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-   -   Indonesia travel advisary? (https://www.fodors.com/community/asia/indonesia-travel-advisary-745386/)

bmtrips Oct 28th, 2007 06:02 PM

Indonesia travel advisary?
 
I am planning to go to Indonesia in April 2008 for 1 month. After doing some reading in the Lonely Planet and this site, I am very excited! After some advice from a friend, I checked out the Canadian travel advisary to see they have some warnings. They recommend avoiding some areas completely and avoid non-essential travel to all other areas in Indonesia. Anyone been there recently? Is this worth listening to?

Kathie Oct 28th, 2007 06:49 PM

Only you can determine what you are comfortable with. In the US, I often have the sense that travel advisories are more about politics than real threats. But that's just my opinion. I have been to Indonesia since the travel warnings (which have been in place for years). I felt comfortable with my decision and had a wonderful time.

SirHalberd Oct 28th, 2007 07:49 PM

Tourism is off a little bit since the bombing by Muslim terrorists killed so many tourists. The last terrorist attack killed 26. A previous attack almost 3 years earlier killed over 200 people.

With tourism off so much you should be able to get some really good prices for hotels!

Being a victim of a terrorist attack is sort of like buying a lottery ticket and becoming a big winner! Sometimes it happens but most of the time it doesn't!

Up to you!


Melnq8 Oct 28th, 2007 08:35 PM

I'm an American living in Indonesia. I'm not aware of any new travel advisories or current threats, but you'd do well to remain vigilant and take normal precautions while here.


jonbarb709 Oct 29th, 2007 04:28 AM

Not sure where you are from, but if are concerned about traveling then I wouldn't go. We have traveled to Bali twice in the last 3 years and we have already set up our next trip in Feb 2008. There probably isn't a place you want to visit that you can't find something wrong, but we really enjoyed Bali and can't wait to get back. John

marmot Oct 29th, 2007 04:59 AM

The travel advisories have been in place since the political turmoil in 1998. After that there were several terrorist related bombs and the warnings were racheted up. Although Indonesia has been fairly peaceful in the past two years, once in place, it's very difficult to dislodge the warnings as governments don't want to be liable if something goes wrong.

Indonesia is an Islamic country with a TINY but dangerous extremist fringe. There are also the occasional sectarian conflicts that flare up between religious groups. None of this is unusual in the world we live in today. Sadly, terrorism is a fact of life just about anywhere you might travel, but the actual chance of being affected -- inconvenienced, or godforbid, harmed, by a terrorist attack is very, very small.

Only you can decide if this situation would make Indonesia a no-go for you. No one wants to feel uneasy on holiday, but if it makes you feel any more confident, thousands of Americans, Canadians, Europeans and Australians travel in Indonesia every year -- including members of the diplomatic corps whose embassies are writing those dire warnings!

There are certainly areas that you might want to avoid, though even those like Aceh, Central Sulawesi and West Papua, have calmed down a lot in recent years. Bali and Java are reasonably safe.


Mitch04 Oct 29th, 2007 07:55 PM

Call me an idiot..but I have never taken much notice of travel advisories. Governments play it cautiously so they can't be blamed if anything happens, and they can subsequently "We DID warn you...".

I got a similar warning before I went to Assam earlier this year..."Terrorists, kidnappings, bombs, thieves, riots..." etc etc.

I still went and met the friendliest, warmest and nicest people I have met anywhere in Asia or on the Indian sub continent....

bmtrips Nov 5th, 2007 05:30 PM

Thanks so much for the replies. We are definitely going to Indonesia in April 08!

Ericka Nov 6th, 2007 04:02 AM

We continue to travel to Indonesia despite travel warnings but try to avoid overly touristed areas. It makes us feel more secure (and also exposes us to more of the real culture of Bali, etc.)

seriasa Nov 6th, 2007 06:33 PM

Hi

Thank you very much for your plans to visit Indonesia may Bali?

I'm Balinese hoping much you will visit to Bali(Indonesia) under your country travel advisory
We are in Bali so hard after got twice Bom,but from this year we recover little by little,because of tourist understand about Terrorist can attach anywhere But we must fight,if you agree
Hoping you can help us to visit Bali( Indonesia)that mean your support us to fight with Terrorist
But if all tourist afraid Terrorist will be win

We are in Bali with 3 Million people
Life with 70% from tourism
Can you imagine about us

Again Thank you if you willing to come to Bali (Indonesia)

Peace
Ketut Seriasa
Jimbaran Bali
Mobile +62.81337286437
[email protected]

BeniciaChris Nov 15th, 2007 01:24 PM

GO!!|!!! I was just there a month ago & felt no threat whatsoever. The people are warm & friendly-food inexpensive-spa treatments unbeleivable. Last year we went to Istanbul and our English friends didn't join us because the press told of bombings & told the people not to go. Again I felt nothing but friendliness from the Turks. There are things going all over the world and if you live in fear you never experience the joy of travel & seeing how other people live-Happy Travels from a compulsive traveler. Chris

lydie Nov 15th, 2007 05:08 PM

Ketut, I love your island and can't wait to come back. Amed is one of my favorite places in the world. I think/hope with the wild popularity of the book "Eat, Pray, Love" you will see an uptick in tourism. Peace.

bmtrips Nov 20th, 2007 05:35 PM

Ketut,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my concerns. It is because of emails like yours, that we are going ahead with our travel plans to Indonesia in April 08!Looking forward to experiencing your country's culture and warm hopitality.


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