Bali summons Japanese tourists

Bali summons Japanese tourists

DENPASAR: Bali is calling out to Japanese tourists to visit the
island, citing improved security after the Oct. 1 bombing.

Balinese Governor Dewa Made Beratha went on a three-day visit
to Japan starting on Saturday to promote a safe and secure Bali
to Japanese government officials and tourism agencies, according
to the chairman of Bali tourism office, I Gde Nurjaya.

"Governor Beratha will explain in the meeting with the
Japanese authorities that Bali is a safe destination, following
the Oct. 1 bombing in Kuta and Jimbaran," Nurjaya told Antara
here on Saturday.

He said that the Bali administration, police and the
Indonesian Military were working hand in hand with local
communities to clamp down on criminal activities, through the
establishment of a Bali Security Council.

Japanese make up the majority of foreign tourists on the
island, with 350,000 tourists visiting Bali annually. Some 25 to
40 percent of Japanese have canceled their trips to Bali from
October to December after the bombings that killed 23 people,
including the three suicide bombers.

The bombings came about one week before the anniversary of the
2002 Bali bombings, which claimed 202 lives, mostly foreign
tourists.

Beratha and his entourage will meet the head of the Japanese
Association of Travel Agents, Kentaro Kaneko. Kaneko came to Bali
only two days after the bombings to meet the governor to explain
about the possible boycotting of travel to Bali and to express
hope that there would be no more terror attacks in Bali.

"The Japanese continue to travel overseas, but they are
choosing destinations other than Bali," Kaneko was quoted as
saying by Antara. -- JP