- BALI UPDATES highlighted by Travel Asia Magazine
- Unrest in North Bali
- Crystal Sound Therapy

 

BALI UPDATES HIGHLIGHTED BY TRAVEL ASIA MAGAZINE

Leading travel journalist, Ian Jarrett, published an article entitled "Technology to the Rescue" in the latest issue of TRAVEL ASIA. We are quoting this article in its entirety in this edition as it highlights what PATA BALI has managed to achieve with this newsletter in the 103 editions of this newsletter that have "gone to net" since March of this year and the marketing possibilities available in this modern age of electronic communication.

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"Technology to The Rescue" Travel Asia

When the going gets tough, the tough gets into technology. Ian Jarrett presents this case study of how Bali garnered technology to pull itself out of crisis.

In the weeks following the June 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising, tourism authorities in Hong Kong embarked on a damage-control exercise to counter fears that the problems in China would spill over. The Hong Kong Tourist Association's approach was to communicate quickly with the rest of the world to appraise potential visitors of the security situation in Hong Kong. The strategy involved faxed press releases to media and trade, backed up by speeches given by leading HKTA officials at trade conferences.

The HKTA did a good job restoring confidence. It used all technology available at the time – phones and faxes backed up by word of mouth – yet it took many weeks to get its message across.

The recent tourism crisis in Bali following the street riots in Jakarta last May also presented an opportunity for the island's tourism leaders to use technology to deliver instantly their ‘Bali Better Than Ever' message to a worldwide audience.

The difference this time was that technology had taken a massive leap forward since Tiananmen Square – and Bali had the people who knew how to use it effectively.

The immediate effect of the troubles in Jakarta and Elsewhere was devastating for Bali. Hotel occupancies dropped and, with the value of the rupiah plunging as the cost of essential commodities rose, it appeared that all those involved in tourism – from cleaners to managers to hotel owners – would suffer.

Six months later, tourism to Bali – if not the rest of the country – has bounced back strongly – and much of the resurgence can be attributed to the use of the Internet by people who knew how to make the most of it.

The BALI UPDATE electronic newsletter, for example, ensures new information reaches recipients within minutes of it going to press. "With our latest software we can handle 8,000 e-mails an hour," says Melina Caruso, director of marketing and owner of the Bali Paradise Online website, which distributes the Bali Update newsletter to 1,000 subscribers worldwide.

"No matter if Jack Daniels, the editor of Bali Update is in New York on business, and I'm interstate or overseas, we can still get the newsletter out as if we were both still in Bali," says Caruso.

Between them, Bali Paradise Online (BPO) and BALI UPDATE are producing the most informative and up-to-date information on Bali. The speed and scope of the information provided on aspects of safety and security, special deals and new attractions has encouraged the market to reaffirm its faith in Bali.

"People go on-line seeking information, and no matter what you're selling, information is all you can offer. Therefore, the quality of information you provide will determine whether or not you're successful in cyberspace," says Caruso. "We evaluate everything we do for information content. Good information is good business."

Consumer Jochen Kaufmann, of New York City, discovered the value of an information-rich website. He e-mailed this message to BPO. "Thank you giving me all that updated information on the situation in Bali during the Democratic Party Congress. Believe only half of what you hear and a third of what you see because when I left Bali on October 2, I heard Bali might be burned down. I saw red flags and people gathering in Megawati shirts. I didn't know what to think of all that, so thanks for keeping me informed."

The dollar value to Bali's tourism resulting from the on-line services is hard to quantify, although operators are in no doubt the Internet has boosted business during a difficult period.

Hugh Collett from Alam Sari hotel was forced to leave Jakarta during the May troubles. His family went to Australia and Collett to their Bali hotel property. He accessed the web home pages of the foreign embassies to get an up-to-the-minute assessment of the security situation in the capital before leaving. "All through the traumatic events of that time, our enquiries and reservations continued coming in by e-mail and we were able to assure potential guests to Alam Sari that the situation was calm and stable in Bali," said Collett.

Troy Lowrie of ProDive Bali was also grateful for the availability of a strong website: "We experienced almost no loss in business from the Internet during the difficult times due to the fact that we were able to communicate to potential clients the fact that there was no risk in coming to Bali. This would have been reassuring to them considering all of the other incorrect hype they were being exposed to."

Says Asri of the Ibah Hotel in Ubud: "Having e-mail and a website was vital this year as we were able to keep potential clients up to date on the situation in Bali and reassure them that it was fine to come. We got the ‘better than ever' message out quickly and cheaply."

