Local tourists to Bali?

The statement made by Minister Jusuf Kalla that local tourists should be encouraged to go to Bali to boost the tourism industry and help regain foreign tourists' confidence in Indonesia is another example of the government's "quack" fixes.

Local tourists are known to be treated rather poorly in Bali because of their lack of dollars. Nobody pays attention when racist admission rules apply in clubs such as the Sari Club. Yet, the government is now scrambling to bring locals to Bali to boost up tourism when countries all over the world issue travel bans on Indonesia.

What makes them think that the locals do not fear for their safety? Thus, as much as we love Bali, our reaction is: "Sorry, not for the time being anyway".

VENNY NG.

Jakarta