Australian tourists defy security warnings and head to Bali in record numbers

Australian tourists defy security warnings and head to Bali in record numbers
By Stephen Fitzpatrick in Jakarta
The Australian
December 23, 2008

Travel Australia

Bali tourist resort
Cheap holidays ... Aussie tourists are returning to Bali in greater numbers than ever, defying government security warnings and terrorism threats

    * Aussies off to Bali in record numbers
    * Ignoring security warnings, terror threats
    * Garuda, Jetstar close to capacity

AUSTRALIAN tourists are returning to Bali in greater numbers than ever, defying government security warnings, terrorism threats, booze shortages and even a rabies outbreak to enjoy a cheap tropical Christmas holiday.

Garuda and Jetstar are running close to capacity to the Indonesian island, despite a downturn in arrivals last month linked to security concerns around the executions of the Bali bombers, The Australian reports.

"Advance bookings did drop off but there has been a lot of last-minute bookings for next week," Jetstar spokeswoman Simone Pregellio said.

"And our premium flights, like the Saturday Melbourne to Bali route, are chockers."

Garuda's Jane Milojevic concurred, saying that although a lot of schoolies trips appeared to have been deferred because of the executions, "we're confident that Bali will come out of it reasonably well, as people make their holiday plans and they start to reconsider going there".

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show Bali remains the third-most popular foreign holiday destination, behind Thailand and New Zealand.

Indonesian records put Australian arrivals in Bali to the end of September this year at about 230,000, with officials hoping this figure will swell to 350,000 next year.