Number of tourists to Bogor drops

BOGOR (JP): The number of tourists visiting Bogor regency has shown a drastic drop this year due to an instability of security in the country, an official said on Saturday.

Head of the local Tourism Agency, Diani Budiarrto, said, "We predict that this city will only have 20,000 visitors this year compared to last year's 59,000."

"It's a big drop," the officer said.

Diani said the severe decline of both local and foreign tourists would badly affect the earnings of hotels and restaurants here, which, in turn, would also lessen the regency's revenue.

The agency strongly believed that the downturn of tourists was mainly caused by the mid-May riots and the spreading rumors of a possible new wave of riots.

"They are worried for their own safety," Diani said.

Among the most popular must-see sites for tourists here are the Bogor Botanical Gardens, the Bogor Presidential Palace, Topi Park and Perjuangan Museum.

Most of the tourists visiting Bogor are Dutch and Japanese, Diani said.

"They are war veterans or their offspring. They call their journey a 'nostalgic trip'," the officer said. (24/ivy)