Bali bookings keep coming despite boycott calls
SUNSHINE Coast holidaymakers are not rushing to cancel Bali travel plans in the wake of the execution of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan in Indonesia.
Travel agents who specialise in Bali destinations say they are continuing to book holidays despite the immediate backlash.
Yesterday, Fairfax MP Clive Palmer urged holiday makers to stay at home and enjoy Queensland destinations.
He was speaking after introducing a bill that would have prevented the Australian Federal Police giving Indonesian police the information that led to the Bali Nine's arrest and ultimate execution of Sukumaran and Chan.
Reader poll
Would you still book a holiday to Bali despite the Bali nine duo executions?
This poll ended on 23 July 2015.
Current Results
Yes, it has no weight on where I holiday, it's still a beautiful place
42%
No, I don't want to support a country like that
31%
Never been to Bali, never would go
26%
This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.
Shaun Levings of the Coast-based World Surfaris said he was still taking bookings.
He said as horrible as the executions had been, most people realised it was a government issue that did not involve the man in the street in Bali.
"Indonesia veterans know that to boycott Bali would be taking food out of the mouths of people they know,'' he said.
"Do we cancel holidays to the United States every time someone is executed?
"I really feel for the families."
TOP ONLINE STORIES
FATAL CRASH VICTIM'S RELATIVES WITNESS SHOCKING AFTERMATH
MOTORIST DRIVES WRONG WAY DOWN MAJOR SUNSHINE COAST ROAD
RAIN ROLLS IN BUT WORST OF BIG WET MISSES SUNSHINE COAST
MOOLOOLABA HOME INVADER "ACCIDENTALLY SHOT DRUG DEALER"
THIEVES BREAK INTO MARCOOLA CLUB, STEAL EMPTY BOXES
MONSTER SLIDE ORGANISERS MAKE LIGHT OF HITCHES
"Australians will continue to travel to Bali no matter what backlash occurs,'' she said.
"We are still taking bookings. It's such a popular destination in Coolum with so many surfers and their families here."
Nicolette Middlebrook of Tewantin Travel described the executions as horrible but said at this stage there had been no cancellations to Indonesian destinations.
"Some people are cautious, but they are still travelling there,'' she said.
Booking agency Webjet has told the SMH that its bookings to Indonesia have jumped 42% in the past four weeks on the same period last year.
