Indonesia lifts Bali's alert status

The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali, Sat, December 23, 2017

The government has lifted the alert status on Bali, suggesting activity on Mount Agung might only affect those within a 10-kilometer radius from the crater.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said on Friday that the alert status had unfortunately triggered foreign countries to issue travel advisories.

"The President has decided to revoke the alert status. Bali is now ready to welcome tourists again," he said after a limited Cabinet meeting led by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in Denpasar.

Among countries that issued travel advisories, China banned its citizens from traveling to Bali from Nov 27 to Jan 4. The travel advisories reportedly dealt a severe blow to the island's tourist industry.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said the number of tourist arrivals to Bali had gradually recovered to 12,300 visitors per day, recently. The number had plunged to as low as 2,000 visitors per day after Mt. Agung erupted on Nov. 29. On normal days, the average number of visitors is 15,000.

“Currently, the situation is conducive and stable," he said.


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