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Mount
Merapi brings uncertainty to Central Java tourism
By Y. Sulaiman l eTN Asia
 Increased
seismic activity and uncertainties surrounding the eruption of Mount
Merapi has not only affected the daily lives of village inhabitants
around the active volcano, but dwindling tourist flow has started to
bite into hotel occupancy rates in the area.
Since the declaration of a state of alert on April 12, the estimated
437 hotels of various classes offering a total of 9,600 rooms around
Mount Merapi have been almost deserted.
"Nearly all hotels have been affected," said Sisa Primashita,
spokesperson for Sheraton Mustika in Yogyakarta, whose occupancy has
dropped to 40 percent. "Besides the drop in occupancy rate, other
events have also declined."
Sukamto, a tourist site operator in Gondong hamlet, Sleman reported
cancellations or postponements of 20 bookings received for April to
June. "We normally receive groups of between 50 to 300 people."
Tri Sutami, from Quality Hotel, whose occupancy has dropped to below
50 percent, is claiming that there have been a lot of misinformation
concerning Yogyakarta being affected. "The impact is felt only
around the slopes of the mountain," she said.
While local tourists are shying away from Mt. Merapi, the number of
foreign tourists has increased. Authorities have designated eight
safe locations to view the volcano for tourists who have been drawn
by the display of lava leaping from the volcano rim.
Of the unlikely tourist attraction, Sukamto said, "It's like
watching a giant fireworks display. The view is breathtaking, hard
to describe in words and should not be missed.”
He added: “Tourists assume the volcanic ash will spread in all
directions during an eruption, but based on past experience, the
burning lava from Merapi only falls on certain danger spots. In
certain cases the lava flow is a beautiful sight."
Musthofa, head of disaster prevention office in Sleman, was quoted
by Jakarta Post as saying, "The management of Merapi tourism is
under the authority of each village. In addition to being safe,
tourists will not be disturbed during an eruption. The eight
locations are away from evacuation routes."
"It's very unlikely Merapi will have a vertical eruption,” said
Subandriyo, head of Yogyakarta's Volcano Technology and Education.
"Most likely when Merapi erupts it will be like previous eruptions,
with lava flowing away when the lava dome falls apart.”
He added, "The danger is from heat clouds and molten ash."
Merapi is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Formation of new
lava on Merapi's dome is growing at a rate of 150,000 cubic meters
per day, reaching a height of 75 meters.
Mount Merapi which sits astride the border between Central Java and
Yogyakarta is over 2000kms away from Lombok Island. Tourism
operations, airport services and hotels remain at full operational
levels with hotels on the island ready to welcome holiday makers to
this stunning island.
For tourist, climbers who wish to do regular trek to Mt Rinjani
Lombok should not to worry because Mt Rinjani (Lombok) is thousands
miles away from Mt Merapi (Central Java).
*****
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