The Bali MICE Initiative - a private sector consortium of Bali-based meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition operators and suppliers - have launched a dedicated website exclusively addressed to the meetings and conference sector.

micebali.com is the on-line version of the popular Bali MICE Guide 2002, published by the Initiative and currently distributed to qualified decision makers in the MICE industry worldwide. Both the electronic and print versions feature comprehensive information on Bali's wide range of hotels and event venue options, conference facilities, flight access, key destination areas within Bali, a full list of local holidays, and practical tips for groups visiting the popular island resort destination.

Commenting on the new website, Bali Discovery Tours' President Director, John M. Daniels, said the launching of the website "represents the next step in the Initiative's efforts to ensure that Bali gets it share of the lucrative MICE market." He added, "in the midst of Indonesia's ongoing economic difficulties, the Bali MICE Initiative is answering the Government's call on the private sector to take the lead in restoring vigor to the Nation's travel industry."

The Bali MICE Guide is distributed without charge to qualified readers drawn from the decision-makers in the meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition market around the world. Requests for personal copies can be directed to the Initiative via a link on their newly launched website.

More information: Visit micebali.com

 

Although the contest is official over and the winner declared, we'll continue to share some of the interesting entries received in the Bali Dream Holiday Contest. This one from Colin Thomas cthomas@iinet.net.au, of Mundaring, Western Australia.

A Holiday in Bali? A Dream Holiday? Sounds Good to Me.

Four years of night school learning Indonesian, practicing with fellow Aussies - now I'm itching to 'bercakap-cakap' with the locals. I worry, though, about my accent, how the Balinese will react when I make mistakes. I've been told it's enough if I even try, that they will love me just for that.That sounds good to me.

I've dined at Indonesian restaurants in my home town - savoured aromatic beef rendang, cooked slowly in coconut milk and spices, and delectable black-rice pudding with sweet palm sugar and subtle, fragrant pandan. But next time it will be at a tiny village warung, sipping hot sweet tea from a glass, with suckling roast pig in a paper bag; al fresco on the beach at sunset; or by candle light, watching lava spit from a mountain-side. Fine dining for only 3 or 4 dollars? Sounds good to me.

I've been in training for this. My leg muscles now have muscles of their own, and I ache in places I shouldn't. My brain's had a workout too - I've studied everything I could find about Bali. Why? I want to go beyond the guidebooks: to see the waterfall at the end of a 2-hour trek, across rice terraces and narrow bamboo bridges, or the secluded black-sand beach hidden by a jungle of palms. Yeah, I know, lots of walking - but afterwards, a soothing Balinese massage, warm oils, frangipani flowers... ah! That sounds good to me.

I want to be a regular tourist, too: ride an elephant through dense jungle; play golf against a backdrop of clove trees and volcanoes; climb Mt Batur at dawn to see the sunri...oops, gotta go - they're calling my flight. And guess what?

That sounds really good to me.

More information: All Entries in the Bali Dream Holiday Contest

 

The Bali Hilton International recently hosted the launching party marking the inauguration of flight service to Bali by Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT).

Speaking at the launch party held on Sunday, May 12, 2002, was FAT's Vice President, Mr. Chen Mei Wen.

Bali is the 7^th international destination on FAT's regional flight schedule.

The Bali service by FAT is a twice weekly service between Denpasar and Kaoshing, Taiwan, using Boeing 757 aircraft.

 

Mr. Raja Segran, the energetic and popular Country Manager of Singapore International Airlines (SIA) for Indonesia is moving on to assume the top job for his company in the United Kingdom.

Leading SIA's Indonesian operations through a period marked by economic upheaval and the trauma wreaked on the travel industry in the aftermath of 9-11, Raja leaves Indonesia with many admirers for his courage and dedication while under fire.

While many other leaders in the national tourism sector did little more than loudly bemoan their misfortune, SIA proved itself one of Indonesia's best corporate citizens by actively committing funds and energy to re-launching the national tourism product. Since 2000 and during the watch of Mr. Segran, SIA has allocated more than US$ 3 million toward Indonesian tourism promotion.

Such dedication has not gone unnoticed, Indonesia awarded SIA and Mr. Segran with the Adikaryottama Award - the highest award bestowed by the Government for service to the tourism industry.

