BALI UPDATE #270 - 19 November 2001

The Bali MICE Guide is Here!

Hot Off the Press – The Bali MICE Guide 2002 has Arrived in Bali and on the Desks of Meeting and Conference Planners Worldwide.

The Bali MICE Guide 2002 - a comprehensive guide for the meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) sector, launched at a gala cocktail reception on Tuesday, November 20, is here!

The 100-page Guide, produced by Bali Discovery Tours and Pacific Asia Travel News is a private sector effort organized under a cooperative body of Bali travel suppliers known as The Bali MICE Initiative. Printed in 14,000 copies and distributed to key decision makers in the meeting and conference sector, the 100-page Bali MICE Guide 2002 contains detailed information on hotels, conference facilities, flights access, key destinations within Bali, and practical tips for groups visiting Bali.

The launching cocktail at which some 200 top Bali travel figures were invited was held at Bali's newest MICE dining venue - Rumah Bali. An evening of drinks, music and delicious Balinese cuisine sponsored by Rumah Bali, Hatten Wines, Bali Hai Beer and Bali Discovery Tours - held to celebrate the launching of the island's first guide for the meeting and conference market.

Commenting on the Guide, Bali Discovery Tours' President Director, Mr. John M. Daniels, expressed his appreciation to the 54 companies who joined the initiative making it possible to produce Bali's first conference and meeting guide. "In the height of the ongoing economic crisis affecting Indonesia, the Government called on the private sector to take the initiative and combine forces to work to restore vigor to Indonesia's travel industry. This Guide represents Bali's response to that call to action," he added.

The Bali MICE Initiative has announced its intention to publish a follow-up 2003 edition of the Guide in an expanded format, including a special section highlighting the island of Lombok. Bali Discovery Tours' Managing Director, Mr. Arie S. Sukirno, explained that the next edition of the guide would permit a continual product update to the growing list of MICE operators maintained in The Initiative's data bank, as well as the opportunity to introduce new MICE products. According to Mr. Sukirno, "Lombok is a natural complement for MICE visitors to Bali. Just 30 minutes by air or 2 hours by fast ferry away, Lombok's excellent beaches and outstanding value in accommodation represent strong attractions to the worldwide MICE market."

The Bali MICE Guide 2002 is distributed without charge to qualified readers. Buyers and decision makers in the meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition market are encouraged to contact The Bali MICE Initiative at telephone ++62-(0)361-286283 or facsimile ++62-(0) 361-286284. E-mail to mice@balidiscovery.com.

More information: Qualify for your copy of the Bali MICE Guide 2002

Back to School!

A Fun and Funny Fundraiser for the Sanur Independent School on Friday, November 23.

Are you an embarrassment to your children?

The Sanur Independent School is holding an evening that will allow you to relive your school days by taking "pop" quizzes covering current trends and fads among your children and teens. There will also be an auction, raffles and games including refreshments and adult libations they never served you in your days at middle school.

It's all for a good cause and gets underway at 1930 hours on Friday, November 23 at the Istana Rama Hotel on Jalan Pantai Kuta - the beach side boulevard in Kuta. The ticket price is Rp. 50,000 in advance and Rp. 60,000 if you pay at the door.

Exciting prizes are including accommodation packages at fine hotels and resorts, gifts from some of Bali's finest stores and boutiques, meal vouchers at the island's best restaurants and much, much more!

For tickets and more information contact Putu at telephone 0361-284410 or facsimile 0361-286554 or via the e-mail link below.

A word to the wise: dress "cool." Not only will you avoid embarrassing your kids, but you could win a prize for the best dressed in Friday evening's class, we mean, party.

More information: Email contact for Fundraiser tickets

Chief of Tourism Board Resigns

Yudhara Calls it 'Quits' as Head of Bali Tourism Board (BTB). War of Word Breaks Out Between BTB and Hotel & Restaurant Association Chairman.

