BALI UPDATE #295 - 13 May 2002

Editorial: It Just Doesn't Add Up!

balidiscovery.com Takes a Hard Look at the Figures Behind The Proposed $50 Visa Fee.

Is the proposed introduction of a US$50 visa fee for foreign tourist arrivals to Indonesia a clever way to raise much needed state revenues or potential recipe for disaster?

A Potential Financial 'Wash Out'

Economic impact projections drawn by balidiscovery.com indicate that any possible upside in terms of state revenues achieved by collecting the proposed $50 fee are quickly rendered meaningless by the potential downside losses in foreign exchange should, as it is widely feared, the new visa fee results in even a very modest downturn in tourist arrivals.

Current government data showing 5.1 million foreign visitors a year spending an average $1,000 each with the Indonesian Department of Culture and Tourism estimating some $5.1 billion in foreign exchange revenues are generated from Indonesia's tourism industry annually.

So far so good. And, if every foreign visitor is successfully charged a visa fee of $50 each - an additional $255 million in much needed state revenues are produced by the proposed visa fee. That's all fine and well, as far as it goes.

It would, however, be both naïve and dangerous to think that tourism arrivals act independently of any influence from introducing a gateway fee, such as the proposed $50 visa fee. In fact, research carried out by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Bali Chapter in 1998 via a survey of inbound travel wholesalers demonstrated that as much as a 30% downturn in foreign arrivals to Indonesia might result from the introduction of a $50 visa fee?

The Potential Risks Make the New Visa Fee an Unwise Move

So the question becomes - how big an negative influence will result from the proposed increase and at what point will the foreign exchange revenues lost from lower arrival figures render the proposed visa fee a zero-sum-game?

The picture painted by the figures we've compiled do not paint a pretty picture. Calculating in the additional state revenues generated by a $50 visa fee, our projections suggest that the new policy becomes a zero-sum-game if it causes even a very modest decrease in arrivals of only 4.8% - a figure far less than the 30% downturn suggested by the respondent to the PATA survey of 1998. Even more alarming, our projections show that should the threatened 30% decrease in arrivals take place, Indonesia stands to take a whopping loss of $1.35 billion - even after calculating in the new revenue generated by the proposed visa fee.

In real terms, that would represent a drop of 25% in foreign exchange earnings from a sector of the economy already suffering ill health.

The Dream Continues

Patricia Kaler of Bloomington, Indiana, writes to share her idea of a Bali Dream Holiday.

Although the contest is officially over, balidiscovery.com will continue to share some of the many excellent entries received from Bali Update readers from around the world. This is from Patricia Kaler of Bloomington, Indiana (USA).

BALI

Bali, "the Island of Dreams," where one gets lost in the mystery and the magic; the history and the folklore; the harmony and the spirit both of the land and the people.

If your dream is a "beach holiday come true," then select from the crowded beaches or a solitary experience. There is multiplicity of nightlife - from elegant open air restaurants to a simple table at the seaside; the cuisine is lavish and fresh. Fruits of the Sea and fruits native to the island make eating and unforgetable delight. And there's music from traditional gamelan in open pavilions to a mix of the old and new in the nightclub experience.

For the art collector, the Bali dream is rich and expansive. Not only can the doorway itself be a carved wooden wonder - but in so many doorways one will see creativity in process. Woodcarvers, weavers, fabric dyeing, embroidering, silver workers, basket makers, potters and bamboo artists are scattered in the villages across the island.

Bali is best seen on foot, when possible away from the traffic density on main roads. Balinese roads can be a parade route for escorting village deities to the sea in procession, or for cremation ceremonies in procession, or for filing to local temples dressed in elegant festival tradition.

