Tourism in East Nusa Tenggara slumps

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Tourist Board recorded a big drop in the number of tourists visiting the province due to a security alert issued by the United Nations.

The chairman of the board's tourism promotion division, Marcus Dewa, said that last year only 5,000 tourists visited the province, a significant drop from 32,000 in 1999.

"Currently, only one or two tourists visit the province. I hope the UN lifts the security alert so that we can regain the confidence of foreigners," he said.

International flights between Kupang and Australia have been halted due to the UN travel advisories.

The UN issued the warnings as a result of the tensions that have often flared up in the province since it was inundated by East Timorese refugees following the former province's vote for independence. --JP