BALI UPDATE #300 - 17 June 2002

Editorial: Oh Say Can You See?

American Advice on Indonesian Travel is Both Outdated and Outrageous.

Recent comments by the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Ralph Boyce, on the safety of travel to Indonesia flatly contradict the official travel announcements issued by his employer, the U.S. Department of State.

Quoted in the June 12th edition of The Jakarta Post from a Dow Jones Newsservice syndicated article, America's highest official in Jakarta said, "I personally wouldn't warn Americans not to go to Southeast Asia." Speaking in the U.S. before a meeting of the Asia Society, Ambassador Boyce was reported as telling his listeners that Southeast Asia and Indonesia are "generally pro-American and generally quite safe if visitors exercise common sense and, for example, avoid areas torn by strife."

U.S. State Department Warnings Differ Greatly

While we have tremendous respect for Ambassador Boyce and the great strides he has made in normalizing diplomatic communications between Washington and Jakarta, his recent comments indicate, at the very least, that his viewpoint and advice is largely ignored by his boss, U.S. Secretary of State, General Colin Powell.

The official travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State and posted on the Jakarta Embassy's website dispenses advice to potential U.S. visitors to Indonesia vastly different from the opinions of the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic. That advisory, posted and unchanged and unupdated since November 23, 2001, urges Americans "to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia."

What was once a temporary suggestion by the U.S. Government has come to resemble a permanent trade embargo on Indonesian tourism from the U.S.A.. Moreover, those who maintain that U.S. travel warnings are part of the arsenal of diplomatic statecraft and have nothing to do with traveler safety seem vindicated by Ambassador Boyce's informed difference of opinion with his employers in Washington.

Who Do We Believe?

In determining who provides the best counsel on matters related to Indonesia travel, our vote is clearly with the distinguished Ambassador Boyce.

Fortunately, foreign visitors of any country of origin continue to enjoy safe visits to Bali and other parts of Indonesia and, to our knowledge, have not been the victims or targets of any violent acts directed at specific national groups. That the U.S. Travel advisories continue to ignore this simple fact is both concerning and all-telling.

The recent incarceration in the U.S.A. of yet another American-born "terrorists" only serves to underline that the U.S. does both its own citizens and the rest of the world a tremendous disservice in simple-mindedly defining the lines of battle in the war on terrorism in terms of national boundaries and religious orientation.

In seeking to expand its legion of allies in the war on terror, the U.S. would be well advised to reconsider carefully those steps that only serve to marginalize potential brethren in that fundamentally all-important struggle.

A good place to start: an urgent review of the current travel advisory on Indonesia.

Nusa Dua Festival August 23-29

Sixth Annual Nusa Dua Festival Adopts an Ocean Journey Theme.

Nusa Dua area business and The Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) in cooperation with the provincial office of the Department of Culture and Tourism will join forces to present the 6^th annual Nusa Dua Festival August 23 - 29, 2002.

One of Bali's largest cultural celebrations, The Nusa Dua Festival 2002 is a community celebration involving all of the Nusa Dua area's business and the staffs of the hotels located within the complex.

This year's festival has adopted the theme of Segera Lelanguag or an ocean journey as depicted in the Hindu epic Mahabrata. That episode, relating how holy water imparted eternal life on the gods, was selected to emphasize the resilience and sustainability of Bali's artistic and cultural traditions.

Festival opens on August 23

The festival will officially open on August 23^rd with a colossal Peed Agung parade involving over 1,000 people in traditional Balinese dress and a mass gamelan orchestra.

During the following week a wide range of activities will be staged at a number of performance areas throughout the Nusa Dua Complex. Performances of drama, dance, and music will be presented as well as exhibitions of the rich range of visual arts of the island. As in past years, the festival will be the showcase for new and exciting cultural performances commissioned by local communities from across the island especially for the event.

Attendance at the various performances, exhibitions and cultural workshops held in conjunction with the week-long festival is free of charge.

What Better Time to Spend a Week in Nusa Dua?

Via the link provided book a hotel in Nusa Dua and enjoy all the many events the festival has on offer.

More information: List of Nusa Dua Hotels

Turbulent Airport

Struggle Continues Over Local Share in Bali Airport's Profits.

