Unrest rumors fail to trigger foreign flight<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Travel industry insiders said on Thursday there
\nhad been no exodus to foreign destinations despite widespread
\nrumors of unrest before the Special Session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) opening on Nov. 10.<\/p>\n
The number of outbound travelers displayed no unusual
\ncharacteristics in recent days, they said.<\/p>\n
\"There is no significant increase in the number of outbound
\ntravelers this week,\" said the director of Iwata Tour and Travel
\nAgency, Meity Robot, who is also the head of the Jakarta chapter
\nof the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies
\n(Asita).<\/p>\n
Satriavi Tours and Travel's marketing manager Netty Djohan
\nalso told The Jakarta Post there had been no developments in the
\npast few days.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think there will be a massive exodus during MPR's
\nSpecial Session. Today is already Thursday, but there is still no
\nsharp increase.\"<\/p>\n
The MPR, whose members were appointed during the Soeharto era,
\nwill convene in a four-day session to prepare legislation for a
\ngeneral election expected in May next year. But students and
\nleaders of most political parties established following
\nSoeharto's resignation have expressed opposition to the session,
\nclaiming it will merely rubber-stamp the agenda of the ruling
\nGolkar political grouping.<\/p>\n
They have threatened to organize massive rallies to protest
\nthe session.<\/p>\n
The government has mobilized hundreds of thousands of army
\ntroops, police and volunteers for the event.<\/p>\n
Observers have warned that opposition and progovernment forces
\ncould clash and ignite bloody riots similar to those which rocked
\nthe capital and other major cities in May.<\/p>\n
Many Jakarta residents scrambled to flee to foreign cities or
\ndomestic safe havens like Bali during the riots.<\/p>\n
Ramantha Tours and Travel reported a slight increase in the
\nsales of international tickets.<\/p>\n
\"Usually we sell about 10 tickets per day, but since Tuesday
\nit has increased to between 15 and 18 tickets per day,\"
\ninternational ticketing agent Maria said, terming the increase as
\nwithin the normal range.<\/p>\n
Singapore Airlines administration and public relations manager
\nSusie Charma also confirmed that passenger reservations remained
\nnormal.<\/p>\n
\"There is no rush to buy tickets. Our planes' seats are still
\navailable through Monday's flights,\" Susie said, referring to the
\nlast date with available data. (gis)<\/p>",
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