Denpasar (Antaranews Bali) - Domestic and foreign tourists flocked to various tourist attractions on Bali Island to spend the year-end holidays.
"Bali has unique tourist attractions. Despite news on the eruption of Mount Agung, we are still keen to visit Bali," Anita, a resident of Jakarta, noted while visiting the Nusa Park located in Gianyar District, Bali, on Monday.
Anita lauded the government for ensuring tourists that Bali remains safe for visit. The government has also guaranteed a one-night free accommodation and transportation facilities in case the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport is closed due to the impact of volcanic activities, she remarked.
This form of assurance is crucial, as several visitors are keen to spend the Christmas and year-end holidays in Bali.
Anita also praised the new Nusa Park that features various traditional houses and arts across Indonesia.
The 15-hectare large Nusa Park also offers scenic natural beauty of Bali.
On Friday (Dec 22), President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla chaired a limited cabinet meeting in Bali to lend assurance to the world that Bali is a safe destination that is ready to receive as many tourists as possible.
Following the meeting, the government also declared that it had revoked the emergency status of Mount Agung.
The government opined that the emergency status had triggered a sense of panic among several foreign countries, prompting them to issue a travel warning, advisory, or ban, which are unnecessary, as most parts of Bali remain safe and unaffected by the eruptions.
Jokowi has instructed the foreign affairs minister and Tourism Ministry to inform foreign ambassadors and travel agents that most of Bali`s famous tourist destinations were located far from the danger zone of the active volcano; hence, the mount poses no danger to tourists.
Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika explained that the emergency status earlier declared by the Bali administration was intended for domestic administrative purpose in order to accelerate the disbursement of emergency funds allocated for the active volcano`s evacuees. (WDY)
