REPORT – WTM2005: In 2004 the number of direct international arrivals in Bali …
REPORT – WTM2005: In 2004 the number of direct international arrivals in Bali was above the pre-9/11 total in 2000 for the first time. This year was looking even better.
Over January-September, direct arrivals were 7% up. But for that 9-month period, 9/11 did not cause a decline; that was caused by the first Bali bombing, in October 2002, and recovery in 2003 was slowed by the SARS pandemic that year. But by 2004 visitor numbers had recovered in most months.
Most observers were expecting another positive year, but the bombing at the start of October could slow down the visitor business for as long as a year.
The international resort that may gain most from the Bali bombs is Phuket in Thailand – which was suffering a near-50% drop in visitors in the first half of 2005, following the December 2004 tsunami. But now, in relative terms, it is considered a safe destination.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
