Tourism operators in the Indonesia tourist resort of Bali expressed hope that the magnitude-7.6 earthquake which struck West Sumatra last week would not cause the cancellation of foreign tourists’ plans to visit Indonesia.
“We hope that Indonesian tourism, particularly in Bali, will continue to thrive and not be affected by the Sumatran earthquake which killed over 600 people,” regional Secretary of the Indonesian Hotel and restaurant Association (IHRA for Bali, Perry Markus) said here on Monday.
He said he had not yet received any reports of cancellations of foreign tourist plans to visit Indonesia, bali in particular.
“We hope there will be no cancellations of travel to Bali,” he added.
He said foreign tourists generally already knew the location of West Sumatra which was far away from Bali, namely a flight of about 3.5 hours from Denpasar.
“Would-be visitors can easily obtain information on the conditions of the regions they are planning ti visit through various media, including the internet,” Markus said.
He said that when Bali was struck by an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale on September 19, 2009, many would be foreign visitors called him, asking whether or nor the quake had caused damage to buildings.
With regard to the quake in West Sumatra, he said, no one of would-be foreign tourists had made a telephone call to ask about the matter.
The West Sumatran quake killed at least 603 and left over 300 missing. It also destroyed 21,732 houses, caused heavy damage to 6,721 homes and minor damage to 9,572 others.
A number of hotels, restaurants and their supporting facilities were also destroyed. Of the 47 star-rated hotels in West Sumatra, 24 were damaged, of which 11 were destroyed and could no longer be used. Among those destroyed were the Ambacang, Rocky Plaza, Mariani, Nuasa and Hayam Wuruk hotels.
News by International Bali Post
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