Optimistic Tourism in Bali will Return to Normal

Denpasar – The tourism industry in Bali that is currently experiencing a slump due to the bomb explosion on 12th October 2002 will soon return to normal. This optimistic statement was made by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, I Gde Ardika, in Denpasar recently.
“Taking into account the recent pleasing developments, tourism in Bali will return to normal by mid 2003,” stated Minister Ardika while accompanied by a number of foreign ambassadors that were visiting tourist destinations in Bali. The areas they visited included Buleleng (North Bali) and Gianyar (East Bali) in a program known as ‘Familiarization Trip of Ambassadors to the Other Side of Bali’.
The ambassadors that joined the program were from Sweden, North Korea, Canada, Vietnam, Philippines, Russia, South Korea and China.
According to Ardika, the effort to restore business activity in Bali is being undertaken systematically, starting with a rescue program (that was undertaken in the first three months after the bombing), followed by a program of rehabilitation, normalization and expansion.
In the rescue program that ran from October until December the government encouraged domestic tourists to visit Bali to fill the empty hotels. The rehabilitation program includes promotion to restore Bali’s safe image.
“The visit of the foreign ambassadors is part of the rehabilitation program. We hope that these ambassadors can promote Bali’s safety to citizens of their respective countries and to the world in general,” said Minister Ardika.
When asked about his evaluation of the activities undertaken to restore tourism in Bali, I Gde Ardika said that there had already been a pleasing increase. Immediately after the bomb, the number of tourists visiting Bali was approximately 600 per day, while at the end of December the number had reached 1,200 per day.
“These statistics can be seen as a sign of recovery in the Bali tourism industry, which is accordance with our hopes” stated Minister Ardika.
He praised the quick actions of the police force that are responsible for the safety of Bali. The quick actions of the police force and upholders of the law in the Bali bombing case, as indirectly helped to restore Bali’s safe image in the eyes of the world. (dap)