Born in Alor Setar in Malaysia in 1955, Raja joined SIA in 1980 and has held postings in Singapore, Belgium, France, the Philippines in addition to two separate postings in Jakarta.

Married and with a daughter in University, Raja has proven a popular figure during his Indonesian assignment. Considering every overseas assignment from SIA as his "new home," he has proven himself very adept at making friends during his Indonesian assignment, making the country measurably benefit from his four year assignment here. As Indonesian tourism looks to better days ahead, we have a debt of gratitude owed to Raja Segran.

More information: Send Raja a 'Bon Voyage' Message!

 

The latest issue of Asian Golf Monthly Magazine, for the second consecutive year, has named Le Meridien Nirwana the "Best Golf Resort in Asia," "Best Golf Course in Indonesia," and runner-up for "Best Par 3 in Asia" on hole number 7. The Asian Golf Monthly readers also picked Nirwana for "Best Par 4 in Asia," on hole number 13, and ranked the course in the top three for "Best Clubhouse in Asia" and "Best par 5 in Asia" on hole number 6.

Asian Golf Monthly cited Asia's best golf resort for having "something for the entire family," noting its clifftop fairways along the Indian Ocean, top swimming and spa facilities, gourmet restaurants, and a range of children's activities on offer.

In winning the coveted award, the four-year-old resort's Greg Norman-signature golf course continues to earn for itself a reputation as a coveted destination for golfers from around the world. Asian Golf Monthly describes Norman's Balinese masterpiece as "hypnotising for its sheer beauty and terrifying at the same time for the challenge it presents. This repeat winner is one world-class course not to be missed."

"We are delighted to have received these awards. This is a testament to our staff for the excellent service it provides and to our owners who continuously support and develop the resort. For our group as a whole, it represents Le Meridien's continued commitment to excellence," said Mark Griffiths, the resort's general manager. "Our strategy always has been to provide value for money and we will continue to do so."

More information: Play Golf in Bali!

 

Members of Commission "E" from Bali's regional Parliament(DPRD) recently visited Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport, giving low marks for the level of service extended to visitors arriving from abroad.

As reported in the May 16, 2002, edition of Jawa Post - Radar Bali, members of the parliamentary delegation discovered that inbound international passengers arriving during peak traffic periods can stand in line for 2-3 hours while waiting for immigration clearance.

Mr. Pande Gde Soebratha, who led the inspection team on their airport visit, asked that some of the estimated Rp. 436 billion in profits generated by the airport authority - P.T. Angkasa Pura be plowed back into providing a better level of passenger service, stating "we are concerned that while we promote Bali vigorously overseas, the service (at the airport) is inadequate."

In defense of Angkasa Pura, Mr. IGM Dhordy, who heads Bali's airport authority, pointed out how the airport had more than doubled the number of immigration counters two years ago without any corresponding increase in immigration officers to staff the new counters. As a result, 8 new counters in the arrival hall annex have remained largely unused since their installation.

Local tourism observers have expressed their concern over how the limited immigration staff at the airport will handle the heavy onslaught of visitors expected in late May during the PrepCom meeting where 6,000 delegates are expected or if the government goes ahead with plans to have immigration officers collect a visa fee from every arriving passengers.

 

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) have announced the appointment of Mr. Peter A. Semone as Vice President for Development, based at the organization's headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand.

Mr. Semone will be responsible for the Association's membership development and retention programs, working closely with PATA's regional directors and other staff to expand the value and benefits of PATA membership.

"We are delighted to welcome Peter Semone to the team," said Mr. Peter de Jong, President and CEO of PATA. "He is a talented individual who has demonstrated a real commitment to quality in Pacific Asia travel and tourism. Peter's wide range of travel industry experience, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit, make him the ideal person for this key leadership position."

Prior to joining PATA, Mr. Semone served as Managing Director of PT. Bali Triloka Candra, an Indonesia-based destination management company. Mr. Semone holds a BA in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and an MMH in Tourism Development from Cornell University's School of Hospitality Management.

Mr. Semone's Father, John Semone, was a career member of PATA's Senior Management serving as Director for PATA in Europe based in Monaco until his recent retirement.

