As Lombok quake triggers cancellations, trade reacts with recovery plans

Lombok is beginning to see trip cancellations from visitors following the devastating earthquake last Sunday, but the travel trade is adamant to push out the message that most parts of the destination remain unaffected and safe for travel.

Dewantoro Umbu Joka, chairman of the Association of The Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) West Nusa Tenggara, said: “(The first earthquake on July 29) did not have too much impact, and visitors continue to come. But with the (second one measuring) a magnitude of seven on Richter Scale, it’s become a concern (for visitors). ASITA members reported receiving many cancellations.”

He was particularly concerned about the Gili Islands, as some 80 per cent of international travellers to Lombok also visit the trio of islands.

Estimating a loss of around 100,000 direct arrivals to Lombok due to the recent earthquakes, Indonesia minister of tourism Arief Yahya had announced that the government would try to keep up with its international arrival target to Indonesia by accelerating recovery in disaster-affected areas.

Lalu Abdul Hadi Faishal, chairman of Indonesia Hotel & Restaurant Association (IHRA) West Nusa Tenggara, is confident that Lombok bookings will recover in two months.

He asserted: “I think it’s normal to have lots of cancellations for a few days. This is a force majeure, everyone panics. But this condition will not last long. In fact, it can be faster than expected because the central government is involved directly in handling the situation.

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