BALI UPDATE #283 - 18 February 2002

Visa Facility Under Threat Again

Government Moving to Revamp Visa Free Facility for 48 Countries.

Numerous reports in local press indicate that the Government is preparing a major shake up in the current policy that makes Indonesia visa free for visitors from 48 countries, allowing non-extendable stays of 2 month's duration. Reports from Jakarta indicate that an interdepartmental government team has already been formed to suggest changes to the policy and eventual implementory steps predicted to occur in July of 2002.

How widespread the changes in the current policy will be are a matter of great speculation, but are expected to include a reduction in the number of countries granted visa free facilities and a complete or partial elimination of the current facility replaced with a US$ 50 visa-fee payable on arrival.

Minister of Culture and Tourism, I Gede Ardika has confirmed the establishment of the technical team to review the issue, but emphasized that no decision has yet been made on the number of countries nationals that will be affected by any changes. The Minister did hint that those countries that have failed to optimize the use of the visa free facility may be in jeopardy of losing it and that the length of stay granted is under review on a country-by-country basis. Some nations currently granted 60 day stay permits may receive only 30 or 14 days under the policy changes now under discussion.

Local press reports quote high-ranking government officials as stating the new policy will be "more restrictive and reciprocal" than the current arrangement. The new policy is expected to allow visa-free visits by citizens of ASEAN nations, reduce from 48 to 9 the number of countries extended visa-free entry, reduce the length of those visas to 30 days, and charge a $50 landing fee to help raise state revenues.

A similar change in policy suggested two years ago was widely criticized in Bali's tourism circles, fearful of the negative impact on national tourism and potential abuse invited by collecting cash for visas as tourists pass through the nation's international gateways. A world-wide survey commissioned at that time by the PATA Bali & Nusa Tenggara Chapter demonstrated that major travel wholesalers predicted drops of 30-50% in the number of visitors sent to Indonesia should the visa-free facility be removed.

Reacting to the latest wave of proposed changes in visa policy, Mr. Pontjo Sutowo, the Chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Think Tank (MPI), said the proposed changes underline the government's ambivalence towards national tourism and "opens the opportunity for other nations to ask 'what's going on in Indonesia?'"

The current disarray and controversy prevalents among tourism associations in Bali are fueling concerns that Bali tourism will be unable to organize an opposition to the proposed changes losing the limited opportunity to be heard during the deliberations currently underway in Jakarta.

More information: Send Your Comments on This Story

Visit us in Melbourne!

Strong Bali Presence at Major Asia Pacific Conference and Incentive Show in Melbourne.

Bali Discovery Tours will be part of a delegation of 8 Bali travel companies joining forces at the Asia Pacific Incentive & Meeting Expo (AIME) to be held at the Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre on February 19-20, 2002.

Operating from the Bali Pavilion at AIME, the following companies will be jointly presenting their travel products and services to encourage meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition travel to the island of Bali:

Bali Discovery Tours
Bali World Travel
Bali Dynasty Resort
Bali Hilton
Bali Padma Resort
Hard Rock Hotel Bali
Melia Bali Resort
Nusa Dua Beach Resort and Spa

John Daniels, President Director of Bali Discovery Tours will be representing his company and will also have copies of the newly produced Bali MICE Guide 2002 - Bali's first comprehensive guide for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions on the island.The Bali MICE Guide 2002 was produced by Bali Discovery Tours on behalf of the Bali MICE Initiative an association of 52 companies supporting Bali's MICE market.

Pura Uluwatu Struck by Lightening

Bali Landmark Suffers Extensive Damage.

An early morning lighting strike on Wednesday, February 13, 2002, resulted in damage to portions of the 11^th Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple, considered one of the six main sad kahyangan territorial temples of Bali.

Located on a limestone cliff, 70 meters above the Indian ocean and occupying one of the highest points on the Bali's southernmost peninsula, the temple is frequently hit by lightning. Remarkably, the most recent incident only affected one of 9 monuments on the site. Suffering the damage was a shrine made of recently quarried marble, while other nearby Meru tumpang tiga or three-tiered temple spires made of wood were untouched.

Rebuilding the damaged section of the temple will commence almost immediately. But first, several important religious ceremonies consecrating the rebuilding process must take place on the designated day of Monday, February 18.

The Pura Luhur Uluwatu is a popular destination for visitors to the island, located in close proximity to hotels in nearby Nusa Dua and Jimbaran.

More information: Visit Pura Uluwatu with Bali Discovery Tours

Coastal Erosion Blamed on Bali's Airport

Experts Point to Changes in Natural Wave Patterns.

A reoccurring pattern of erosion damage along Kuta's coastline is being blamed on changes to the natural current and wave patterns caused by recent land reclamation at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport.

