The number of “extra flights” scheduled over the Christmas and New Years period 2017/2018 has dropped dramatically when compared to the same period one year ago.

Beritadewata.com quotes the Airport Authority – PT Angkasa Pura who reported on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, that in 2016 there were 613 requests for extra holiday flights, while in 2017 only 477 extra flight have been requested, a reduction of 22%.

PT Angkasa Pura is unprepared to speculate on why there are fewer requests for extra flights this year, but the perceived view is that the downturn is linked to the ongoing eruption of the Mount Agung volcano and a resulting downturn in Bali visitors.

The current requests for extra flights over the holiday period cover a period from December 18, 2017 until January 18, 2018.

An Angkasa Pura spokesperson said that Bali’s airport continues to operate normally following a 2.5-day temporary closure in late November due to volcanic dust in the upper atmosphere seen as a threat to aviation.

“Many passengers are frightened to fly to Bali because of Mount Agung; frightened that they will be unable to return home if the airport is closed during their visit. In fact, the Government has made all preparations in the event of an airport closure, including free transport overland to the nearest international airport. Passengers do not understand this,” said the Angkasa Pura official.

The reduced number of extra flights to Bali this holiday season will also result in a corresponding reduction of the number of tourists visiting Bali. Statistics compiled from the airport through December 19, 2017 demonstrate a decline in the number of tourists visiting Bali following the late-November airport closure.

On December 19, 2017, a total of 14,123 domestic passengers landed in Bali, a decline of 5.21% when compared to the 14,909 domestic passengers who arrived on the same date in 2016.

The number of departing domestic passengers from Bali’s airport has also declined. On December 19, 2017, a total 14,059 passengers flew out of Bali’s Airport, a number that is 4.03% less than the 14.650 passengers who flew out of Bali on the same date in 2016.

International passengers leaving Bali on that date in 2017 totalled 12,346, down 12% from the 14,116 who flew in 2016.

Arriving international passengers have also decreased. On December 19, 2017, a total of 9.261 passengers arrived, a decrease of 13.73% when compared to the 10.735 foreign passengers who arrived in the same date in 2016.

Total domestic and international passengers coming to Bali declined 8.48 day-on-day for December 19, 2017.

RadarBali reports that for the eleven months January – November 2017, Immigration officers at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport refused entry or sent home some 756 foreign tourists. Among those refused entry include individuals flagged as pedophiles, gang members, fraudsters, murderers and embezzlers.

Meanwhile, 182 foreigners were deported by Bali’s immigration office in the first 11 months of 2017.

Rachmat, assigned to the Ngurah Rai Immigration office, said during 2017 some 5,221,703 million arrived in Bali while 5,347,884 foreigners departed via Bali.

In the same 11-month period, 356,788 Indonesian passport holders landed in Bali with 344,029 Indonesian departing to overseas destinations from Bali.

January – November 2017 saw 1,355,136 Mainland Chinese visited Bali. In the same period,  990,468 Australians visited Bali followed by 239,014 Japanese nationals.

The Ngurah Rai Immigration office issued 14,040 Indonesian passports through December 18, 2017.

The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Nusa Dua Bali spread the joy of the season by hosting a Christmas party for underprivileged children.

Ignoring the disappointment accompanying the continuing eruption of Mount Agung, the management and staff of the 5-star resort in Nusa Dua shared the spirit of Christmas by hosting a party for hundreds of needy children drawn from 12 orphanages, children living atop a local rubbish dump, special needs kids and children displaced from exclusion zones surrounding the Mount Agung volcano.

The party was held at the Hotel on Monday, December 18, 2017.

ing welcomed at the entrance by management and staff, the children were escorted to a special game room to play games and win gifts donated by the various departments of the Resort.

e games were played the children enjoyed free flow sweets, food, drinks, and participated in the decoration of a gingerbread man. A talent show featuring performances by kids from ten orphanages added cheer to the day. Young trainees assigned to the Grand Hyatt also took to the stage to present a contemporary Balinese dance.

he afternoon drew to a close, Santa Claus accompanied by attractive Santarinas arrived to hand out goody bags to each of the children before the commenced their trip home.

Children Christmas Party is a longstanding community outreach program by the Grand Hyatt Bali. First held in 1992 and hosted at that time by the general manager Peter Stettler (now vice-president of Hyatt Indonesia), the children’s party is firmly established as an annual affair hosted in collaboration with Rotary Club Nusa Dua, and Golden Bird - who generously provided transportation for the Mount Agung evacuees.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has revoked the Emergency Disaster Status for Mount Agung.