The recent decision by P T Angkasa Pura I, the operators of Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport, to dramatically increase both the domestic and international service charges levied on departing passengers has reinvigorated demands by local legislators for a bigger local share in the profits generated by the island's only airport.

Claiming that a law approved in 2001 allows for the establishment of joint management of airports with the local government, local legislators have been increasingly vocal in demanding that a portion of the substantial profits generated by the airport be retained in Bali.

In partial response to this call, the Bali Airport Authority donated Rp. 10 billion to the local government in 2001, an amount equal to 3-5% of the total annual profits of the airport.

Still, local lawmakers are unhappy citing that there is no guarantee the contribution will be an annual source of revenue for Bali and believe the island is entitled to an even larger share of the profit pie.

Bali Update - Edition #300

Bali Update and balidiscovery.com Mark a Milestone.

In March of 1998, J.M. Daniels, then serving as the Vice Chairman of the Bali chapter of the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) started sending e-mails to friends, travel agents, and wholesalers around the world in an attempt to balance the often incorrect and sensational news being published about Indonesia and Bali at that time.

Obviously, eager to hear "the other side of the story," hundreds and eventually thousands of people began to ask to be included on Jack's regular updates. Now in its fifth year, the Bali Update is read by over 10,000 readers each week and has been cited by Time Magazine as "Bali's Truth Ministry."

Over the ensuing years the look and the technology behind Bali Update have changed dramtically. In 2001, when his term as PATA Chairman came to a close and no one appeared prepared to assume responsibility for future Updates, a decision was made to formally transfer ownership of the newsletter from the Bali PATA Chapter to Bali Discovery Tours, a local destination management company owned by Jack Daniels and Arie Sukirno.

Now independent and no longer able to officially call on the technical wizardly of fellow PATA board member, Melina Caruso, the Bali Discovery team re-launched the Update in a new HTML format permitting a capsulated presentation for busy readers, providing links back to pictures and detailed stories located at the balidiscovery.com website. Readers unable to access HTML format material can still opt out for a plain text version subscription.

Thanks to Internet technologies, the Bali Update continues to come out every Monday - even when its editor is traveling on behalf of Bali Discovery Tours in far away Europe or America.

While the look of Bali Update has changed, its mission remains the same: to provide the latest news on tourism-related developments from the island of Bali. We strive to innovate, be informative, insightful, and occasionally hard hitting in our coverage of the magical island of Bali.

To our many readers worldwide, thank you for your loyalty. Let us repay the favor by allowing Bali Discovery Tours the opportunity of looking after you when next you visit the island of Bali.

Australian Women Wounded at Kuta Beach Club

A 48-year old Australian Woman Suffers a Gunshot Wound.

On Monday morning, June 10, 2002, a 48-year old Australian woman, Maree Lyn Savage was struck by a 9mm bullet while sunbathing with her husband at the pool of the Kuta Beach Hotel. The resulting stomach wound was treated on an outpatient basis at the nearby Bali International Medical Center.

Police are encountering difficulties in solving the shooting that is seemingly without motive and are considering the possibility that the wounds were inflicted by a stray bullet fired from some distance from the hotel. That the victim, her husband, hotel staff and other guests at the hotel report that the incident happened without the accompanying sound of gun fire and the minor injuries resulting from what is normally a highly destructive calibre of bullet are consistent with the view that the bullet was stray and moving at a relatibely slow rate when it struck Mrs. Savage.

A 9mm slug discovered near the victim has been sent to police forensic laboratories for further study. Top police investigators having been assigned to the case.

Meanwhile, Bali Chief of Tourism, Dr. I Gede Pitana, has called on police authorities to spare no effort to solving the case emphasizing the need for Bali to preserve its reputation as a safe destination for tourists.

Shall We Dance?

Bali Skal Club Sets Date and Theme for 2002 Travel Industry Ball.

Set to coincide with the full moon, this year's Skall Bali Charity Ball will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2002 in the Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Starting with cocktails at 6.30 p.m. the theme for this year's event is "Dance With Me" and, as with past year's events, will be used to raise funds for selected charities.

Ticket prices for this year's event are Rp. 500,000 or Rp. 4,500,000 for the purchase of a table of ten. This price includes pre-dinner cocktails, dinner, free-flow drinks and entertainment.