Mr. I Gusti Bagus Yudhara MBA has announced his resignation as Chairman of the Bali Tourism Board (BTB) effective November 1, 2001. The resignation, announced last week (November 15, 2001), after its acceptance by Bali's Governor, leaves BTB - the organization charged with coordinating the various tourism organizations and activities in Bali, embroiled in a heated public debate with the Chairman of another leading tourism organization on the island.

While the actual reasons for the resignation remain unclear, an interview with Mr. Yudhara carried in the November 15 edition of the Bali Post, indicated his unhappiness with allegations that BTB's goals had become lost among activities and duties outside the immediate concern of the island's tourism industry.

Among the severest critics of BTB is Mr. I Gde Wiratha, Chairman of the Bali Chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI). Mr. Wiratha has been quoted as claiming that the "working" tourism sector is inadequately represented in the management of BTB, that BTB lacks a commitment to tourism, and its management lack sufficient financial involvements in Bali's tourism sector. These strong allegations have brought a spirited response from BTB's Vice Chairman, Mr. Ir. Made Suryawan who has invited Mr. Wiratha to participate in a dialog with the BTB Board.

Rejecting the charges made against BTB, Mr. Suryawan has underlined that both tourism investors as well as other professionals are involved in the organization in keeping with BTB's role as a "think tank" and strategic partner of the Government in tourism policy matters. Quoted in the local press, Mr. Suryawan characterized Mr. Wiratha's statements as being both "irrelevant and unproductive" within the context of efforts to build teamwork among Bali's various tourism components.

In explaining the reasons for the invitation for a dialog issued to Mr. Wiratha in his capacity as the Chairman of the PHRI, Mr. Suryawan said BTB wishes to meet with both the Chairman and PHRI's membership in order to determine how familiar Mr. Wiratha is with the actual workings of BTB, while, at the same time, determining what standards are applied in measuring the overall efficacy of both the BTB and PHRI.

In disparaging the statements of the PHRI Chairman, Mr. Suryawan suggested Mr. Wiratha should possess a more thorough understanding of a problem before making any public pronouncements. He added that he was "fed up with tourism "celebrities" whose only talent was making statements to the press, but preferred to lay down when it becomes their turn to work."

Mr. Suryawan has been named as caretaker Chairman of the BTB until such a time as the stakeholders of BTB can be convened to select a new Chairman. Mr. Yudhara, who just resigned the top job at BTB, also serves as the Chairman of the Bali Chapter of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ASITA), a position he still retains.

(Bali Post, 16 & 17 November 2001.)

Minister Ardika Dislikes Cable Car Proposal

Minister's Lieutenant Voices Ardika's Opinion on North Bali Aerial Cable Car Project.

Indonesia's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. I Gde Ardika, negative opinion on the long-debated project proposal to build a scenic aerial cable car system connecting Bali's north coast to the island's central hill district has been voiced by one of his senior staff during a visit to Bali. The project, although backed by local government officials in the Buleleng area of north Bali, has been widely criticized in some circles as inappropriate development with the potential to destroy the island's natural character.

Mr. R. Sarwono, the Director General of Tourism Product Development for the Department of Culture and Tourism during a visit to Bali last week conveyed his boss' disagreement with the proposed cable car system. The Minister's statements places him at direct odds with the open support of the project by the Bupati (Regent) of Buleleng, Drs. Ketut Wirata Sindhu.

Meanwhile, an instructor in Eco-Tourism and the Environment from Bali's Udayana University, Professor Anak Agung Gde Raka Dalem, has joined those opposed to the proposed Cable Car system, suggesting the development of hiking, trekking and other low-impact forms of eco-tourism is more preferrable in the relatively natural environment of north Bali. (Bali Post 16 November)

Visitor Numbers Decreased in September

911 Events Deflate Tourism Arrivals.

The traveling public's reluctance to fly following the terrorist attacks of September 11 and rumors of "sweeping" in Java and elsewhere in Indonesia, extracted a heavy toll on visitor arrivals nationwide in September.

Foreign arrivals measured at the 13 main gateways of Indonesia showed a drop of 3.69% when compared to arrivals for the previous month.

