BALI UPDATE #306 - 29 July 2002

Breaking News: Visa Changes on Indefinite Hold

Visa Policy To Remain Unchanged For Now.

balidiscovery.com has obtained a copy of a formal reply from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism sent to the Chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Think Tank (MPI), Mr. Ponco Sutowo, that indicate threatened changes in the visa policy program are on hold for the indefinite future.

This news is certain to elicit a collective sigh of relief from Indonesia's tourism industry, who became uneasy when members of President Megawati's Cabinet launched initiatives that, if successful, would have eliminated the visa-free status enjoyed by the nationals of 48 countries, reduced for 60 to 30 days the length of stay granted to those visitors, and would have supposedly introduced a "visa fee" of $50 applied at the port of entry.

No Changes for Now

The letter, dated July 23, 2002, and signed by the Ministry's Deputy in Charge of Tourism Development, Mr. Sarwono, suggests that, at least for now, the Tourism Ministry has emerged victorious in a struggle with those members of the Cabinet who supported a more restrictive visa policy. The letter explained that from the very outset, the Ministry was steadfast in its efforts to retain the current policy of "short visit visa free" status accorded to the citizens of 48 countries. In opposing moves by some in the Government to restrict visa free facilities availability to only "tourists," the Ministry of Tourism was defending the more all-encompassing concept of "visitors" embraced by the World Tourism Organization and supported by Indonesia's landmark tourism law of 1990.

According to the letter, the proposal to urgently restrict the current visa-free policy was presented at various Cabinet-level meetings and enjoyed support from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, the Minister of Defense, the National Police, and others. While hinting that changes may eventually be introduced for some non-productive tourism generating countries, specifically mentioning Malta, Venezuela, Monaco, Brazil and Argentine – the current policy of granting a 60 day stay permit for the citizens of most developed countries will remain unchanged.

Continued Vigilance Urged

The letter from the Ministry also sounded an ominous warning by urging all components of the nation's tourism industry to continue to work together to maintain the current visa facility.

The Minister's Suggestions

Perhaps intended to subtly map out a future course of action for the Country's tourism professionals in order to maintain the current visa policy, the letter outlined a number of suggestions made by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. I Gde Ardika, to the President and the Cabinet in connection with the national visa policy. The Minister recommended:

a. The granting of short-stay-free-visa (BVKS), visa on arrival, and regular visa become consolidated.

b. That the granting of the short-stay-visa-free (BVKS) be studied periodically, reviewing the need to reduce or add the number of countries enjoying this facility as well as the length of stay to be granted to each country.

c. Any eventual plan to grant visas on arrival "should be coordinated beforehand addressing which countries are to be affected by any changes, the amount to be charged for such a visa, the location of service counters for visa issuance, and the actual staffing of this facility.

d. Normal visa requirements should remain in effect for those countries whose citizens represent a recognized threat of illegal immigration, requiring nationals of these countries to apply through Indonesian Embassies abroad.

e. Any changes in the current short-stay-visa-free (BVKS) or visa on arrival police should be announced a minimum of 6 months to one year before any actual implementation.

Status Quo

In issuing the letter, the Ministry has made special efforts to underline that in the absence of a formal decision to the contrary from the President or the Minister of Justice, the "status quo" remains in effect as regards the nation's immigration policies. At the same time it issued a reminder to the industry to continue to lobby decision makers and make their voice heard on immigration policy changes that could potentially devastate the nation's tourism industry.

Bali – Best Island, Best Hotels, Best Spa

Travel & Leisure Reader's Poll Tells it Like It Is! Bali is the Best!

2002 Reader's Choice Awards

Travel & Leisure Magazine have announced the winners of the 7^th annual World's Best Awards. The annual survey of the magazine's well-traveled readers has come to be seen as the definitive statement of who's who in terms of the best hotels, cities, islands, tour operators, airlines, car-rental agencies, cruise lines, and spas.

The results, to be published in the August edition of Travel & Leisure Magazine. demonstrate that the island of Bali together with the accommodation available on the island continue to dominate the thinking of discerning travelers everywhere.

The World's Best Island - BALI

You can't argue with the public, especially when they're right.

