BALI is enjoying a boost in tourism, thanks to an increase in the number of Australians returning to the Island of the Gods.

Australians are returning to the resort island in droves, despite the Australian governments travel advisory continuing to warn tourists against traveling to Indonesia.

The US government has lifted its travel warning for Indonesia, saying the security in the country no longer requires the use of such a warning.

Balinese tourism operators say that it is time for Australia to follow suit and do the same.

An increase in the number of Australians visiting Bali has continued to grow this year, prompting Garuda Indonesia to put on extra flights from Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney. The airline also expects to increase the number of flights out from Perth in the near future.

Stats show that the number of Australians traveling to Bali has risen by more than 57 per cent in the first quarter of 2008 compared to last year.

This builds on strong growth in 2007, with Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing a 63 per cent increase in the number of Australians visiting or holidaying in Bali last year.

The 2007 calendar year saw, 206,427 Australian residents traveled to Indonesia on holiday, which was up from 126,595 in 2006.

The 2002 and 2005 terror bombings, which took the lives of more than 230 people, including 92 Australians, had a devastating impact on Bali’s tourism industry.

Australia is Bali’s second biggest tourists source, with the 78,500 Australian visitors making up approximately 13 per cent of the island’s foreign tourists, slightly closing the gap on Japan at approximately 20 per cent.

Mason, who has lived in Bali for over 20 years, believes the Australian advisory is no longer needed, saying Indonesia’s success in arresting Jemaah Islamiah operatives and supporters in the years after the Bali bombings.

“I would be extremely surprised if it ever happened again,” he says. “It’s been a complete change in mentality.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), however, is maintaining its travel advisory, which warns Australian citizens to consider their need to travel to Indonesia, including Bali, due to the very high threat of terrorist attack.

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