Tourists’ “resiliency” key to Bali recovery -October 6, 2005
Tourists’ “resiliency” key to Bali recovery (SPECIAL REPORT: BALI BLAST)
BALI – The “resiliency” of tourists is key to this island’s recovery.
PATA VP-development, Peter Semone, said on PATA’s update on the latest Bali bombing, “It seems that tourists are becoming more resilient to these sorts of events. As you walk around the streets of Jimbaran and Kuta one would almost think that nothing has happened here.
"People are still dining in restaurants, walking around and shopping, enjoying the beach and enjoying their holiday.”
“The Balinese temple festival of Galungang starts on October 5 as planned. Families all over Bali are preparing for this colourful Hindu festival as usual,” said Semone, who has been in Kuta since October 2.”
He said the public and private sectors of the Balinese and Indonesian tourism community are doing an excellent job in responding to the bombings in Jimbaran and Kuta, creating “a real feeling of solidarity in dealing with the situation”.
Many of the recommendations made in the PATA Bali Recovery Task Force report of January 2003 are being followed, such as cooperation between all stakeholders at the national and provincial level; the provision of quick, accurate and transparent information to media and the public; and the stimulation of local demand, he said.
This early, he said that it is still difficult to estimate the tourism impact of the incident. He stressed that the latest incident is “very different” from the October 2002 bombing.
“Activity by tourists and locals continues. Those that have chosen to stay in Bali are continuing to enjoy their holidays,” he said.