The Head of Bali's Beach Restoration Project, Mr. Tjok Bagus Budiana reports that over 50% of Kuta Beach's 6.5 km beach long beach front has suffered erosive damage, accentuated by recent storms touching Bali. According to Budiana, the land reclamation that formed the platform for the airport's runway extension changed sea patterns and resulted in abrasion further down the beach, affecting one of Bali's main beach areas. Improper construction of seawalls by local hotels to protect their beaches and dynamiting by local fishermen have further exacerbated the situation.

Speaking to the national news service, Antara, Budiana said, "There is a desperate need to save the beach from further destruction." Adding, "this is important having in mind that Kuta Beach is one of Bali's greatest assets in the tourism sector."

Bali Chosen for Timor Sea Talks

Timor Gap Treaty Expected to be Discussed at February 25th Meeting in Bali.

Tri-partite talks between Indonesia, Australia and the Timor Lorosae governments to explore solutions to cross-border issues and formally reopen talks on the Timor Gap Treaty will be held in Bali on Monday, February 25, 2002.

Believed to contain huge mineral reserves, the exploration and exploitation of the sea area between Timor and northwestern Australia is governed by a bi-lateral treaty negotiated between Australia and Indonesia in 1991, prior to Timor's vote for independence from the Indonesian Republic. That treaty, which must now be ratified or renegotiated between Timor Lorosae and Australia, provides for 11 international oil companies to undertake drilling on a production-sharing basis.

Timor Lorosae's emergence as a nation-state now put up for renegotiation are the divisions of territorial rights over the seabed, the size of production shares and, potentially, whether or not Indonesia will continue to share in the gas and oil production pie derived from the Timor gap area.

Timor Lorosae's Minister of Economy, Mari Alkatiri and Australia's Energy Minister, Paul Henderson are expected in Bali for the late February meeting.

Here's That Rainy Day

A Tropical Storm in Australia Brings a Rainy February Week to Bali.

A tropical cyclone that appeared over Australia's Northern Territory on Monday, February 11, brought nearly five days of rain and overcast weather to Bali's tourism centers. Cyclone Claudia's main brunt was reserved for Australia but its tailwinds whipped up heavy rains and strong gusts on an island where the "rainy season" is more typically marked by intermittent showers followed by intermittent sunshine. For five days from February 11, rains pelted the island of Bali with Denpasar and the surrounding areas remaining largely wet and overcast. Meteorologists are predicting rainy conditions may persist over the region until the end of February.

Heavy rain in Bali over the past weeks have resulted in isolated flooding and mudslides on Bali's north coast.

Proving that even the weatherman can be wrong, sunny and clear skies re-emerged over Bali's capital of Denpasar on Saturday, February 15^th.

Entry #7 - Bali Dream Holiday Contest

Entry Number Seven in The Bali Dream Holiday Contest - another entry from Australia.

You have until the end of April to send your description of what you think a perfect dream holiday in Bali would be like and you might just win 2 tickets on Singapore Airlines, 7 nights at the Fours Seasons Private Estates Bali at Jimbaran Bay, tours and transfers from Bali Discovery Tours, rafting and cycling excursions from Sobek, luxurious spa treatments from Mandara Spa, a helicopter tour from Air Bali, and Cooking Lessons from Bumbu Bali/Rumah Bali.

Entry's are welcome in any format, both from veteran travelers to Bali or those who only harbor a wish to visit.

Colleen Pearson of Australia, balich@optusnet.com.au, is this week's featured entry in the Bali Dream Holiday Contest.

My Bali Dream Holiday

As soon as we leave the aircraft it begins, the awakening of my senses. I feel the warmth, I smell the sweet perfume of flowers and incense and I feel as if I have come home after a long journey. I first visited this Island Paradise over twenty years ago. When it was time for me to leave, I knew I was leaving a part of my heart behind.

We leave the airport behind, we drive through the colourful streets of the city where small stalls and large buildings stand side by side. I wish we could stop and shop for some of the beautiful handicrafts they have on show.

Now we drive out into the countryside, through small villages, the children in their neat school uniforms walk hand in hand, smiling and waving to us as we pass.

"Look" I cry out to my husband, a procession is passing by. The men in their sarongs and shirts are playing musical instruments and the women have huge baskets of fruit that they carry so elegantly on their heads. I wish we that we could get out and join them.

Up into the hills we go passing emerald green rice terraces, far down below in a valley a very old man is working with his water buffalo, carrying on his age old profession of rice farming, I wish we could stop and talk to him.

On the side of the road monkeys play, free and happy, no bars here to separate them from us.

