Today (24 July 2009), Jakarta Special Capital Region (DKI Jakarta) Governor Fauzi Bowo welcomes the fact that rupiah rate strengthened the whole day. “Another evidence that Indonesia’s economic condition is not affected by terrorists’ action.” Yesterday (23 July 2009), rupiah rate, referring to middle exchange rate of Bank Indonesia, passed Rp 10,000 and it was closed at Rp 9,995 against U.S. dollar.

Governor also said, ”It is undeniably that tourism industry will be affected by the bombing, but it will be temporary. I am confident that time needed for recovery will be not as long as that needed after the JW Marriot bomb blast in 2003. Right now, not only I feel, but also I see that there has been resilience and determination to not let the terrorists dictating our life.”

This morning (24 July 2009), at the Jakarta Media Crisis Center, Chairwoman of Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association Yanti Sukamdani said,” Bomb blasts at JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels decreased hotel’s occupancy rate. The occupancy rate is decreased by 54%.” Nevertheless Yanti Sukamdani is certain it will be improved by the end of 2009.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Ben Sukma explained the cancellation made by international tourists in several regions in Indonesia is about 5-30%. “In Jakarta, the cancellation reaches 30%” said Ben.