US GOVERNMENT SAYS BALI IS SAFE Courtesy from Tempo Interactive ( Editon 13 november 2008 )

TEMPO Interactive, Denpasar
Following the executions of the Bali Bomb trio, Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Muklas, the US government is convinced that Bali will be a safe place to visit. “Of course, we will ask American citizens to be careful, but we will not issue a travel warning for Bali and Indonesia,” said US consul-general in Surabaya, Caryn R. McClelland, yesterday.

bombing-monument

sunset-in-kuta

Caryn came to Bali yesterday to meet with Bali governor, Made Mangku Pastika. Bali is one of 16 provinces in Indonesia included in her scope of work.

At the meeting, the two discussed possible cooperative projects and improving relations between the US and Bali. After the meeting, Caryn said she was optimistic that Bali will maintain its security because the provincial administration and the Indonesian Police have made great strides in improving security standards in the province.

“I hope these efforts will continue,” he said. Caryn was also certain that the positive situation will bring more American tourists to Bali.

Based on data of the Office of Tourism in Bali, American tourists are the 10th largest number of visitors to Bali following Japan, Australia, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, England, Germany, and France.

During the January – September 2008 period, American tourists visiting Bali came to 52,340 people, or an increase of 28.93 percent compare to the same period in 2007, which only came to 40,597 people.