Bali landscape tells the story of the people. Balinese celebrating mindfulness and respecting the land. Even the steepest land is terraced in rice paddies hugging the hillsides. The varying stages of planting creates a scope of shades of green that mesmerize the senses along with the warm sun drenched breeze. Ancient irrigation of aquaducts, dams and sluces bring life to the new and mature fields lying neighbor to each other. Abundant harvests are the repayment for the intensity of work. Balinese maintain harmony through mindfulness of the land, the gods and of each other. Smiles are easily attained and deeply etched in the faces as smiles journey outward from the soul. One feels the contentment in Balinese people. They find their rightful place in the middle ground between their belief in Divine spirits dwelling in the mountains and the tradition of dark forces lurking in the sea. Temples dot the mountainsides in reverence and in magnificent procession, offerings are carried and emptied into the sea.

An example of the mystery of Bali can be seen at sunset in White Herron Village. At the call of dusk thousands of white herron birds come to this one street to circle overhead before landing in trees lining the streets. By sunset the trees are covered in white. The birds stay the night and leave in the morning.

Is there magic in the light of the setting sun or a voice of spirit creating the majesty of this ritual?

While all of the above make a Bali Dream Vacation, there is one yet richer experience for me.

As I write this entry, Callista is two and Jett is one year old. They live in Bali with their mommy who was born in Bandung, West Java, and their daddy from Oswego, N.Y., U.S.A.. I am their grandmother.

Every Sunday their daddy takes them to the sea. Children in Bali are most respected for being closest to the heavens and they are carried everywhere to keep their feet from touching the dirty soil of the earth. My babies are allowed the exception on Sundays, while they play in the sand and the sea. Every Sunday, from my home in the United States, I bless the rich Balinese traditions, the harmony and the mindfulness which are molding the lives of my grandchildren. Every Sunday, as the sea washes away their growing footprints, I bless them as I am also blessed by a Bali dream come true.

More information: All Entries of the Bali Dream Holiday Contest

Dyatmika Bazzar

Bali's Dyatmika Bazaar Set for Sunday, May 19.

The Dyatmika School located in the Banjar Tangtu area, just east of Denpasar is holding it's annual fund raising bazaar on Sunday, May 19, 2002, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the school's campus.

A day of family entertainment including performances by local entertainers and Dyatmika students; food and drink; stall sponsored by area businesses; games of chance; art exhibitions; a silent auction and fashion shows - will all be on offer to visitors during the day-long bazaar.

Admission to the event is Rp. 10,000 for adults and Rp. 5,000 for children which includes a chance to win a door prize.

Parking is limited and those attending are encouraged to park along the main highway where horse and carriage dokar rides are being offered to the school's grounds.

More information: Bali's Dyatmika Bazaar

Meet Marsha Browne

Marsha Browne, the Winner of the 2nd Bali Dream Contest - Time to Stop Dreaming and Start Packing Her Bags for Bali!

"I never expected this, even though I have been to the Bali Discovery Tours website, and have seen it with my own two eyes. People are already calling and sending email congratulations to me".

Those were the words of Marsha Browne mbrowne@110.net, from Winchester, Massachusetts (U.S.A.), when balidiscovery.com contacted her to tell her she had just won the 2^nd Bali Dream Holiday Contest.

And just look at the list of prizes she's won for sending in her interpretation of a Bali Dream Holiday: 2 tickets on Singapore Airlines, 7 nights at the Four 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.

When we asked Marsha to tell us a bit more about herself, she related, "Of all the ways I think of myself, writer is always at the top of my list, no matter what job or situation in which I find myself. Over the years I have worked as a teaching tennis professional, a business systems analyst, a technical writer, a computer software systems manager, and a high technology executive. More recently, I have been producing local television shows, and teaching memoir writing and journaling at area adult education centers north of Boston."

So, what motivated her to write the winning entry in this year's contest? Marsha explained, "When I wrote the essay, I wanted most for readers to connect to the sublime pleasures of the island. I never even considered that I might actually win! My husband and I will of course be coming soon!"

