Bali: No hard feelings over minister’s comment
The Bali Hotels’ Association (BHA) says it has no hard feelings about a call from Australia’s federal tourism minister Martin Ferguson for Australians to holiday in cyclone and flood-hit Queensland rather than in Bali.
Earlier this week, the minister said, “If you want to help Queensland, don’t go to Baliâ€.
BHA said it has a lot of sympathy for what Queensland had experienced and it felt that, “Bali was used as an example, rather than a specific area to avoidâ€.
“We feel that there is room for both domestic and overseas travel for Australians; and through the emotional ties with the island, we hope to welcome Australians to Bali as we always have,” said Jean-Charles Le Coz, chairman of BHA.
Ferguson’s holiday-at-home appeal has now been backed by the Tourism and Transport Forum lobby group.
“With so many jobs and businesses on the line, every Australian has a responsibility to aid the state’s (Queensland) tourism recovery,†said TTF chief executive John Lee.
“Operators had already been knocked down by the global financial crisis, so the floods and Cyclone Yasi are an absolute kick in the guts for the industry,” he added.
“We all have a responsibility to help out our fellow Australians.”
Ian Jarrett
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