Bali tourism 'not hurt by S. Korean warning'

DENPASAR: Head of the Bali Tourism Office Gde Nurjaya said the Korean government's warning against national airline Garuda Indonesia is yet to affect tourism on the island.

South Korea is currently one of Bali's major tourist markets after Japan, Australia and Taiwan. Approximately 63,505 South Korean visitors arrived in Bali between January and June 2007.

The South Korean government recently told foreign airlines Garuda Indonesia, Iran Air, Sakhalinsk, Vladivostok Air and Davilia Far East Airways from Russia and Royal Khmer Airlines and Progress Multi Transportation Air from Cambodia to improve their services, safety and security.

Garuda Indonesia currently runs direct flights between Denpasar and Seoul. Korean visitors commonly fly with Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air and Wong Dong Air.

Many South Korean visitors transit in Taipei or Singapore before flying to Bali. -- JP