"Thousands of tourists from China have to cancel their trip to Bali in December and January," Deliana remarked here on Monday.
According to the association's chairperson, the Government of China has already issued travel restrictions on its citizens planning to visit Bali, following an increase in Mount Agung's volcanic activity.
"The Chinese government's declaration of restrictions on its citizens planning to travel to Bali has been issued, and until January 2018, aircraft from China, either regular or charter, will not fly to the paradise island," she said.
State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I has confirmed that a total of 445 flights were canceled following the 24-hour closure of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport due to Mount Agung's eruption.
Some 59 thousand passengers were affected by the flight cancellations, Arie Ahsanurrohim, spokesman of the PT Angkara Pura I office at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, noted in Denpasar recently.
The canceled flights comprise 97 international arrivals, 99 international departures, 124 domestic arrivals, and 125 domestic departures.
The airport operator has prepared alternative airports to serve flights to Bali.
The alternative airports include the Juanda Airport in Surabaya, East Java; Lombok Praya Airport in West Nusa Tenggara; Sultan Hasanussin Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi; Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan; Adi Soemarmo Airport in Solo, Central Java; Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang, Central Java; and Adi Sutjipto in Yogyakarta, Central Java.
The authorities have provided buses for transporting the stranded passengers to the Gilimanuk and Padang Bai seaports, among other locations, if they are keen on traveling to alternative airports by land.
PT Angkasa Pura I has offered ticket refund and flight rescheduling services, opened a foreign consulate general counter, as well as prepared Balinese traditional music and dance performances to entertain the stranded passengers.
Meanwhile, the Bali airport authorities have shut down the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport for 24 hours following the eruptions of Mount Agung. (WDY)
