Beach Hotel Owners Call for Better Tsunami Detections

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Owners of the hotels located across the coastal beaches in West Java urged the government to immediately install accurate tsunami detection devices following the devastating Sunda Strait tsunami.

“I do hope that the Sunda Strait tsunami, especially in Anyer and Tanjung Lesung, would attract the government’s attention [to prepare and install a detection device],” said Erlan Effendy, a hotel owner at the Pelabuhan Ratu port, Sukabumi, West Java, December 26.

He added that the Sunda Strait tsunami has affected the number of tourist visits, added by the wild unconfirmed rumors that have spread. Erlan claims that these elements have caused tourists to cancel their bookings.

“Some visitors are worried and canceled their arrivals, but there are not many,” said Erlan.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of west java’s Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) Herman Muchtar said that the hotels in West Java in December experienced an increase of visitation. Most were booked for events from bureaucracy, school vacations, and Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Even though he has not received reports on tourists canceling their visits, he agrees that there might be a small number of people that will cancel their booked rooms. However, Herman believes that the industry in coastal beach areas will be crammed with tourists in the New Year’s eve despite the recent tsunami.

ANWAR SISWADI (Bandung)