Denpasar (Antara Bali)- The tourist arrivals in Bali during August 2015 dropped due to the eruption of Mount Raung in July 2015.
"Volcanic ash from erupting Mt Raung located in Banyuwangi hindered flights to and from Bali airport," Dewa Nyoman Putra, a tourism industry observer, said here, Tuesday.
The number of foreign tourists to Bali in August 2015 decreased by 71.307 from 382,683 in July to 301,376 in August 2015.
Putra said the decrease was because the authorities were forced to close Ngurah Rai International Airport for several times following the eruptions of Mount Raung.
The Bali airport was closed from July 9 to 12, and again on July 22 and 23. Some 414 flights with 39,715 passengers were cancelled.
The airport's temporary closures have inflicted significant economic losses to affected-airlines and the Bali tourism industry. (WDY)
