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Bali hotels urged to help stranded visitors

The Bali Hotel Association (BHA) has called on its members to assist holidaymakers stranded in Bali due to this week’s European flight cancellations.

The more than 100 upscale Bali hotels who comprise BHA’s membership have been urged to extend their Best Available Rate (BAR) to guests who contact hotels directly presenting proof that they are temporarily stranded in Bali waiting for the backlog of flights to Europe to clear.

Guests experiencing financial difficulties have been put in touch with their respective foreign consulates maintaining offices in Bali, or with embassies in Jakarta.

BHA members have been asked not to impose any charge for re-booking Bali visitors who have been forced to cancel or delay their Bali holiday – providing they rebook their Bali stay anytime before the end of 2010, subject to availability.

BHA spokesman Jean-Charles Le Coz said, “Some members were even more generous and extended in some cases free accommodation or waived cancellation fees – a great display of solidarity to stranded passengers when other destinations are bucking on the immediate surge in customers to hike their rates by more than 100 per cent.”

Le Coz said the impact on direct European flight cancellations in Bali has been limited “and the situation is now going back to normal”.

tourismindonesia.com