Meanwhile, Bali's September arrivals dropped 8.34% to 139,741 with the largest declines being recorded in Makassar (Ujung Pandang) and Manado which slid 46.72% and 25.28%, respectively.

While official figures are not yet available for October, estimates are that arrivals are down between 25 to 33% at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport.

Nation-wide tourist arrivals year-to-date totaled just over 3 million through the end of September. Original government projections for arrivals for the entire year of 2002 were set at 5.4 million - a figure now becoming increasingly unrealistic.

Garuda & Merpati to Merge?

Re-merging Garuda Indonesia and Merpati Nusantara Airlines Under Consideration by Government.

The State Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, Mr. Laksamana Sukardi, has recently endorsed the idea of merging Garuda Indonesia and Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

Underlining that such a move would first have to be subject to careful scrutiny, the Minister said both companies now have their own respective corporate cultures and any potential synergy resulting from such an amalgamation would have to reduce costs and add to the overall efficiencies of both carriers.

Minister Sukardi was speaking at a thanksgiving ceremony held in connection with the recently approved restructuring of US$1.8 billion in Garuda's debt that successfully extended the repayment period from 12 to 16 years. Escaping the threat of imminent liquidation, Garuda Indonesia received final permission to restructure its debt last week from the High Courts of London and Singapore. Mr. Abdulgani, the President Director of Garuda, recently told the press that permission to restructure their corporate debt was based on his airline's dramatic turn around achieved over the past 3 years that managed to reduce costs, obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, be named the best on time airline at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, and win a "crisis busting" award from Travel Weekly East magazine.

Garuda's boss has publicly expressed his scepticism regarding the merging of the two airlines in light of the unfavorable results of recent financial and management audits of Merpati.

As the next step in Garuda's financial salvation, plans are for the airline to be privatized in 2003, providing the necessary capital to repay its debt and finance an expansion plan for the national carrier.

GWK Slated for Completion 2003

Bali's Monument Park Confident Construction Ready in 2 Years.

The construction of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) project, a mammoth 120-hectare cultural park on Bali's Ungasan peninsula, will be completed by the year 2003, according to recent statements made by the project's President Director, Mr. Putu Agus Antara.

Apparently, the remaining hurdle of a lack of sufficient funding which has stalled the project over the past few years is well progressed in the process of finally being overcome. Mr. Antara has stated that five potential investors have been identified to provide the final phase of financial support needed to complete the US$ 150 million project. According to local press reports, one of the potential investors is from China as reflected in the time and expense lavished on an inspection visit by Chine Premier Mr. Zhu Rongji during a two day visit to Bali, 9-11 November.

The park, when completed, will house dining, entertainment, exhibition, shopping and cultural attractions atop a panoramic hilltop just south of Bali's airport. The centerpiece of the park will be an inspiring statue of the Lord Wisnu mounted on the shoulders of a mythic Garuda bird. The statue measuring 146 meters high will tower 230 meters above sea level and will be visible for 20 kilometers.

More information: Visit the GWK Website

Phil Hill is Back

Well Known U.S. Hotelier Returns to Bali in a New Role.

Mr. Phil Hill, a well-known and much-liked American hotelier in Bali, has recently returned to the island after an absence of several years to manage and re-launch the Hotel Istana Rama.

Following his former Bali postings with the Melia Bali Sol and the Grand Mirage between 1991 and 1997, Mr. Hill held management level positions with properties in Jakarta and Shanghai serving with the Raddin and Regal International East Asia hotel groups.

His arrival as General Manager of the 148-room Hotel Istana Rama coincides with the purchase of the property by a Surabaya-based company who plan to extensively remodel and upgrade the property. The hotel is located on Bali’s beach-side boulevard in Kuta.

Mr. Hill is a graduate of the University of the Pacific - Stockton in California with a post-graduate degree from the Cornell University School of Hotel Management. In a hospitality career spanning three decades, he has held senior positions in Jakarta, Bali, China, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Middle East.

More information: Welcome Phil back with an e-mail