Indonesia has decried a travel advisory issued by key inbound market Singapore asking citizens to defer travel to some areas of Bali.
Although Bali’s Mount Agung has seen a minor eruption this week, the advisory is out of proportion and ‘excessive,’ said Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.
"It’s excessive for Singapore to issue an advisory on Bali as only a radius of 6 to 7.5 kilometres around the crater of Mount Agung is considered dangerous," said government spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
"The condition is safe. Flights are also safe."
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the advisory after an eruption saw ash clouds rise about 700 metres above the crater.
"Volcanic eruptions could result in ash clouds that could severely disrupt air travel, leading to closures of affected airports. Ash fall could also affect outdoor activities," the MFA said its in travel advisory.
According to local reports, there has been no rush to cancel travel plans, Singapore travel agents say.
The eruption on Tuesday has been classified as a minor ‘phreatic eruption’ which is caused by magma heating water rather than a breach of magma itself.
The peak has been showing increasing seismic activity for several weeks but an expected imminent big eruption never materialised.
Airlines including Jetstar and Virgin Australia are still operating as normal but are keeping an eye on the mountain’s safety status, which remains at the second-highest level.
"Airport operation is still normal. Passenger arrivals are still normal and no flights have been cancelled," airports operator PT Angkasa Pura I said.
