BALI UPDATE #268 - 05 November 2001

Bali Again Voted the Best

Sweeping? When it Comes to Travel Awards - That's Just What Bali Does! Conde Nast Traveler Names the Best in Travel.

The prestigious Readers' Choice Awards for 2001 have been announced in the November issue of Conde Nast Traveler. Bali travel products continued to dominate the selection Conde Nast's well-traveled readers when asked to name their favorite island and resorts.

Here's a sampling of the results, demonstrating Bali's stellar performance:

Top Tropical Island

#1. Maui  #2. Bali  #3. Kauai  #4. Phuket, Thailand   #5. Big Island

Top Asian Resorts

In the competition for the top ten Asian resorts, Bali dominated the top five spots.

#1. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran  #2. Ritz Carlton Bali  #3. Sheraton Laguna Nusa Dua  #4. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan  #5. Grand Hyatt Bali

Overall, only seven resorts managed to achieve a superlative 90+ rating in the survey. Three of those were on the island of Bali.

Best of the Best Awards

This category, reserved for the very best providers of travel service in the world also saw Bali well represented.

#5. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay  #8. Ritz Carlton Bali  #15. Sheraton Laguna Nusa Dua  #36. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan  #45. Amandari Bali  #49.Grand Hyatt Bali  #57. Amankila Bali

There you have it. Not only is Bali safe, but also a safe bet as one of the world's best tropical islands and home to the largest collection of resorts voted the best by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler.

More information: Conde Nast Travel Readers' Choice Awards

Standing on Common Ground

Celebrating our Differences - Bali Holds a Weekend of Prayer and Community Nov 10-11.

Bali Berumbun - a group of Bali residents deeply concerned by the recent escalation in worldwide hostilities, is holding a weekend of shared prayer and celebration of the diversity of the many ethnic groups, religions and nationalities that comprise Bali's modern community. The event - Common Ground: Prayer and Celebration of Diversity is, according to its organizers, founded on the belief that the "power of prayer will arouse an essential understanding that sincere greetings of peace are universal."

Starting on Saturday, November 10, at 3 p.m. at the Regional Parliament Building (DPR-D) in Denpasar, representatives of the Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, Christian, and Confucian faiths will be on hand and join hands for an afternoon and evening of entertainment including traditional Balinese dance, dances from Padang (West Sumatra) and Aceh, theatre presentations, clowns and musical performance. The next day, Sunday, November 11, an evening of acoustic music - dubbed "Indonesia Unplugged" is planned starting at 7:00 p.m..

The organizers believe that Bali's diversified population has demonstrated to the world that their home is an "island of peace" where our differences form a common community that is committed to peace, safety and fellowship.

Participation on both days is free of charge. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information telephone Cok Sawitri at ++62 81 239 45 064 or Christine at ++62 81 138 81 85.

More information: Contact Bali Berumbun

No Change In Visa Policy?

Minister Ardika Denies Any Decision Afoot to Change Current Visa Policy.

During a visit to Bali last week (28 October), Indonesia's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. I Gde Ardika firmly denied that the Government was currently considering any change in the visa on arrival facility extended to the nationals of 48 countries. When asked by a local reporter to comment on the change in visa policy, Minister Ardika said, "There is not a single decision from the Government of that type. Please note. There is not a single decision from the Government like that."

The Minister's flat denial is in strict contrast to recent public statements made by Indonesia's Minister of Defense, Mr. Matori Abdul Djalil and widely reported in the national press and as reported in Bali Update (see link below).

Despite Minister Ardika's denial, concern that the Government might revoke or modify the current visa policy has caused widespread concern in tourism circles. The rumored change in policy was discussed and roundly criticized in a meeting of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agents (AISTA) held in Lombok last week.

More information: Related Story: Here We Go Again

Hirai-san Retires

Mr. Satoru Hirai - Popular Owner's Representative at Sheraton Nusa Indah Retires.

Mr. Satoru Hirai, a familiar and friendly face in Indonesian tourism circles has decided at age 75 to retire from his current post of owner's representatives at the Sheraton Nusa Indah Resort.

Active in local tourism associations such as PATA and SKAL, Hirai-san's first posting in Indonesia was with Japan Airlines as the General Manager of the President Hotel in Jakarta from 1986-1990. Following his retirement from JAL, he worked for a brief period with the ASTRA corporation before accepting his most resent appointment with the owning company of the Sheraton Nusa Indah.

Hirai-san's plans for the future include a full year's rest before embarking on his next project to facilitate extended stays for Japanese retirees in Bali.

Bali Village at WTM

Despite Business Slump, Large Bali Contingent at World Travel Mart 12-15 Nov.

In the face of an uncertain world economy following the events of September 11, a large contingent of professional Bali travel operators are traveling to London this week to attend World Travel Mart (WTM). Considered one of the leading international travel events of the year, WTM will be held at Earl's Court in London 12-15 November.

