Not good for US Travelers who have received the latest warning about travel to Indonesia. Don't go! The warning doesn't do much for the Tourism Market there. Unfortunately this warning will be picked up by a number of country's and there goes the domino effect.
Then again - Why put oneself in harms way? TRAVELSAPIEN suggests travelers do their due diligence when traveling. In today's environment Tourism is being challenged by one too many issues in one too many country's around the world. Travel yes but travel safe.
"JAKARTA, Indonesia — The United States is warning Americans to avoid nonessential travel to Indonesia, saying a suicide bombing on Bali island earlier this month showed that terrorists were still active.
"The possibility remains that terrorists will carry out additional attacks in Bali, Jakarta or other areas of Indonesia in the near future," the U.S. Embassy said, adding that it had received reports Americans could be targeted. The U.S. State Department posted a new warning to travelers on its Web site, superseding one issued in May.The warning came hours before Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Firman Gani disclosed at least 18 sites in the capital are potential targets of bomb attacks ahead of and during next week's celebration of the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.
"Police posts will be set up at malls, railway stations, airports, shopping centres and other places," Firman said. He did not identify the places by name.
The world's most populous Muslim nation has been hit by deadly terrorist attacks every year since 2002, when twin nightclub bombings on Bali killed 202 mostly foreign tourists.
The Oct. 1 suicide bombings on the same island targeting three crowded restaurants killed 20 people and wounded more than 100.
The fresh U.S. warning said Americans who do visit Indonesia should "be aware of their surroundings at all times, and vary their routes and times in carrying out daily activities."
Terrorists could target places frequented by Westerners, including hotels, clubs, restaurants, shopping centres, places of worship and schools, the warning said.
Information
U.S. State Dept. www.travel.state.gov
The Bali bombings and the 2003 and 2004 blasts at the Marriott hotel and the Australian Embassy, both in Jakarta, have been blamed on the al-Qaida-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiyah."
(reprinted with permission) STAY SAFE FRIENDS!
