Bali amid promotion<\/p>\n
NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AFP): Tourists have been slow to return
\nto Bali despite the efforts of the local authorities and tourist
\nindustry to restore the reputation of the Indonesian holiday
\nisland.<\/p>\n
Bali's thriving tourist industry has been undermined by a
\ndecline in popularity caused by the image of violence associated
\nwith Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The consequences of the "image problem" -- the expression used
\nby the tourism industry -- are severe and are well illustrated by
\nthe Bali Travel Mart, an event to develop tourism on the island
\nand put buyers and sellers of tourism products in contact with
\neach other.<\/p>\n
Although more than 450 companies -- including more than 200
\nbuyers -- took part in last year's event, only around 160 turned
\nup to this year's mart which was recently held in Nusa Dua, a
\nluxury tourist enclave in the southeast of the island.<\/p>\n
Only about 50 buyers made the trip this year and sellers
\ncomplained at the small amount of business concluded amid a
\ngeneral lack of interest.<\/p>\n
The representative of a chain of international hotels said
\nthat instead of winning new contracts, he had received
\ncancellations from an important European client.<\/p>\n
"They told me they would get in touch after August depending
\non the situation then in Indonesia," he said.<\/p>\n
In contrast to the industry's optimism at the start of the
\nyear, official statistics for the first quarter of the year show
\na drop of around 10 percent in tourist arrivals in Bali.<\/p>\n
Tourists from Australia, usually the biggest market for Bali,
\nhave been conspicuous by their absence, with just 40,043 visiting
\nthe island in the first quarter, a plunge of 39.2 percent
\ncompared with same period a year earlier.<\/p>\n
Equally significant is the fall in spending by tourists.<\/p>\n
Average daily spending fell from US$120 to $98 with hotels
\nengaged in a price war in an effort to maintain their market
\nshare.<\/p>\n
Local tourism officials blame their problems on politics and
\nthe government. "Tourism is paying a political price," said Mira
\nNovianti, director of the Indonesia Travel Service.<\/p>\n
But according Jro Gede Karang Suarshana, chairman of Bali
\nTravel Mart 2000, who invited about 30 Jakarta-based foreign
\nambassadors to the island in May, "People must come and judge by
\nthemselves. There is no problem (with security)."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tourists-slow-to-return-to-bali-amid-promotion-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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