No flights means no tourists

No flights means no tourists

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The local provincial
administration has blame the lack of flights connecting Jakarta
and Mataram for its Rp 2 billion (US$243,902.5) financial loss
due to the cancellation of visits by 400 foreign tourists last
month.

Head of the provincial culture and tourism agency Machfud
Ahmad said on Monday that the tourists canceled their visits to
Mataram as there were no direct flights from Jakarta.

Machfud said that the administration and local tourism
businesspeople had prepared arts and traditional events to
welcome the guests before the cancellations.

To in a bid to avoid further cancellations, the administration
has sent a letter to national air carrier Garuda Indonesia to add
flights from Jakarta.

Machfud said that the number of foreign tourists visiting the
province had been increasing after the slump caused by last
year's Bali bombings and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
outbreak in several Asian countries. Most tourists visiting the
province spend their time at resorts and hotels along Senggigi
beach, 12 kilometers from the capital Mataram. -- Antara