Karangasem (Antaranews Bali) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said no plan to change in the venue from Bali of the meeting between the International Monetary Fund (IMF)and the World Bank in 2018 despite the repeated eruptions of Mount Agung northeastern part of the tourist island.
The meeting is to be held in Nusa Dua, Denpasar, well safe beyond the radius considered dangerous if the volcano erupted, Luhut said here on Friday.
"We have no plan to change the venue of the meeting from Bali," Luhut told reporters at the Mount Agung monitoring post in the village of Rendang here.
Based on a recommendation from the Volcanology and Mitigation of Geological disaster (PVMBG) Agency places beyond the radius of 8-10 kilometers away from the crater are safe.
The distance between the crater of the 3,142 high volcano and Nusa Dua , is around 73 kilometers.
The meeting is to be attended by around 17,000 delegates and observers all economic players from all over the world.
Luhut said in October, 2018, when the meeting takes place, the winds are predicted to blow eastward that Denpasar and Nusa Dua would not be affected by possible volcanic ashes spewing by the volcano.
"Everything has been considered scientifically that no one would be troubled in Denpasar or Nusa Dua, 73 kilometers away from the volcano," he said.
The National Committee has coordinated with the IMF secretariat in the United States to update information about Bali and readiness of infrastructure for the meeting.
Luhut said preparations have been progressing as expected, adding no stumbling block in carrying out a number of infrastructure projects to support the big meeting.
He cited construction of underground road from the cross road leading to the airport is already 20 percent completed. The projects would be all completed before the meeting takes place, he added.
Luhut and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Governor of Bank Indonesia Agus Martowardojo made an inspection visit to the village of Rendang, around 12 kilometers from the crater of the angry volcano.
The volcano has repeatedly erupted over the past two months spewing volcanic ashed and this smoke to the air disrupting flight scheduled to and from the tourist island.
The report of the volcanic eruptions have discouraged tourists from various countries cancelling plans to visit the island despite assurance form the authorities that Bali and its tourist destinations are safe.
The tourism industry of Bali suffered big potential losses with declining number of visitors marked with sharp fall in hotel occupancy rate .
However, there is less threat of eruption lately ahead of Christmas and new year holidays and more visitors have been recorded in the past week. (WDY)
