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