After a desperately slow business pace last year in related to the second bomb attack, Bali is now taking the heat back. Bali is experiencing a near-record in hotel and flight bookings for upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.

The local flag carrier Garuda Indonesia operating ten daily services from Jakarta to Bali is fully booked for Christmas – New Year period. They even have added an extra 2,000 seats to meet the high demand. Local private airliner flying Jakarta – Denpasar route confirmed similar situation. Demand for international routes flied by Garuda is also increasing. Flights from Japan to Bali are almost fully booked while there is still six weeks away to the season. Singapore Airlines which operates three daily return services between Singapore and Bali confirmed their optimism in getting double-digits increase, compared to the last year, in number of passengers traveling from Singapore to Bali for the upcoming Christmas – New Year holiday seasons.

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THE Federal Government’s travel advisory to Britain is inadequate and underestimates the extent of the terrorism threat there, tourism figures and security experts have warned.

London is now seen as the prime western target for jihadists, especially after Britain’s spy chief revealed there were 30 active terrorist plots and 1600 suspects.

More than 900,000 Australians travel to Britain each year, and hundreds of thousands more live there.

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By Ian Jarrett

LONDON - Qatar Airways will launch services to Bali in mid-2007, one of seven new destinations being started by the Doha-based airline. The Bali service will be an extension of its current service to Jakarta.

Another new destination for Qatar Airways in 2007 will be Ho Chi Minh, launching services in March.

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar al Baker said 2007 would be a milestone year for the airline, with daily scheduled flights from Doha to New York using Airbus A340-600 aircraft, starting next year.

A new premium terminal at Doha International Airport will be dedicated to First and Business class passengers with facilities to include fine dining outlets, spas and luxury shopping.

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