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