Volcanic Eruption Affects Tourist Arrivals To Bali

Tabanan (Antara Bali) - The eruption of Mount Barujari in West Nusa Tenggara province has drastically affected the number of foreign tourist arrivals to numerous tourist attractions, including Tanah Lot, in Bali.

"Due to the volcanic eruption in the neighbor province of West Nusa Tenggara, the visits of foreign tourists to Tanah Lot in Tabanan district in recent days decrease drastically," Tanah Lot Operation Manager Ketut Toya Adnyana said here on Saturday.

Adnyana noted that the eruption of Mount Barujari in October 25, 2015 has forced the Ngurah Rai International Airport to close since November 3, and it raises huge losses for the tourism sector in Bali.

"Following the eruption of Mount Barujari, the number of foreign tourist visits to Tanah Lot decreased by 40 percent," he said, adding that in normal days, the number of tourist visits reached 7 thousand people but since the eruption it decreased to 5 thousand people.

But since November 9 the Ngurah Rai International Airport has been reopened in accordance with Notice to Airmen (Notam) No. A2527/15.

"According to Notam Number A2527/15, WADD/Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar-Bali, has been reopened and has become operational from Monday at 5:45 a.m. local time. The airport was previously closed as it was affected by the volcanic ash being spewed by Mount Barujari," Ministry of Transportation`s spokesman, J.A. Barata, stated in Jakarta last Monday.

The Ngurah Rai International Airport was earlier closed due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Barujari, a cone inside Mount Rinjani`s large volcanic caldera located in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province.

Barata affirmed that the conditions until now are still unpredictable. However, the people have been urged to maintain a positive outlook as the airport`s closure or reopening is aimed at ensuring passenger safety during flights. (WDY)