Was Marsha's entry based on experience or pure fantasy? She explained, "I have indeed been to Bali -- what I wrote was based directly out of memories stretching as far back as far as 1988. I've always kept journals, but once I went to Bali, I started understanding the purpose of memoirs. I was afraid of losing the magical freshness of my memories through repetition of the events and stories, so I paid close attention to everything, and wrote it all down in a book. I brought the book back to the USA, and when friends asked, 'What was Bali like?' I could simply hand over the manuscript and let them read about it for themselves. In fact, this was a wonderful way for me to share my experience with others, and as a result, several of my friends also went to Bali -- a significant undertaking, from halfway around the world. It was an interesting exercise, telescoping all the feeling and love I have for Bali (and in fact for much of Indonesia) into fewer than 500 words. I went deep inside myself to find the words. It's gratifying to know I succeeded. Much has changed in Bali since 1988, but the essence, which exists in the people and the land, will always remain the same."

We asked, will she be keeping a memoir of her coming trip to Bali? She replied, "I'm very excited about going back, and you can bet there's going to be another 'Bali Book' to share at the end of the journey."

More information: Read Marsha's Winning Entry From Week #16

Playing Golf 'Heart to Heart'

2nd Annual 'Heart to Heart' Golf Tournament at Bali Nirwana Course June 16th.

The spectacular Greg Norman 18-hole championship Bali Nirwana Golf Course will play host to the 2^nd Annual Heart to Heart Golf Tournament on Sunday, June 16, 2002.

A fun event open to players of all abilities, the proceeds from the day's play will support educational programs sponsored by the Bali-based foundation, Yayasan MACK.

Yayasan MACK is a non-profit organization operating a number of charitable and environmental programs aimed at improving the lives of children. Money raised this year will support teacher-education from a primary school in Batungsel. Scholarships for local children to attend the Sunrise School will also be awarded from the proceeds, giving local children the opportunity to enjoy an education at an integrated international school operated on the Island.

Timed to coincide with Father's Day, the tournament has been planned to be a day for the whole family. A number of activities are scheduled throughout the day near the pool, including games for the kids, refreshments and a barbecue in the late afternoon following the match. Prizes will be awarded to golfers in a number of categories and raffle prizes awarded.

Last year's event raised over 40 million rupiahs.

The price for a day's golf is a bargain at only Rp. 750,000. Special prices are also available for non-playing family members wishing to attend the recreational events and barbeque, by contacting Yayasan MACK at telephone ++62(0)361-735824.

Yudi, Our Man in London

Le Meridien Rewards It Best Employee With a Trip to London.

Loyalty, hard work, and unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction brought its own reward to Mr. I Wayan Yudiantara, a restaurant captain at Bali's Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa.

Named the Resort's Employee of the Year, Captain Yudiantara joined 90 other Le Meridien representing 144 properties world-wide on a four-day all expense paid trip to London, which departed on April, 8, 2002.

The Employee of the Year Adventure included accommodation at London's Le Méridien Grosvenor House, an evening at the theatre attending the blockbuster musical "The Lion King", a bird's-eye view of the City from atop British Airway's London Eye", and a visit to the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels. The trip culminated with a gala dinner at the Café Royal on April 11, where awards were personally presented by Le Méridien's Chief Executive Jürgen Bartels and his executive team.Jürgen Bartels stated, "At Le Méridien, our people are our most important asset, and our best employees must continuously be rewarded for what they do. The Employee of the Year program not only rewards these associates with an experience abroad, but also gives each of them - as well as those of us at our London headquarters - a realization of the true cultural diversity of our company. It is a breathtaking experience."

"In his 4 years at Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort Bali, Yudi has exemplified Le Méridien's service values every day," said Mark Griffiths, General Manager of the Resort. "Thanks to his ability to speak Bahasa Indonesia, English, Spanish & Italian, Yudi always gains the attention of our international clientele. By always being extremely courteous, outgoing, and by anticipating guests needs, he is a champion in receiving good comments from clients on outstanding service delivered," added Griffiths. "Yudi will always go out of his way to ensure complete guest satisfaction, whether in his our department or in other area of the hotel. Yudi continues to demonstrate a commitment to the hotel and to our guests, positively impacting their experience whenever, and however, possible."

