Garuda's flights to Europe

The Jakarta Post published my previous letter in which I expressed my disappointment in our national airline, Garuda Indonesia, for canceling flights to and from the United Kingdom.

I was unhappy because I had been expecting some friends to visit Bali and the cancellation of their return flight would have meant that their entire holiday would have had to be canceled and I felt that many other people must have been in the same position.

I also suggested that despite possible losses in revenue, Garuda should be actively encouraging tourists to come to Indonesia and not just giving up because the "Doom and Gloom merchants" say Bali is finished as a tourist destination.

Bali is nowhere near finished and hotel occupancy rates are already increasing less than seven weeks after the bombing. I am very pleased to be able to say that a few days after my letter was printed, Garuda had a change of heart and reinstated the Bali-London flights so my friends and I are very happy about this. It seems that the cancellation of the schedule has been postponed rather than abandoned entirely, so this is still disturbing, but Garuda has certainly made a move in the right direction and I think credit should be given where it is due.

I feel sure that demand will increase in the next few weeks so maybe Garuda will be able to continue with flights to and from Europe without any need for further cancellations.

If government warnings against travel to Indonesia could be lifted, this would help enormously and, in Europe, the Netherlands seem to be leading the way.

ANDREW CHARLES, Canggu, Bali