VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Tourism Ministry has prepared 100 billion rupiah a month for Bali normalization process after Mount Agung eruption two months ago. Meanwhile another 20 billion rupiah funds will also be disbursed for rehabilitation process and trauma healing in Lombok. Speaking to reporters after the “Tourism Friendly Journalism Movement” at Hotel Sari Pacific, Jakarta on Wednesday October 24th 2018, Indonesian Tourism Minister, Arif Yahya said that Bali has entered normalisation, seen from the international events that have successfully held in Bali recently.  

“Well, Bali has entered normalization phase. The easiest example of normalization is an international event held on 12th to 14th October. We have had an international event, the annual meeting of IMF-World Bank. Once it happened that is the sign of normalization. Lombok is still in rehabilitation process. If Bali has six months to recover, I hope we can do it in three months with Lombok. Why three months, because Bali cannot resist the industry in three months. Payments have to be paid, et cetera. All utility water, electricity has to be used. Based on that experience I ask all governments, stakeholders and industries to do the rehabilitation, reconstruction in three months in Lombok. Palu is not included in the main tourism destination and all activities is standard because there are not many tourists like in Bali and Lombok. So Lombok needs more Trauma healing than Bali. For Lombok we provide 20 billion rupiah for Trauma Healing,” said Arif Yahya.

Arif Yahya added that the funds are taken from 2018 State Budget and 2019 State Budget. Arif Yahya explained that he did not want to take a risk so he secured 30 billion rupiah for Bali normalization and Lombok rehabilitation. (VOI/NK/AHM)