Japan asked to lift warning

Japan asked to lift warning

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Visiting Japanese travel agents have called
on their government to lift its warning on travel to Yogyakarta.

T. Narita, the president of International Developers Inc.,
which represents about 30 Japanese tourism agencies, said on
Wednesday the travel warning should be lifted because unlike
other areas of the country, the situation in the city was safe.

"We will talk to our government about the possibility of
changing the travel advisory status for Yogyakarta from the
present level one to level zero," he said during a meeting
between travel agents and journalists from Japan and
representatives of the local government and travel industry.

Narita said the number of Japanese tourists traveling to
Yogyakarta dropped from 300,000 in 1997 to 80,000 in 1999.

He said the level one travel warning meant that Japanese
citizens should be on the alert for possible disturbances during
travel in the area.

He said the Japanese government decided to maintain its level-
one travel advisory for Yogyakarta after a recent mass gathering
of Muslim groups ended in disorder, including the stoning of
churches. (44/cst)