Sulawesi tours unaffected by quake in non-touristy region

As Indonesia picks up the pieces from the deadly earthquake that hit Central Sulawesi last Friday, trade players interviewed report that Sulawesi tour programmes remain largely unaffected.

Ricky Setiawanto, director of business development Africa, Europe, and Baltic States of Panorama Destination said Palu, Donggala and Mamuju – the trio struck by the tsunami following the earthquake – are not main tourist destinations and hence not included in its Sulawesi overland tours.

Each year, Destination Panorama sees an average of 10 tour groups, each with around 20 participants, taking up its Sulawesi Overland Tour. The trip starts in Manado, North Sulawesi to Makassar, South Sulawesi or vice versa. The only stops in Central Sulawesi are in Togean Island, Ampana and Tentena, which are quite far from Palu, Donggala and Mamuju.

Ricky explained: “At the time of the earthquake, we had a tour group in Tentena, Central Sulawesi. They were a little shaken but not affected. Now the group is already in Toraja and the tour goes as usual.”

Palu and the affected areas are also not featured in Sulawesi tour programmes for Makassar-based Incito Vacations although some of its clients transit in Palu.

Ng Sebastian, owner of Incito Vacations, said: “The impact (from the recent disaster) is minimal as only a few of my guests want to transit in Palu. Most of them fly directly from Makassar to Poso or Gorontalo.”

For those who have booked through Palu, Ng will divert the route directly to Poso as the Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu resumes operations.

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