More information: Book A Stay at Le Meridien

Convention Hall at GWK?

Bali's Monument Park Being Eyed by Singapore Investors for New Convention Center.

The Indonesian-language Bisnis Indonesia reports (10/5) that Singapore investors have approached the management of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Monument Park to explore the possibility of building a convention center at the park site.

According to Mr. Putu Agus Antara, a Director of GWK who also serves as the Chairman of the Bali Tourism Board (BTB), the group of overseas investors are interested in building a meetings and exhibition center targeted for completion in 2004 that will be capable of handling 5,000 visitors.

The BTB Chairman went on to explain that the yet unnamed Singapore investors feel that Singapore's meeting and conference venues are approaching their maximum carrying capacity and Bali offers an attractive alternative to the Southeast Asian bound meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) market.

If completed, the proposed new Bali conference center at GWK would be double the size of the largest conference facility now operating on Bali. Presently, the island's largest meeting hall at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC), can accommodate 2,500 people.

A Dog's Lunch?

Something of a 'Tall Tail' as We Visit a 'RW' Restaurant.

You wouldn't find one unless you went looking for one. And, we have to ask: Why would you be looking for one, anyway?

Fortunately rare around the island, where they do exist they're marked with a simple sign stating "RW" and are consigned to locations down side streets, small alleyways and in remote neighborhood where the gastronomically challenged gather for their favorite repast. RW, pronounced "Air way," is the name given to the local dish favored by a small minority of people hailing from remote areas of a few of Indonesia's outer islands.

There's no point in procrastinating further, so let's get to the point. RW's main ingredient: Canis familiaris. That's right, the best friend of man and boy, nemesis of the postman, and despoiler of sidewalks and fire hydrants everywhere - the family dog.

Before you get angry and launch into a high dudgeon, let's be perfectly clear on this point: the people at balidiscovery.com love dogs. We keep them as pets and lavish them with love and attention. So, if you find the idea of eating one of our four-legged companions repulsive, you'll receive no argument from this quarter.

Now, while RW restaurants are mercifully few and far between on Bali, reflecting how really very few local residents actually partake of this delicacy, the sad truth is that such restaurants do exists. In fact, every time one of our dogs goes missing for a few days, we visit the RW Warung nearest the house, armed with a picture of our missing pooch and offer a generous reward if they manage to return the missing dog unscathed, as it were.

A Better Image or Barking Up the Wrong Tree?

Perhaps sensitive to the pre-World Cup criticism being leveled at Korea where canine meat is substantially more popular, the Bali Association of RW Kiosk - abbreviated to B.A.R.K. - have banded together to preserve their culinary inclination while, at the same time, trying to improve their image with the legion of dog lovers who visit the island each year.

Engaging the heavily-discounted services of a retired Madison Avenue Corporate Image Guru on extended medical leave in Bali, B.A.R.K. has come up with two poster pups to popularize their catered product while at the same time trying to underline their deep regard for man's best friend.

The vote's still out on whether or not B.A.R.K.'s new campaign will have the desired effect.

While balidiscovery.com remains thoroughly unconvinced, we're taking the liberty of publishing a picture of B.A.R.K.'s poster dogs - named mustard and catsup, at our website to permit our readers to come to their own conclusion.

PLEASE NOTE: balidiscovery.com wishes to affirm that no animals suffered any injury in the preparation and coverage of this story.

Holiday Inn is Out

Holiday Inn Resort Balihai Drops Holiday Inn Connection.

Effective May 5, 2002, the Holiday Inn is no more.

The owners of the 200-room beach-side resort in Bali's popular Tuban area have severed management ties with the Holiday Inn corporation and elected to go it alone as an independent stand alone hotel operation.

