Anti-U.S. demos hurt tourism

Anti-U.S. demos hurt tourism

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: It is feared that anti-American demonstrations staged in a number of regions in protest over U.S.-led attacks against Afghanistan will cause a substantial reduction in the number of tourist arrivals in Indonesia, an official said.

Head of the South Sulawesi tourism office Syamsul Alam Mallarangeng said in Makassar on Wednesday that the demonstrations have affected the tourism industry in a number of tourist regions like Bali, Yogyakarta and Jakarta.

Jakarta, the gateway to Indonesia has felt the impact of the rallies staged by several radical Muslim groups as seen from the number of tourist groups who have canceled plans to visit the capital, Syamsul said as quoted by Antara.

He explained that the rallies had not affected the number of tourist arrivals in South Sulawesi, where hotel occupancy rates were still at 40 percent.

However, if the rallies continue and spread to Makassar, foreigners may be discouraged from visiting the province, thereby affecting one of the major foreign exchange earners of the region, he added. -- Antara