Travel & Leisure voted Bali the world's very best island destination, breaking a virtual stranglehold held on that title by Maui since the poll commenced in 1998. Bali's dramatic jump from number 6 in last year's ranking to the stop spot narrowly outpaced Tasmania, who secured the number two spot. World's Best Islands

The World's Best Hotels

Travel & Leisure Magazine's selection of the very finest hotels in the world saw four Bali properties listed among the top 100 hotels. The Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay ranked 6^th in the world, followed by Ubud's Amandari at number 8, and the Ritz Carlton Bali at the number 34 spot. World's Best Hotels

Asia's Best Hotels

The Magazine's ranking of the 25 top hotels in Asia secured Bali's best island claim with 5 top slots for Bali properties.

While The Peninsula in Bangkok was voted Asia's best hotel, the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay was 3^rd, the Amandari in Ubud in 4^th place, Ritz Carlton Bali at number 9, Sheraton Laguna Nusa Dua ranked 21^nd, and the Grand Hyatt in Nusa Dua at position number 23. Asia's Best Hotel Resorts

The World's Best Spas

Bali's Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay did its island home proud by being named the 3^rd best Spa in the entire world. Bangkok's Oriental spa won top honors in Travel & Leisure's list of the world's top 10 spas.

More information: Book a Hotel in Bali with balidiscovery.com

Bali Bids Rolf a Fond Farewell

Popular Inter-Continental Boss Promoted to Singapore Post.

Rolf Hübner the dynamic General Manager of the Bali Inter-Continental Resort on Jimbaran Beach since June 1996 has been promoted to a regional role with Six Continents Hotels in Singapore.

During his Bali assignment, Hübner was promoted to the post of Country Director of Operations in June 2000, having final responsibility over all the Six Continents Hotels in Bali, Lombok, Batam, Bandung, and Jakarta. In Indonesia, the Six Continent's management encompasses the Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and Inter Continental brands.

During his 6 year tenure, Hübner garnered numerous awards for his hotel including, in 1999, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Bali Chapter Excellence Award in recognition of efforts to preserve the environment and the Eco-Hotel Rating Program Commendation Award 2000 Gold Rating.

Joining Intercontinental in 1977, Hübner has held General Manager positions in Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Germany. A Swiss national, Hübner is married with two children.

Cruising by the Book

First Edition of Benoa Port Guide Welcomes Darwin - Bali Racers.

Bali's first guide book for customers of Bali's Benoa harbor has been launched just in time for the 2^nd Darwin - Bali Yacht Race, July 27 - August 10, 2002.

Produced by Bali-based publisher, The Works, the pocket-size, spiral bound Bali Port Guide 2002 was delivered to all the participants in the Darwin race prior to their departure from Australia's Northern Territory.

Paralleling similar port guide books in use around the world, the Benoa Guide includes information essential to inbound sailors, such as details on how to obtain sailing permits, visa requirements, details on navigating Benoa Harbor, Bali tide charts, marina services, and dates on the regional yacht racing calendar.

Copies of the book are available for Rp 50,000 from the Bali Marina Ship Shop at Benoa Harbor and The Gateway - Bali Tourism Authority at Jl. Raya Puputan, Renon; Palanquin Bali, and directly from the publisher at Jl. Muding Indah 2X, Kerobokan, Telephone ++62-(0)361-423596.

More information: Order the Guide by E-mail!

A Capital Idea - Jakarta Your Next Destination

Jakarta Sends Cultural Mission to Bali.

The Jakarta City Government Tourism Office is undertaking a two-day cultural mission to Bali July 30-31, 2002, in order to promote Indonesia's capital city to the local tourist trade.

Top Jakarta entertainers and fashion designers including Ronny Sianturi, Mutia Kasim, Dorce, Chossy Latu, Susie Hedijanto and Mr. & Miss Jakarta - the City's official ambassadors will perform in a special show at the Kuta Paradiso Hotel gardens on Wednesday evening.

The delegation, lead by Jakarta City Government Tourism Office Executive Director Robert P. Silalahi, will also participate in a business meeting with local tourism industry members.

Presenting the theme "Jakarta - Your Next Destination" the mission is aimed at the Balinese community, the island's tourism industry, and international tourists visiting Bali in order to increase awareness of the many choices available in shopping and cultural tourism in Jakarta.

Butterflies are Free

Bali Butterfly Foundation Holds Show for Kids with Special Abilities.