Finally we arrive at our destination, a beautiful hotel with glorious tropical gardens. Here we will spend our holiday and from here we shall go out and do all the things I wished that I could do today.

Someone is shaking me gently, "wake up" my husband says. You had such a beautiful smile on your face, where were you, he asks. I will give you one clue I reply, "I was in on holiday". My husband smiled, "you were in Bali". "Yes" I replied, I wish it wasn't a dream, I wish I really was in Bali.

More information: How to Enter the Bali Dream Holiday Contest

Khong Hee Fat Choy!

The Chinese Year of the Horse Gallops into Bali.

Bali's residents of Chinese ancestry and visiting Chinese tourists' celebration of Chinese New Year on Tuesday, February 12, 2002, was enlivened further by the simultaneous celebration of the Bali-Hindu festival of Siwaratri on the same date, followed by Pagerwesi the following day, February 13.

While many of the ethnic Chinese of the island visit local Klenteng's or Chinese temples to burn incense, paper money, and have their fortunes predicted for the bold year of the horse that lays ahead, their Balinese brethren spent the entire night in prayer and meditation, staying awake until morning as to symbolize their repentance for past sins and wrongdoings. The next day, Pagerwesi, literally the day of the "iron fence" - is a day devoted to the Sanghyang Pramesti Guru, - Lord of the Universe, who bestows strength and determination on all his followers.

The Balinese festival of Saraswati, preceded Chinese New Year celebrations by 3 days, falling on February 9, and is dedicated to the Goddess of knowledge and the arts. Fittingly, books, libraries and tools of education were honored on that date. Ironically, however, Saraswati is a day on which tradition dictates Balinese should refrain from any act that requires reading.

Bali Hinduism shares strong historical roots with Buddhist traditions and many local ceremonies and cultural icons bear more than a hint of Chinese cultural influences. As a result, the Balinese have long enjoyed a largely peaceful cohabitation of the island with their Chinese neighbors, including last week's celebration of festivals and rites marked by a shared lunar calendar.

Domestic Flight Loads Increase

20% Plus Increase in Domestic Passengers in 2001.

Statistics provided by the Indonesian Center for Statistics covering the first 11 months of 2001, show domestic passengers carried on Indonesian Air Carriers increased by 21.05% to 7,82 million passengers when compared to the same period one year before.

Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport garnered the lion's share of domestic passengers, lifting 29.03% of all domestic passengers followed by Surabaya with 11.97%.

International passenger uplifts, however, painted a less rosy picture with total passengers down 5.82% over the previous year at 3.98 million. 47.17% of international passengers flew via Jakarta's airport with Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport coming in second carrying 1.3 million passengers or 32.59% of all foreign passengers.

Where's Bali's Best Accommodation?

Bali Update's 3 night Stay at 'The Residence' Reveals a Level of Princely Accommodation 'Hard to Beat' on an Island Of Outstanding Lodgings.

When you’re lucky enough to live in a Paradise like Bali, you tend to discount or ignore offers to stop by and sample what is billed as "Bali's very best accommodation." In fact, it took me almost an entire year to take advantage of Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa's General Manager, Danny McCafferty, generous offer to spend 3 night in The Residence.

A second invitation, should one ever come, will be taken up in a blink of an eye.

To claim The Residence is "fit for a king" would not be to indulge in hyperbole: the two story private enclave nestled within the 5 star hotel's property was originally built as the Bali home for His Royal Majesty, The Sultan of Brunei.

Approached via a private drive with its own discrete entrance, The Residence has a formal reception area leading into a opulent drawing room and an adjoining large dining room suitable for formal occasions. Both are served by a fully-equipped pantry, staffed as required by international standard chefs.

A wide black marble staircase leads to the living quarters on the second floor which include two exquisitely appointed bedrooms with adjoining facilities and separate dressing areas; a family living room; and a fully equipped private gymnasium.

Furnishing and fittings throughout, as you might expect, are of the highest standard: furniture upholstered in hand-spun silks and damask; a prized collection of original art; state-of-the-art entertainment systems in every room including the gym; with drinks and meal service on hand crafted bone china, fine silver and crystalware.

All this supported by a staff so attentive in anticipating your every need that I accused Danny of only employing clairvoyants for this role.

Befitting, I suppose, the requirements of the heads of government who often stay in The Residence, there's also a private 25 meter lap pool; an internal security system that provides video camera surveillance of all approaches, and windows protected by bullet proof glass.

The Residence's professional staff can also provide for complete secretarial support, arrange every detail for private dinner parties and entertaining, and a private therapist is on standby to ensure an absolutely stress-free stay.

The published tariff for The Residence is US$ 2,800 per night, plus 21% tax and service.