Bukittingi closed to foreigners

PADANG, West Sumatra: The provincial government has closed the town of Bukittinggi to foreigners after deeming it too unsightly following a number of recent fires.

The head of the public relations for the West Sumatra provincial administration, Yohanes Dahlan, told journalists here on Tuesday that the decision had been taken by Governor Muchlis Ibrahim to prevent the unsightly state of the town from damaging tourism in the province.

Yohanes denied suggestions that the closure of Bukittinggi was for security reasons.

"There is no serious threat to security in Bukittinggi. It's just that the town is in a state of disrepair and the traders who suffered losses in the fires are hard to keep in line.

"Add to that the numerous student demonstrations and you will see why we have closed it," he explained.

Yohanes would not say how long the town will remain closed, stating only that it would be reopened once renovations have been completed.

In the past year, at least three major fires have broken out in commercial districts of the town, which is the leading tourist destination in the province.

Governor Muchlis has already changed the venue for a trade meeting of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore Growth Triangle from Bukittingi to Padang. The meeting will take place next week. (28)