As reported by Metrobali.com, the “disaster status” for the  Mount Agung Volcano was nullified by the President in a Presidential Cabinet meeting held in Sanur, Bali on Friday, December 22, 2017. Following the meeting, Widodo declared that the emergency declaration in connection with Mt. Agung was no longer necessary and therefore no longer in effect.

Despite the revocation of the disaster status, President Joko Widodo assured that those who have evacuated the exclusion zone located within a 10-12 kilometer radius of Mount Agung will continue to receive assistance from the Government. “The evacuees will continue to receive good treatment. The (emergency) processes in connection with Mount Agung will come into play if there is an eruption; management steps for evacuation are in readiness. Safety remains the top priority,” explained the President.

Separately, President Joko Widodo affirmed that the Mount Agung Volcano remains at the highest alert status of “Level IV - Awas” with an exclusion zone measuring 8-10 kilometers surrounding the Mountain.

In what appeared to be a correction of recent injudicious statements by a Cabinet Minister suggesting areas outside the exclusion zone were at a “Level II – Waspada” alert level, President Widodo said that the whole of Bali was not under any alert status, but only the small area surrounding the Mount Agung volcano.

While calling on the media to present Bali in a positive light, President Joko Widodo said: “Earlier, we saw that Kuta Beach was very busy with visiting tourists. Later, we went to local cafes that were also busy.”

The President traveled with his Cabinet to Bali to demonstrate to holidaymakers that Bali remains safe and to help Bali resume efforts to meet targeted tourist numbers.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo came to Bali on Friday, December 22, 2017, to demonstrate to the world that the Island remains a safe holiday destination. Widodo took the occasion to lift the emergency disaster status put in place for the Mount Agung Volcano.

Quoted by NusaBali, the President said during his visit: “We wish to show to tourism and the world that holidaying in Bali remains safe. This is because, the effects of the eruption of Mount Agung extends only to 8-10 kilometres from the peak of the Mountain.”

During an evening Presidential Cabinet meeting that began at 8:30 pm and was attended by 22 ministers, Joko Widodo confirmed that he had been informed by Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika and the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, that Bali remains safe to visit. The President added: “This means that, in fact, tourism areas in Bali have no problem. But, because of the many inaccurate media reports on Mount Agung and travel warning issued by several countries have reduced tourism arrivals. But, beginning today it’s already busy (again).”

The President called on Indonesia’s Foreign Minister and the Minister of Tourism to continue to provide information to friendly nations that Bali is safe to visit. He also asked that coordinating ministers call on their ministerial networks to promote Bali tourism, while providing accurate information on the Island and Mount Agung.

“The Foreign Minister and the Minister of Tourism have to keep giving information that is correct and complete to our Ambassadors assigned to friendly nations so that many tourists from these nations will come to Indonesia, especially to Bali. Our Ambassadors abroad also need to be directed with accurate information should a disaster occur,” said the President.

“I have the concrete hope, especially for the Minister of Tourism and the Coordinating Minister, to invite members of the tourism industry – from PHRI, ASITA and the airlines - to promote Indonesia and Bali until things return to normal and tourism arrivals match our projected targets,” said President Widodo

Bali’s ten new destinations – labeled as “New Bali’s” have been the focus of President Joko Widodo and his team for the past 1.5 years. Whilst in Bali, the President called on the Cabinet to work on making these new destinations become popular tourist spots.

At the Cabinet meeting the President decreed that the emergency decree covering Mount Agung be withdrawn the emergency terminology no longer be used as it incorrectly instills fear in the hearts of potential holidaymakers and prompts other countries to issue travel warnings.

The remove of the “emergency disaster status” for Mount Agung does not alter the current exclusion zone that extends 8-10 kilometers from the Mountain’s crater. Humanitarian aid and logistical supplies will continue to be provided to the some 70,000 people who have evacuated from the exclusion zone.

Prior to convening a cabinet meeting, President Widodo, performed one of his legendary “walkabouts” by removing his shoes and socks and strolling down Kuta Beach where he paused to speak with visiting tourists and posed for an almost stream of "selfies." Accompanied by his staff and a number of Ministers, the President stopped by a local food stall to drink coffee and eat fried bananas.

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When the President Calls the Shots

Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur - Bali, continues its support for Yayasan Bunga Bali and this year, in conjunction with the Sanggar Dewata Indonesia – Bali, is playing host to a charity arts exhibition from December 26 – 28, 2017 at the Griya Agung Ballroom.

