REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- The Ministry of Tourism has stated that, in general, the tourism in Bali is normal despite the volcanic activity of Mount Agung in Karangasem Disitrict, which is now on alert.
"Tourism activities in Bali are still normal," Deputy Minister for Overseas Tourism Development Marketing, I Gde Pidana, stated here on Thursday.
He added that there was no decrease in the number of passenger arrivals, especially at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
According to him, the ministry, along with the Tourism Office, provides updates every day on the volcanic activities of Mount Agung on the Ministry of Tourism page.
"If necessary, we can issue official statements every six hours, three hours, or even hourly," he remarked, adding that the information released by the ministry was honest and accountable, with accurate and up-to-date data, based on scientific facts obtained from official sources such as the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).
The government also delivers accurate information on Mount Agung to partners and the international community through 19 overseas tourism representative offices.
The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has previously issued a statement that the insecure area was 9 kilometers from the summit crater of Mount Agung, with an extension of 12 kilometers.
Pitana explained that tourists need to understand that they still can enjoy Bali, as areas outside these zones are considered safe.
Ten airports have been prepared to anticipate the eruption. They are Juanda Airport (Surabaya, East Java), Sultan Hasanuddin (Makassar, South Sulawesi), Lombok Praya Airport (Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara), Adisoemarmo (Solo, Central Java), Pattimura (Ambon, Maluku), Blimbingsari (Banyuwangi, East Java), Sepinggan (Balikpapan, East Kalimantan), Kupang Airport (East Nusa Tenggara, Sam Ratulangi (Manado, North Sulawesi), and Soekarno-Hatta (Jakarta).
"We have been coordinating with the Ministry of Transportation. We will do a mitigation and guarantee the comfort and security of all the people," he asserted.
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