Adopting the theme "The Industry Fights Back," the Group Exhibition Director for the event, Ms. Fiona Jeffrey, said "the event is now being viewed as a significant forum, a demonstration of unity and strength, a chance to talk, debate and address constructively and realistically a strategy that will put the industry back on course." Some 5,000 exhibitors from 170 countries are expected at this year's event.

List of Bali Travel Industry Participants

The following Bali travel companies will be attending WTM exhibiting together under the banner of Bali Village:

Hotels

Aneka Hotel Group, Holiday Inn Resort Bali Hai, Hotel Intan Bali & Lombok, Hotel Sanur Beach, Keraton Bali, Maya Ubud Resort, Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resort, Nikko Bali Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa, Paradiso Hotels, Resor Seminyak - The Resort and Spa, Risata Bali Resort & Spa, Santrian Resorts, Saphir Hotels and Resorts Indonesia, Segera Village Hotel, and The Grand Bali Beach.

Tour, Services & Travel Operators

Bali Tours & Travel, Bali World Travel DMC, Bentala Mitra, Dimensions in Bali, Jan's Tours and Travel Services Ltd., Kawas Spa, Media Tours, Puri Tours, Santa Bali Tours & Travel, Satriavi Leisure Management, Tunas Indonesia Tours & Travel.

Look for any of the above representatives of Bali tourism at Earl's Court November 12-15.

US$ 660 M Foreign Exchange Loss

Minister of Tourism & Culture Counts Growing Losses to Tourism. Urges World to See Bali for Themselves.

Indonesia's Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr. I Gde Ardika revealed last week (31 October) that he expects tourism to suffer a 20 to 30 percent decline this year, translating into a loss equivalent to US$ 660 million dollars in lost foreign exchange.

Despite the prospect of coming up nearly 1 million visitors short from the originally projected 5.4 million visitors for the year, the Minister is still optimistic for a fast recovery and that a targeted 7 million foreign visitors will be achieved in 2004.

In order to make up for shortfalls in current arrivals, efforts are underway to increase Asian arrivals and increase domestic travel activity.

Commenting on Bali's continued safety and stability for foreign visitors, the Minister said: The lack of tourist arrivals is because people are worried about visiting and this is a psychological problem. Because of that, tourists need to come to Bali to see for themselves that Bali is safe."

Trade & Promo Center For Bali

Construction Starts on Exhibition Center at Garuda Wisnu Monument.

P.T. Garuda Adhimatra, a Bali company, is investing Rp. 120 billion (approximately $12 million) in the construction of an international trade and promotion center at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana complex.

Scheduled for completion at the end of 2002, the exhibition facility will form part of a 230 hectare cultural and entertainment park surrounding the 146 meter high (230 meters above sea level) Garuda Wisnu Monument that will dominate the southern skyline of the island near Bali's airport.

At the groundbreaking ceremony this week (28 October), the company's President Director, Mr. Putu Agus Antara, explained that the Garuda Wisnu Kencana project was again underway after a pause necessitated by the economic crisis.

More information: Garuda Wisnu Kencana Website

Revenues Drop at Ngurah Rai

Following 911, Bali's International Airport Reports Income Down Dramatically.

P.T. Angkasa Pura I the operators of Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport have revised downward their revenue projections for 2001 from Rp. 300 billion to 200 billion (Approximately US$ 20 million).

According to the Managing Director of Angkasa Pura I, the revision was made necessary by a drop of nearly 40% in the number of passengers handled through Bali's airport following the events of September 11 and the subsequent coalition attack on Afghanistan. Prior to September 11, Bali's Ngurah Rai handled an average 6,000 passengers per day, a total that now runs well below 4,000 per day.

Contribution For Community Development

Angkasa Pura I recently contributed Rp. 10 billion (approximately US$ 1 million) to the Bali provincial government earmarked for community development. The Airport Authority has been the object of widespread criticism by local legislators for failing to share its revenues with the cash-starved local government.

Bali's Security Gets Thumbs Up!

Japanese Ambassador Visits Bali, Praising Island's Security Situation.

The Tuesday, October 30 edition of the English language Jakarta Post reported that the Japanese Ambassador to Jakarta, Mr. Yuki Takauchi had just concluded an inspection visit to Bali during which he found the island to be safe for visits by tourists from his country.

Ambassador Takauchi was quoted by the paper as saying: "The results of my monitoring during my two-day visit to Bali show the island is safe, so I will encourage Japanese tourists not to be afraid of visiting Bali."

During his visit to Bali, the Ambassador consulted with Bali's Chief of Police, Brigadier General Budi Setyawan, receiving a complete briefing on Bali's past record of maintaining the peace and current measures in place to ensure tourists enjoy their stay in complete safety.

Commenting on the protest demonstrations in Jakarta, the Ambassador discounted the dramatic press coverage of those events, claiming the "security threat" in the Capital "was nothing special."

The Japanese and Australian markets remain Bali's largest sources of foreign visitors.