The event will assist evacuees displaced from their homes in the exclusion zone surrounding Mount Agung. The Charity Arts Exhibition will feature live performances, art education programs, art competitions, and fund raising events over the 3-day event All proceeds from purchases made will be donated to improving the welfare of the thousands of evacuees from Mt. Agung.

Taking “Arts for Humanity” as its theme – the Charity Art’s Exhibition 2017 is expected to draw hundreds of art lovers, curators, senior artists, talented young performers and artists.

Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur – Bali is sponsoring this event as part of its community outreach campaign.

For more information contact Mr. Ngurah Aryawan by telephone +62- (0) 812 3746 4080 or Email .

Arts for Humanity
Charity Arts Exhibition 2017 – December 26-28, 2017
To Aid Evacuees from the Mt. Agung Volcano
Prime Plaza Hotel & Suites
Sanur Bali

TelegraphIndia.com reports that AirAsia will end its short-lived Calcutta to Bali service effective January 15, 2018.

An AirAsia Indonesia official said in announcing the suspension of service on Friday, 22, 2017: "AirAsia Indonesia will suspend its service between Bali and Calcutta (with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur) as part of a network restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiency. The final date of service from Bali to Calcutta is on January 15 and Calcutta to Bali is on January 16."

AirAsia Indonesia’s Calcutta to Bali four-time-weekly- run was exceptionally short-lived, only commencing service on October 1, 2017

The Calcutta to Bali service included a stopover in Kuala Lumpur.

Aviation observers say the cancellation of the Calcutta service was prompted by the seasonality of holiday travel to Bali and the recent downturn in passengers linked to the eruption of Mount Agung. Other travel operators said the exceptionally low round trip fare level of Rs 20,000 (US$312) was not sustainable.

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Oh, Yes, Calcutta

The Bali Tourism Board Hospitality Task Force has prepared a brief video providing a rational perspective and helpful suggestions for holiday visitors should a major eruption of Mount Agung occur.

The three-minute video provides details showing the very small portion of the Island of Bali (2%) that would suffer directly from any major eruption and explores the option of lingering in a Bali hotel or taking a land route to alternate airports in the event of a closure of Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport.

Bali Update: In The Event Of An Eruption

Travel.detik.com reports that the Indonesian National Flag Carrier PT Garuda Indonesia is confident that the Airline’s financial prospects are on the mend; optimistic that the 2nd semester of 2017 will end in the black.

The CEO of Garuda Indonesia, Pahala N Mansury, forecasts that the Airline will show a profit for the half year ending December 2017, because Q3 for 2017 showed a modest profit.

Quoted on Monday, December 18, 2017, Mansury said: “Because the three-months of Q3 saw a profit of US$62 million, we hope to at least break even in the following quarter leaving the second semester profitable as a whole.”

Q4 2018 for Garuda Indonesia saw the carrier’s financial results disrupted by the continuing eruption of Mount Agung in Bali, with passengers numbers declining as much as 10-15% because of the volcano.

Garuda total income for 2017 is expected to end the year at US$3.4 billion with the Airline expecting that figure to climb 11-12% in 2018.

While Garuda is not prepared to reveal profitability targets for 2018, measures aimed at increasing efficiency and productivity are ongoing across the Airline’s system. Mansury revealed that steps are underway to reduce fuels costs, reduce leasing expenses were now underway, and derive larger profit contributions from the Airlines subsidiaries that provide aircraft maintenance and catering support.

For all of 2017, Garuda will have carried 35-36 million passengers on its domestic and international route network, a number targeted to hit 37-38 million in the coming year.

System wide, Garuda is seeking to increase the utilisation of its aircraft from the current average of 9 hours 45 minutes to 10 hours 15 minutes by means of increasing flight frequencies on a number of routes.

News.detik.com reports that Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan has noted the recovering enthusiasm of tourists traveling to Bali following the Presidential proclamation that the Island remains a safe holiday destination.

Luhut said the sudden increase in tourist arrivals can be seen from the number of new bookings at hotels and airline bookings.

“As soon as we announced there was no problem (with traveling to Bali), there was a drastic increase in people booking flights and hotels,” said Luhut during a videoconference with the National Police Headquarters on Monday, December 18, 2017.

Luhut praised the government’s steps to share the news that Bali remains safe amidst the continuing volcanic activity of Mount Agung. At the same time, he invited all parties to actively promote Bali and the safety of enjoying a holiday on the Island.

The Provincial Police of Bali have deployed more than 2,000 officers to ensure the peace over the Christmas and New Years Holiday Period.

