DENPASAR (indo.com): PT Garuda Indonesia's plan to temporarily close London-Frankfurt-Denpasar route has been cancelled following mounting criticism from overseas travel agents and the country's tourism components.

The decision was announced at the Legian Hotel by commissioner of PT Garuda Indonesia, Robby Johan, to chairmen of the Bali Government Tourism Office (Diparda) and travel associations Thursday January 31, 2002

A Chairman of the Association of the Indonesia Tour and Travel agencies (ASITA) Bali, I Gusti Bagus Yudhara, accompanied by the chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali, I Gede Wiratha, said that the cancellation is guaranteed by Garuda due to concerns over Bali tourism.

The decision to close the route was recently announced by Tourism Manager and MICE of PT Garuda Indonesia, Ruzali Din Doena at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Yogyakarta. The closure was in anticipation of the decline in the number of tourists visiting Indonesia from the two countries.

Yudhara also announced that the London - Frankfurt - Denpasar route will not transit in Jakarta any longer. Garuda Indonesia will directly fly London - Singapore - Denpasar as well as Frankfurt - Singapore - Denpasar. This alternative route will benefit Bali in terms of efficiency.

Chief of Bali Government Tourism Office, Gde Pitana hailed the decision. He said that the flight route was also used by tourists from surrounding countries since Germany and the UK are the main points of departure for many European visitors.