Industry body hits back at A Current Affair’s “misleading” report about “ravaged”, “trashed” and “deserted” Bali hotels

Industry body hits back at A Current Affair’s “misleading” report about “ravaged”, “trashed” and “deserted” Bali hotels

Bali Hotels Association (BHA) has hit back at Nine’s A Current Affair (ACA) for reporting the island was “trashed” and “deserted”, which the industry body said is “far from the truth”.

ACA aired a story on 10 November that claimed the fall out of the COVID-19 pandemic had “ravaged” the island and let hotels trashed and streets empty.

The program showed a hotel in the Legian area that was portrayed as trashed, wrecked and deserted, implying all hotels in Bali were suffering a similar fate, according to BHA.

“This type of misleading news has the potential to create a negative image towards the destination,” the association said in a statement.

“We would like to ensure what has been reported and portrayed in the news circulated on social media from ACA program by Channel 9 Australia is based on facts and not assumptions made by the presenter and some of those interviewed.”

Based on the information received by BHA, the hotel, which is not a Bali Hotels Association member, portrayed in ACA has been closed due to a change in owners, undergoing renovation in some parts of the hotel area and is scheduled to be re-opened in 2021.

“Like any other countries which are also affected by the pandemic, our central and local government is assisting the hospitality industry by granting funds, which will be used to continue operating their business and paying their employee salaries,” the association said.

“It has been a difficult time for all of us in the tourism industry all over the world, and Bali is not much different.

“Our membership of over 150 hotels and resorts in Bali provides us with a very solid overview of what is happening here in Bali.”


Image: Facebook/A Current Affair

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