Quoted by the State News Agency Antara, Bali’s Chief of Police Inspector General Petrus Golose, said, “Please,welcome to any members of the public who want to take a holiday in Bali. I guarantee their security and safety. We (the police) will go ‘all out’ “

Chief Golose said police personnel assigned to maintain security are drawn from various branches of the police. Police will be assigned on roaming patrols, at places of worship, entertainment centers and tourist destinations.

Golose assured that, based on intelligence collected by the police, no significant threat to security exists over the Christmas and New Year period. At the same time, the General reminded those under his command to anticipate any potential development, including conventional crime, religious intolerance, terrorism, and radicalism.

Golose say his office was coordinating security closely with the Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Division of the police.

At the same time, General Golose called on all members of the police force to practice a humane approach in dealing with members of the public.

The 10th Herbalife Bali International Triathlon held on Sunday, October 15, 2017 attracted a record number of participants from 29 countries and has just been named the “Best Triathlon Course in Asia 2017” by www.asiatri.com .

AsiaTRI is the leading website for all triathlon related news specific to the Asian region. The one-stop website for local athletes who are seeking the most updated content through exclusive articles, local race coverage, international race coverage, Asian races calendar, local athlete and teams interviews.

AsiaTRI covered 49 international events, 34 of which were in Asia and the Oceania region.

In naming the Herbalife Bali Triathlon Run Course in 2017, AsiaTRI praised the new Sanur-based course for its long loop in both the Sprint and Olympic Distance events run over a flat surface through the village of Sanur, and the race's limited 200-meter beach segment.

Also praised was the event's Balinese flavor “by running past several local temples, beach and the local town, while enjoying a fast course.”

Here is AsiaTRI course review for the Bali International Triathlon 

AsiaTri Photos from the Herbalife Bali International Triathlon 

The 11th Bali International Triathlon is scheduled for October 21, 2018.

By the end 2017, Tabanan in West Bali will have the Open Stage Garuda Wisnu – a open-stage performance area located on the eastern end of “Taman Kota Tabanan.”

Work on the project has reached the 90% level and is expected to be completed before January 1, 2018.

Beritabali.com quotes Jero Mangku Ketut Sudiarta, the artists in charge of overseeing the project saying: “The work is 90% completed and will be done before Christmas in order to present its first performance.”

The open stage is situated at a monument statue dedicated to the Lord Wisnu. The statue has been constructed using a combination of fiberglass, sand and cement. A 40-meter high crane was used to install the upper-body and head of the Lord Wisnu on Monday, December 18, 2017.

The total cost of the open stage and statue is Rp. 7.7 billion allocated in stages from the Tabanan Regencies Budgets between 2013 – 2018.

(Photo: Bali Post)

Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism has revealed that national tourist arrivals for 2017 will fall short of a projected target of 15 million foreign visitors.

Through the end of October 2017, a total of 11,617,828 tourists visited Bali representing an increase of 24% when compared to the same period in 2016 when 9.403,614 foreign tourists came to Indonesia.

As reported by Balipost.com, 14 million foreign tourists are expected to visit the Country – a shortfall of one million from the projected target of 15 million visitors.

In the Southeast Asia region, Indonesian tourism is demonstrating strong growth in tourism (24%), second only to Vietnam that has recorded a 25.2% increase in arrivals for the period January-October 2017.

Meanwhile, domestic tourism nationwide has exceeded by 14% government targets for January-October 2017 with 252,569,465 domestic tourism trips generating an estimated Rp. 230.91 trillion tourism income.

Investment nationally in the tourism sector for the period January-September 2017 equaled US$1.39 billion representing an increase of 27.68% over the tourism investment achieved in the first 9 months of 2016.

Indonesia has targeted US$1.75 billion in tourism investments for 2017 as a whole.

Through the end of September US$1.094 billion was in the form of foreign investments with domestic investments totaling US$301.75 million.

In terms of foreign investments, the biggest investors in tourism were from Singapore, China and Japan that invested in hotels in Bali, Riau and Jakarta. Meanwhile, domestic investors were more drawn to projects in West Java, Central Java, and East Java.

The Indonesia Minister of Tourism, Arief Yahya, is voicing criticism of the Bali Hotel industry’s response during the ongoing eruption of the Mount Agung volcano.

An eruption in late November caused a 2.5-day closure of Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport and precipitated a dramatic downturn in tourist arrivals when the Airport resumed operations.

Quoted by Kompas.com, Minister Yahya said on December 21, 2017: "I was angry at that time with Pak Pitana (Deputy Minister for Marketing) regarding hotel discounts. With Mount Agung in Bali in that condition the hotel were still cheap about providing a discount.”

