Krakatau 1998 festival canceled

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: The provincial administration has decided to cancel the 1998 Krakatau Festival because of a lack of funds, a tourism official has said.

"We have informed foreign participants about the cancellation and they have accepted it," local tourism service chief Tarmizi Ali said Saturday.

The festival, which would have featured local arts and culture events, had originally been included in the national calendar of tourism events.

Ali said the cancellation was linked to the economic situation that has hit Indonesia since the middle of last year.

"Because of the economic meltdown, the local administration has decided to cancel the Krakatau Festival this year," he said.

Antara reported that a kite festival and an auto rally scheduled for this year have been canceled for the same reason.