No surprise here. From AFP, with thanks to Anthony:
Warnings from foreign governments of an imminent terrorist attack in Indonesia have led to a spate of cancellations from visitors planning to travel to the country, tourism officials in Jakarta said."At least 500 tourists have cancelled their planned trip to Indonesia for the December 2004 to April 2005 period," said Yachya Mahmoed of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies.
A pity.
Gues who'll be worst hit from these tourist cancellations? Not indonesian muslims but the Hindu majority of Bali.
Ideally, the Hindus should take up a 'peaceful' separatist demand and agitate to sever the island's links with the muslim mainland. unlike Abu Sayyaf in southern Philipines, the Hindus of Bali will have a legitimate grouse against jakarta.
But Hindus aren't muslims you see. Don't expect them to agitate and demand. They ceded the whole of Indonesia to islam 5 centuries ago, what makes them think they'll last another generation with the faith of their forefathers?
Well islam exists to conquer and convert. Indonesian Hindus of the past were tolerant but tolerance with Islam means surrender as the worlds most populous, former Hindu, Muslim nation can attest to. And the same will happen first in Europe then in Canada, then in America.
Rumour has it that most of the hotels in Bali are owned by the Generals and not by locals.
The locals only work there.
I haven't been to Bali for 15 years.
So how is it now, is it more Islamic? Are the locals being overrun by mussies?
Wouldn't surprise me...