PRESS RELEASE

No. 309/HMS/XII/02

Hotel Occupancy Increase in Bali during New Year’s

As the New Year approaches, hotel occupancy in Bali, particularly in the areas of Kuta, Nusa Dua, Seminyak and Jimbaran has risen sharply to between 90 - 100%.  This dramatic increase in occupancy has made hotels in the Kuta area to begin turning down further reservations for the New Year’s period as most of their rooms are fully booked until 4 January 2003.  Hotels located in Kuta area are among that have reached 100% of hotel occupancy. An increase of tourists visits is a main indicator of growing confidence for travellers going to Indonesia in spite of travel warnings from a number of countries.

Larger hotels in the Jimbaran area which can accommodate over 400 rooms are already reserved between December 24, 2002 and January 2, 2003.  The tourists/visitors are mostly from Europe, Japan, Australia, and including a significant number of domestic tourists from Jakarta and Surabaya whom are spending their New Year’s holiday in Bali.  Meanwhile,  hotels located in the Nusa Dua area have only reached occupancy rates of up to 90%  due to some expected guests had, however, cancelled their room reservations as the peak travel period into Bali had made it impossible for them to find suitable flights.  

Following the tragic terrorist bombing on the night of 12 October 2002 in Kuta, Bali, Indonesian Police have not only arrested some suspects, but have also begun to dismantle the terrorist network.  It is thought that this swift response by the police, as well as other security measures by the government, has contributed to a new confidence in visitors and tourists to Bali, resulting in the return to normalcy now being witnessed in the build-up to the New Year.  

                                                                   New York, 30 December 200