Local authorities on the Indonesian resort island of Bali have expressed concern that tourist arrivals this year will stay far below the targeted 1.6 million arrivals due to the Oct. 1 restaurant bombings.

"I'm certain Bali will not achieve the target. (The bombings) on Oct. 1 and the sharp hike in fuel prices have discouraged tourists, be they are foreigners or locals," Bali Tourism Office head Gede Nurjaya was quoted Saturday by Kompas daily as saying.

According to his office data, tourist arrivals in the first 11 months of the year reached 1.31 million.

Nurjaya said tourists are also worried about possible attacks during Christmas and New Year eve.

Daily arrivals in Bali stand at around 2,000 against up to 5,000 prior to the Oct. 1 bombings, which killed 23 people at three restaurants.

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2005)