Chinese Tourists Postpone Visit To Bali After Jakarta Terror Attack

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Several tourists from China who were scheduled to arrive in Bali aboard chartered flights have been forced to postpone their departure due to the recent Jakarta terror attack, according to a tourism official.

"Some tour operators reported that numerous Chinese tourists who use charter flights had postponed their departure to Bali due to the impact of the bomb blasts at the Sarinah departmental store in Jakarta," Chairman of the Indonesian Association of Travel Agencies (Asita) for Bali Ketut Ardana stated here on Friday.

Ardana explained that despite making assurance that the distance between Jakarta and Bali was quite far and the security situation on the island of Bali was safe, the Chinese tourists nevertheless postponed their travel plans to spend the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays.

However, the arrival of tourists aboard regular flights from "the bamboo curtain" is ongoing, and there are no constraints.

Ardana further noted that the Lunar New Year is the time when several tourists from China visit Bali to spend their holidays using either regular or chartered flights.

He even mentioned that in previous years, the number of tourists from China saw an increase of 20 percent due to the Lunar New Year holidays. (WDY)