Robin Faulks-Widjayatno of ER Tours also praised the speed of the net in spreading information. "As most of our Australian customers are linked to us via e-mail, we have been able to keep in touch and give them a daily report on the local situation. This really helped when we had the supposed ‘smoke' problem. Also, since the launch of the Bali Update newsletter, we have been able to forward more local information than we would have had time to compose personally."

Katrina Simorangkir of Bali Weddings International has also benefited from advertising on the Internet. "I cannot imagine we could have grown at the pace we have but for the net," she says. "The business comes in quickly, is responded to quickly and materialises quickly."

David Passman, general manager of Casa Padma Hotel at Legian, says Internet or e-mail bookings on average account for 25 per cent of the hotel's total bookings. He cites the ability of potential guests to take a ‘virtual' tour of the hotel, and the site's link to the world, and especially to travellers, as reasons for satisfaction with his presence on-line.

Bali Inter-Continental has also used the Internet successfully to generate bookings. "We have developed an extensive website, www.interconti.com/bali, and are currently receiving more than 20,000 hits per month. It contains over 700 pages of text and 300 pictorial images," says director of marketing, Noel McMahon.

This year for the first time, Bali was presented on the worldwide web at a consumer travel show. Several leading products were presented as the Best of Bali – Look or Book Bali by WWW. Exhibiting at the NATAS travel fair was Bali Paradise Online in conjunction with Bali Adventure Tours. Also exhibiting was Hard Rock Beach Hotel, another Bali Paradise Online client. "We presented the consumer with the opportunity to see the Best of Bali on the Internet, then take that information and either book with an agent, or book direct online," says BPO's Caruso.

"Promoting the destination - Bali – was our first priority and secondly, our product and services."

BPO represented 15 hotels at NATAS that may not otherwise have had a chance to be showcased at such an event due to the cost of attending.

Editor's (Ian Jarrett's) note: TravelAsia compiled this story using the services of Bali Update and Bali Paradise Online, both of which requested information be sent to Ian Jarrett. "In the old days, I would have had to make international telephone calls, or send faxes, to get the information. Thanks to technology, I was able to send two emails to Bali Update and BPO, whose clients emailed back their opinions," said Jarrett, who would like to thank all those who took the time to respond.

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Electronic communications does shrink the world. For example, I received this article on the internet while on holiday and am sending this edition of the BALI UPDATE on board the MV Oceanic Odyssey which is anchored off a village on the Trobriand Islands in far eastern New Guinea. Think Globally. Act locally.

 

UNREST IN NORTH BALI

Last Friday (11 December), violent clashes were reported between supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDI) and the Functional Party (GOLKAR) in northern Bali in the villages of Banjar, Cempaga and Sidatapa, all near Buleleng. As the result of these outbreaks of politcal violence, 4 people died and 17 were injured.

These areas have largely returned to normal with police, working in close cooperation with local political leaders from both of the political parties involved, now seeking to identify and arrest the perpetrators of what all side describe as "criminal" acts. To ensure the situation remains calm, some 800 military personnel are on temporary duty in the area.

Bali has to date been largely blessed by the absence of incidents such as these which have disturbed the peace on other islands of the Republic. Local officials appear to be genuinely shocked by this tragic and unnecessary loss of life and are now even firmer in their resolve to avoid similar outbreaks on Bali in the future.

It is essential to note, however, that this outbreak was limited to a small and relatively remote part of the island and at no time were there indications that the upheaval would become more widespread. Moreover, the dispute was between adherents of local political parties and was never focussed at outside parties or towards any visitors to the island.

While it saddens us to have to report this incident to our readership, it is essential that we provide you complete information on the current situation and assure you that tourist visitors to Bali remain unaffected and can continue to expect a peaceful visit to the island.

 

CRYSTAL SOUND THERAPY

Two mini-seminars on Sound Therapy and Crystaline Transmission lead by Awahoshi Kavan are scheduled for December 21 and December 29 at the Bali Sani Suites' Terati Room on each date from 1030 until 1430 hours.

Based on the perceived value of listening to the sound of crystals, the vibration of crystals activate emotional release and foster spontaneous healing.

For more details or to book space contact MARINTURS at telephone 62-(0)361- 757 552/58 , facsimile at 62-(0)361- 757 562 or email to marindps@indo.net.id

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