A minimum of 300 guests, drawn mainly from the Bali travel industry, will be on hand at this year's Bali with attendees expected to dress in a costume to reflect a specific dance genre.

Sponsors for auction prizes and drinks are still being sought. Contact Mr. V. Jeffrey Wibisono, the Chairperson for Sponsorship at telephone ++ 62-(0)361-753292 or facsimile ++62-(0)361-753288.

More information: Contact for Sponsorships or Tickets

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

New Hotel Star Rating System On its Way.

Within the context of the commitment to decentralize authority, the Government will soon allow regional authorities and the local chapters of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) to set the star-rating standards for local hotels in Indonesia.

The authority to set star ratings for hotels was formerly held by the Department of Tourism. The new system will reportedly involve local authorities in ensuring the hotels hold all the necessary permits and operating licenses, while a local committee would undertake a critical review of the hotel's management and services.

Consumer will also be involved in the review process although the nature of the public's participation is still unclear.

Hotels found to be offering services and facilities not in keeping with their star rating, would be warned and face a possible reduction in their star rating.

Faulty Towers?

Java Residents Claim Power Lines to Bali Illegally Cross Their Land.

The residents of Java's Sumedang regency have filed formal complaints alleging that the towers supporting 500 KVA power lines from Java to Bali were illegally built on their lands.

Claiming that the location of the high power towers is at a 300-500 meters variance with the permits issued by the Government for their construction in 1995.

A long-standing demand for compensation from the affected land owners and local villagers has reportedly remained unanswered, with local Nation Power Company (PLN) officials in Sumedang claiming the construction was done by a project office located in Semarang. Angered at the lack of progress in their demands, local residents are threatening to topple the tower if their compensation claims are not soon met.

Local sabotage of the power line would result in severe power shortages for Bali. Accordingly, local members of parliament in Java have called for the people to remain calm while insisting that PLN's President intervene directly in settling the claims.

Picking Up the Tab for PrepCom IV

Adding Up the Costs of the Bali Summit Held May 27-June 04, 2002.

Now that the Preparatory Committee Meetings for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Prepcom IV) has come and gone, the substantial costs of hosting that conference are slowly being calculated.

In comments before Parliamentary Committee VII in Jakarta on June 13, the Minister for the Environment, Nabiel Makarim, told the lawmakers that the total costs incurred by the Government for Prepcom IV in late May and early June totaled Rp. 70.5 billion or approximately US$8.2 million.

According to the Minister, the original promise of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to donate US$ 5.5 million towards the cost of the event was reduced to a contribution of only US$ 2.8 million.

He also revealed that original calculations by the Government that the cost of holding the event would only cost the government Rp. 30 billion, quickly ballooned to Rp. 70 billion in the face of higher accommodation and transportation costs when President Megawati Soekarnoputri suddenly moved the conference from Jakarta to Bali, only two months before the actual event.

Indonesia, as the host for such an event, is required to shoulder the cost of the conference.

Reminder: Lunch with the Initiative

David Hall to Speak to Bali MICE Initiative on Tuesday, June 25.

The Bali MICE Initiative, an association over 50 members of the island's meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition meeting will be hosting a lunch time presentation on The Challenges and Opportunities of the MICE Market on Tuesday, June 25, 2002, by Mr. David Hall of David Hall & Associates.

David Hall has been involved in the convention and exhibition industry for over thirty years.

Since the late 1960's David Hall has been the CEO of various convention and visitor bureaus both in New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia.

During the past 10 years with his own company, David Hall and Associates, he has consulted to various governments and destinations in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe as well as Australia on the development and operation of convention & visitors' bureaus and the international marketing requirements for dedicated convention and exhibition facilities. These assignments have included periods in both Bali and in Jakarta.

David Hall has been a board member of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureau (IACVB), the Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureau (AACVB) and was the President of the Association of Australian Convention Bureau (AACB) for five years.

Cost for the lunch and presentation is Rp. 150,000 for Bali MICE Initiative Members and their guests and Rp. 175,000 for Non-Members of the Initiative. Price includes luncheon and Mr. Hall's presentation. Cash Bar will be available.

Reservations by e-mail to info@micebali.com or by calling Ibu Ifah at telephone 0361-286283 or facsimile 0361 286284. Booking must be made before June 24.

More information: Book a Lunch with the Bali MICE Initiative