The Minister was disgruntled that hotels in Bali during a time of a sudden business downturn were only prepared to extend 20% discounts. Arief claimed that if hotels in Bali provide large discounts they will automatically reap many customers. Adding: “The more you give, the more you get. Just Google it, for example, the more will be provided for us. I also criticized all the hotels who didn’t give away free rooms when the airport was closed.”

Earlier Yahya had instructed hotel to give compensation and discounts to tourists stranded in Bali when the Airport was closed.

When the Airport was closed several hotels provided free accommodation.

During his recent visit to Bali, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ignasius Jonan, visited an electrical plant on Jalan Iman Bonjol in Denpasar in order to assure that Bali will have sufficient power supplies over the New Year period.

As reported by Metrobali.com, Jonan speaking on Thursday, December 21, 2017, declared that power supplies to Bali are sufficient for the New Year period. “I was told that the electrical supply in Bali is 1,200 megawatts. Meanwhile, at periods of peak demand the maximum power required is 800 megawatts. This means we have a surplus supply of 50%. That should be enough.”

Jonan was also used his visit to make sure power supplies would be maintained during the visit to Bali by President Joko Widodo on Friday, December 22, 2107. During his inspection, Jonan called on the State Power Board (PLN) to coordinate with the hotels used by the President to ensure a smooth flow of electrical supplies.

Jonan explained that the Presidential visit to Bali was to demonstrate to the world that Bali remains safe and there was no reason to delay a holiday on the Island. Jonan continued, saying, that the “danger zone” in Bali is limited to an 8-10 kilometer radius from Mount Agung’s peak with the remaining 98% of Bali safe for visits.

Jonan said his personal plans are to spend New Years Eve in Bali together with his family.

As reported by Beritabali.com, the Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs, Luhut Bisar Pandjaitan, visited Bali on Friday, December 22, 2017, to hold preparatory meetings for the October 2018 Summit of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

During that inspection trip, Luhut visited monitoring posts for the Mount Agung Volcano at Rendang in Karangasem Regency.

Despite the Mount Agung Volcano's current “Level IV – Awas” status, Luhut assured there is no reason not to go ahead with the IMF-World Bank meeting expected to attract more than 15,000 delegates and press to Bali.

“At this time, we saw directly the condition of Mount Agung from the Observation Post and received briefings from the Disaster Mitigation Team (PVMBG) that the danger zone is limited to an 8-10 kilometer radius from Mount Agung’s Peak,” said the Minister who was accompanied by the Indonesian Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, the Governor of Bank Indonesia Agus Martowardojo, and the head of the Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) Kasbani.

Luhut also explained that outside the “danger” or “exclusion zone” activities in Bali continue as normal with tourist activities at no threat. Luhut said the National Host Committee for the IMF-World Bank 2018 Summit continue to monitor Mount Agung while they maintain communications with the Meeting Team Secretariat of the IMF – World Bank Group.

The Coordinating Minister said that even if Mount Agung did erupt, that should not affect Bali’s ability to host the important meeting based on careful analysis and contingency plans now in place for even a major eruption.

The government has undertaken improvements on the Blimbingsari Airport at nearby Banyuwangi in case and need for an alternate airport arises.

Luhut said that President Widodo has issued instructions to all government agencies that planned meeting and activities in Bali should continue according to plan.

As Indonesia entered the school holiday period on Monday, December 18, 2017, the flow of domestic tourists traveling by land and ferry crossing from Java to Bali began an upward surge. From Monday, December 18th until Thursday, Decemebr 21st some 20,000 ferry passengers were counted traveling daily from Ketapang in East Java to the West Bali Port of Gilimanuk.

As reported by NusaBali, on Monday, December 18, 2017, considered the first day of the Christmas and New Years holidays, saw 24,990 passengers traveling on 2,004 motorcycles and 3,565 four-wheeled vehicles travel to Bali.

On the following day of Tuesday, December 19, 2017 a total of 23,485 passengers made the sea passage using 1,628 motorcycles and 3,843 four-wheeled vehicles

Then, on Wednesday, December 20th, officials say 21,802 passengers traveled from Java to Bali, increasing to 22,591 on Thursday, December 21, 2017.

Over the first four days of the official holiday period a total of 92,868 passengers traveled by sea from East Java to Bali.

When compared to the first four days of the 2016 Christmas and New Year’s holdays, the total number of passengers traveling from Java to Bali has declined 22% in 2017.