Tourists slow to return to Bali amid promotion

Tourists slow to return to Bali amid promotion

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AFP): Tourists have been slow to return
to Bali despite the efforts of the local authorities and tourist
industry to restore the reputation of the Indonesian holiday
island.

Bali's thriving tourist industry has been undermined by a
decline in popularity caused by the image of violence associated
with Indonesia.

The consequences of the "image problem" -- the expression used
by the tourism industry -- are severe and are well illustrated by
the Bali Travel Mart, an event to develop tourism on the island
and put buyers and sellers of tourism products in contact with
each other.

Although more than 450 companies -- including more than 200
buyers -- took part in last year's event, only around 160 turned
up to this year's mart which was recently held in Nusa Dua, a
luxury tourist enclave in the southeast of the island.

Only about 50 buyers made the trip this year and sellers
complained at the small amount of business concluded amid a
general lack of interest.

The representative of a chain of international hotels said
that instead of winning new contracts, he had received
cancellations from an important European client.

"They told me they would get in touch after August depending
on the situation then in Indonesia," he said.

In contrast to the industry's optimism at the start of the
year, official statistics for the first quarter of the year show
a drop of around 10 percent in tourist arrivals in Bali.

Tourists from Australia, usually the biggest market for Bali,
have been conspicuous by their absence, with just 40,043 visiting
the island in the first quarter, a plunge of 39.2 percent
compared with same period a year earlier.

Equally significant is the fall in spending by tourists.

Average daily spending fell from US$120 to $98 with hotels
engaged in a price war in an effort to maintain their market
share.

Local tourism officials blame their problems on politics and
the government. "Tourism is paying a political price," said Mira
Novianti, director of the Indonesia Travel Service.

But according Jro Gede Karang Suarshana, chairman of Bali
Travel Mart 2000, who invited about 30 Jakarta-based foreign
ambassadors to the island in May, "People must come and judge by
themselves. There is no problem (with security)."