AUSTRALIAN tourists have abandoned Bali in the wake of the second bombing there. So far this year the number of Australians visiting Indonesia has slumped by half.
Instead many Australians are going to Thailand or Singapore. Others are fanning out all over the world, from India to the Gulf states, Italy, Africa and the US. Until last October's bombing, Indonesia was one of the beneficiaries. Despite constant government warnings against travel there, the first Bali bombing had only a passing impact on Australian tourism to Bali, which rebounded to near-record levels according to an article in The Age newspaper.
This year the big shift has been to Thailand, Italy, Singapore, India and Africa. With Bali losing its magnetism, more Australians have taken the path less travelled. The big growth since 2001 has been in travel to New Zealand, South-East Asia, Europe, China and Fiji. Trips to Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Japan have risen more than 50 per cent.
Bali still has much more to offer tourists and a cheaper price. Package deals to the island by the various airlines are excellent value for money and if we look at the other places people are purported to be travelling to, then the cost of holidays there far exceeds that of the paradise island of Bali.
I read a report in a Business Travel magazine the other day and it said that the biggest fear in travelling at the moment is terrorism. It can happen anywhere and at anytime around the world and wherever you are travelling.
Indonesia, and especially Bali, offer the cheapest and best holiday option for Australian tourists. Nick has compiled great listings on this site of hotels, restaurants, places to go, things to do and places of interest.
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