Bali to become Indonesian airline hub

Some 6,000 Americans canceled their trips to Bali following the September 11 terror attacks in the United States

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- In a bid to sway tourists to come to Indonesia, national carrier Garuda Indonesia said it plans to turn Bali -- the country's most popular beach resort -- into its next hub for international flights.

Garuda director of operations Rudy A. Hardono said the plan to make the shift to Denpasar, Bali is of absolute necessity, noting that tourists are reluctant to disembark in Jakarta due to security concerns.

"In catering to that trend, Garuda provides direct international flights to Denpasar, and to make it more efficient we have also made Denpasar our international hub," Hardono told The Jakarta Post daily.

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Tourist arrivals to Indonesia have been down since the start of the regional economic crisis in 1997.

But a recent wave of anti-American protests in Indonesia in the wake of the U.S.-led offensive against Afghanistan, have further damaged the country's tourism industry.

An estimated 1.2 million international tourists have reportedly canceled their planned trips to the archipelago.

From Denpasar, Garuda will eventually service 21 international routes to Japan, Australia and Europe, Hardono added.