 

Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MZ) has increased to twice daily the number of flights operated between Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport and Dili in East Timor.

The world's newest nation of Timor Lorosae is only slightly more than one hour's flying time from Bali, making the resort island a natural launching point for the large number of foreign experts and diplomatic legations scurrying to pay their respects to Timor's new leadership.

MZ offers two departures daily leaving at 08.00 a.m. and 11.20 a.m..

 

The Department of Immigration has announced changes in policies designed to make it easier for Senior Citizen's seeking to retire in Indonesia.

Mr. M. Iman Santoso, the Director General of Immigration, announced new decrees last month that lower the amount of financial capability that must demonstrated by senior citizens seeking to settle in Indonesia. The US$2,500 monthly maintenance minimum has been reduced to just $1,500. A secondary requirement that stipulated foreign retirees must spend a minimum of $1,000 per month on housing in either Jakarta, Bandung, or Bali, has been reduced to only $500 per month.

The Indonesian government issues 5 year stay permits for foreign retirees seeking to settle in Indonesia meeting specific qualification criteria set by the immigration department.

 

P.T. Telkom have launched an advanced Broadband Access Network (BAN) for Bali at a cost of Rp. 6 billion (+/- US$ 600,000).

Dubbed BAN 2000, the modern communication network uses fiber optic connections based on hybrid fiber coax (HFC) capable of high-speed transmission of data, images and voice data.

Broadband access service during the first phase will be limited to the Kuta and Nusa Dua areas of the island. Service includes cable television, video on demand, High-speed internet, and HFC telephone service.

Eight hotels in Kuta and Nusa Dua are already members of the BAN 2000 network. (Bisnis Indonesia).

 

Those who populate our daily existence, who provide the texture and meaning of our lives, are often taken for granted; assumed to be part of some permanent cast that fills the scenes and acts of our lives. It is only when someone suddenly disappears that we realize their role and how we may have failed to sufficiently cherish their presence and influence. The emptiness and vacuum we feel in their wake, a stark reminder that life will never quite be the same without them.

Last Monday night, I Made Suarnyana, known to his friends and co-workers simply as Kadek, died in a tragic motorcycle mishap while driving home from work along a quiet village road just north of Denpasar.

Employed with Bali Discovery Tours from the earliest days of our operation, Kadek, blossomed with the passage of time. Hired from the domestic household staff of the Company's Owner to fill the role of office boy, Kadek's cheerful demeanor and eagerness to work long hours and accept every assignment given to him, eventually earned him the opportunity to become a company driver.

To suggest that Kadek was proud of his role at Bali Discovery Tours, fails to convey the evident joy and pride he took in playing a key role in serving our guests from around the world. Making sure every guest got a fresh cold towel and the offer of bottled mineral water, after even the shortest foray outside his air-conditioned van, was just one of the ways Kadek showed his genuine concern for people around him. The obvious pride with which he wore his company uniform, would have made the addition of epaulets and gold braid a redundancy.

Now that he's gone, memories of this handsome 26 year-old man with his infectious smile flash through our recollections like movie flashbacks. His wedding ceremony in the family compound just four years ago; his special delight in joining staff outings; pieces of cake shared during the cycle of staff birthday parties; moments with his wife and son at our last New Year's Staff gathering; a daily ritual of washing his company van in the compound; his love of animals and how each of our 3 dogs waited for their "pat" and short "chat" with Kadek each evening; and how his 3 year-old boy, Agus Dion, perhaps sensing the cruelties the "fates" had in store, always insisted on holding onto his Bapak whenever he was in sight.

When Kadek's wife called late on Monday night to give us the shocking news, members of the staff rushed to his home, taking turns in a vigil prior to his burial. The Balinese calendar and cycle of festivals in his village made a formal funeral ceremony an impossibility for fear that the sanctity and purity of the village temples might be disturbed. Thus, as if to hide his death from the knowledge of local gods, his remains were literally rushed down the village streets at midnight on Tuesday and buried in the village cemetery where, in about ten day's time, a formal ceremony in his honor will be held. Later, sometime within the coming year, his body will be disinterred and cremated, allowing his soul its freedom as his ashes are deposited into the Balinese seas.

Kadek - our Made in Heaven.

 

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