Now operating under a new name and corporate identity, the hotel is now known as the Balihai Resort and Spa.

The hotel retained the services of the current management team, including the services of the Resort's popular General Manager, Mr. Pat Phanekham.

More information: Book a Stay at the Balihai Resort & Spa

Lack of Rooms Expected During U.N. Conference

Bali's Room Supply to be Under Pressure during May 27 - June 06 Conference.

The local host committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development scheduled to be held in Bali May 27 - June 06, have expressed a concern that a room shortage may occur during the event expected to draw 6,000 delegates from around the world.

In comments made to the Indonesian-language daily Bisnis Indonesia, the Chairman of the Bali Tourism Board, Mr. Putu Agus Antara, pointed out that occupancies at Bali hotels typically averaged around 70% during the period set aside for the conference. When the additional influx of 6,000 visitors come to Bali in connection with the U.N. Meeting - a shortage of available hotel rooms may be the result.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development was originally scheduled to be held in Jakarta on the same dates, but was suddenly moved last month to Bali on the orders of President Megawati Soekarnoputri. In order to try to facilitative plenary sessions of upwards of 6,000 people in attendance, plans are underway to provide electronic links to satellite meeting centers at several hotels in Nusa Dua from the main conference venue at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC).

The largest hall at the BICC accommodates 2,500 meeting participants.

More information: Book a Hotel Room from Bali Discovery

Indra Setiawan Named to Head Garuda

Apparent 11th Hour Shuffle Leave Samudera Out of the Race for the Post.

What appeared to be a fait accompli wasn't.

On Again, Off Again

After personally telling the press that he had been summoned to by his brother, the Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, on Wednesday, May 1, and congratulated on his appointment as the President Director of Garuda, Samudera Sukardi was subsequently called by the Minister of Transportation and mysteriously told his official letter of appointment had somehow gone missing.

That Samudera had lost the "crowning achievement" of a life-long career with the National Carrier became increasingly obvious when, last weekend, his Brother's lieutenants at the Ministry called to share the disappointing news that his appointment as Garuda's number one could jeopardize his Brother's Ministerial position and that he was therefore being offered the face saving alternative of becoming Indonesia's Ambassador to Japan.

Indra Setiawan Now the Boss

Named, instead, to head Garuda is Indra Setiawan, a 25-year veteran with the airline whose most recently served as an advisor and Commercial Director to the Airline.

Putting a brave face on the failure to appoint his own brother to the post, Laksamana Sukardi, Minister for State-Owned Enterprises told the press that Setiawan is equally well qualified for the position and that the appointment of his brother would have affected the Government's credibility.

Political Forces at Play

Local political observers, however, believe larger forces may have been at play in the final decision to side step Samudera's appointment. Despite a high-profile last-minute public endorsement of Samudera Sukardi by Indonesia's Vice President, Hamzah Haz, their was wide spread concern that the appointment of Samudera, an official of the United Development Party (PPP), could result in the airline being used as a cash cow to finance coming election campaigns. Vice President Hamzah Haz is the most prominent member of the PPP party serving in the current Government. The PPP nominated and lobbied hard for Samudera to win the top airline post. Conversely, Indra Setiawan has no official link with any of the major political parties in the Country.

Indra Setiawan was formally sworn-in as Garuda's new President on Monday, May 6, in a ceremony held at the office of the Minister for State-Owned Enterprises in Jakarta. Possibly underlining the last-minute struggle surrounding the appointment, Setiawan told reporters that he had only been advised of his appointment earlier that same day. At the same ceremony, Hotasi Nababan, the President of GE Lokomotif Indonesia, was installed at the President of the state-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

Setiawan to Focus on Customer Service

The appointment of Indra Setiawan ends nearly four months of speculation on who would win the coveted post following the resignation of Garuda's current President, Abdul Ghani.

In comments made following his installation, Garuda's new President declared customer service as a central theme of his new administration of the State Owned Carrier.