The Bali Butterfly Foundation (Yayasan Kupu Kupu) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that works to improve the lives of physically and mentally disabled children, adolescents, and adults on the island of Bali.

Founded and managed by Ms. Bergonia Lopez a Spanish nurse who visited Bali on holiday and stayed to help poor village handicapped children, she has managed to collect world-wide support that provides housing, food, medical attention, school supplies, wheelchairs and other desperately needed medical equipment.

Abilities of People With Different Abilities

In cooperation with Bali's luxurious Amankila Resort in Karangasem, East Bali, a group of 15 young boys and girls afflicted with polio from the Yayasan Kupu Kupu will display their works of arts and handicrafts from August 01 until 31, 2002, in the library of the Resort. Refusing to label the children as disabled, Bergonia describes the boys and girls as people with "different abilities," giving birth to the exhibition's name of "Abilities of People with Disabilities."

In Bali's less affluent villages children with sever physical and mental challenges face a most uncertain fate. Money for medical care, special training, wheelchairs, braces, and even basic schooling is simply not available. Before the concerned intervention of the Yayasan Kupu Kupu, these Children, branded as "backward," oftentimes never managed to venture outside their family compound. As the result of the training and support services of the foundation, many children suddenly blossom, demonstrating skills and intellectual appitudes that amaze both themselves and their surrounding community.

Be sure to visit the Amankila Resort during the month of August to see "Abilities of People with Disabilities" exhibition.

More information: Yayasan Kupu Kupu Website

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

Earthquake on July 24 - Part of Living on the Ring of Fire.

An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale shook parts of Bali on Wednesday morning, July 24. The quake, with an epicenter located 100 kilometers within the earth's crust, 113 kilometers due west of Waikabubak (Sumba), hit shortly after 11:00 a.m. local time and lasted for nearly 3 minutes, followed by two secondary quakes of similar intensities.

Although felt by resident in Bali's capital, no property damage or personal injuries were reported in connection with the quakes.

Bali, like most of Indonesia, resides on the fabled ring of fire - the meeting point of the giant plates of the earth's crust creating the many volcanoes in the region (Bali has five) and the relatively high pattern of earthquake activity. According to an expert from the local Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, Bali has recorded 52 earthquakes in June, recording an impressive 516 tectonic events in the first six months of 2002.

Protecting the Children

Growing Concern in Bali Over the Child Sex Trade.

A meeting convened in Bali by more than 35 non-governmental organizations (NGO's) on Wednesday, July 24, 2002, demanded that the provincial government of the island take a stronger stand in preventing the sexual exploitation of children on the island.

Claiming to have a list of over 200 documented cases of sexual abuse of children committed by foreign pedophiles, the delegates at the gathering insisted that the government increase enforcement measures, apply the maximum penalties for those adults proven to be involved in sexual acts with minors, and undertake a permanent blacklisting of convicted sexual offenders.

According to those speaking at the meeting, sexual predation against young children on the island is highly organized. They report that the majority of local victims of pedophilia are young boys recruited by local "agents" or middle-men who seek their victims in impoverished villages across the island.

According to the English-language Jakarta Post, one clinic in north Bali reported treating 21 separate cases of sexual abuse, mostly young boys between the ages of 12 and 13.

Volleyball Tournament August 22-25

Asia Pacific Tournament Set for Petitenget Beach.

Bali's Petitenget Beach, north of Kuta, has been selected as the venue for an Asia Pacific Volleyball Tournament scheduled for August 22-25, 2002.

16 countries are expected to compete including teams from China, Singapore, New Zealand, and Brunei.

Bali is expected to make a strong showing in the beach-side event following strong performances in a recent national tournament held in Lampung, South Sumatra.

Weekly Italian Lessons

Weekly Flights Between Milan and Bali Now Operating.

Blue Panorama Airlines an Italian-owned aviation company, has commenced weekly flights between Milan, Italy and Bali.

Operating Boeing 767 aircraft, the flights depart Milan-Malpensa Airport every Thursday afternoon, arriving in Bali early Friday afternoon following a stopover in Bangkok. The return flight leaves Bali on Friday afternoon, landing in Milan on Saturday morning.

The flights are being operated in collaboration with a Bali-based tour operator, Lotus Tours.

Additional information can be obtained from Lotus Tour's General Manager, Mr. Roberto Don, rdon@indosat.net.id.

More information: Send an Email!