BALI UPDATE #309 - 19 August 2002

One Month Visa Likely

Increasingly Certain that 60 Day Visa Free Stay to be Shortened to 30 Days.

Indonesia's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. I Gede, has virtually confirmed that the current 60 day visa-free facility (BVKS) will soon be shortened to 30 days.

An independent team composed of representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Department of Justice have already submitted their recommendations on implementation to President Megawati Soekarnoputri, including their proposed changes to the existing policy.

Currently, citizens of 48 countries holding valid passports are given a "visa-free" permit to stay for 60 days upon arrival at any Indonesian gateway. It is expected that the new policy will preserve a visa-free facility for most, if not all, these countries, but shorten the validity period to only 30 days.

The move is reportedly being introduced to stop widespread abuse of the visa facility by foreigners working illegally and involved in other illicit activities during their stay in Indonesia. The majority of Indonesia's tourists stay for only 10 days meaning the majority of foreign visitors will be unaffected by any change.

While the implementation date and details of the new policy have not yet been announced, it is expected that visitors wishing to stay more than 30 days will either have to arrange their visa before arrival in Indonesia or be required to apply to a local immigration office after landing in the country.

A Collective Sigh of Relief

Many members of Indonesia's tourism community are relieved at the proposed changes, much less drastic than original proposals to completely eliminate the visa-on-arrival facility and impose a visa fee during the passenger arrival process.

Stay linked to balidiscovery.com as we continue to monitor this story and we'll announce implementation dates and procedural changes as soon as they are officially available.

O'Brien to Sobek Corporate Marketing Role

Aussie Travel Specialist to Oversee Company's Tour and Park Operations.

Sobek Bali Utama and Waterbom Park & Spa have consolidated their marketing efforts with the appointment of Mr. Warren O'Brien to the newly created role of Corporate Director - Sales and Marketing. Sobek's diversified portfolio of recreational excursions and the popular Waterbom Park are operated under a common ownership.

O'Brienbrings over 20 years experience in Australia's tourism and hospitality industries to his new Bali posting. Most recently, he ran his own tourism marketing company, Leisure Inc Management. He has also served as the Director of Sales & Marketing for Australia's leading theme park, Dreamworld.

We are family

Bali Discovery Team Kicks Up Its Heal at Annual Staff Party.

On Saturday, August 17, 2002, the entire team of Bali Discovery Tours together with their families were hosted to dinner at Bali's Planet Hollywood. Celebrating a year of growing success promoting the world's most beautiful island, everyone enjoyed a lavish meal in the private stage area of the restaurant built around Hollywood movie themes.

After a few words of heartfelt thanks from Bali Discovery Tour's Managing Director, Arie Sukirno and the Company's President Director, John Daniels - a surprise raffle was held in which every member of the BDT team won prizes ranging from a color television, refrigerator, bicycle and other major household appliances.

The staff also used the occasion to extend surprise birthday greetings to Jack Daniels, presenting a hand-carved bust of "the boss." Jack thanked the staff for their unexpected gift, assuring them the stone replica would brings years of enjoyment to the pigeons who frequent his Balinese garden.

Book Signing Party

BTA Director To Attend Book Signing Party 23 August.

Dr. Ir. I. Gde Pitana the Director of the Bali Tourism Authority will be on hand at a reception marking the launch of his book, Critical Appreciation of Tourism on Bali (Apresiasi Kritis Terhadap Kepariwisataan Bali) on Friday, August 23, 2002.

The Book signing reception will be hosted by Palanquin Bali located near the Simpang Siur statue in Kuta.

Autographed copies of the book containing essays on tourism development by Bali's Chief of Provincial Tourism will be available at the receptions for Rp. 50,000.- each.

For more information on this event call Novi at 0361-766555 or Hendre at 0361-423596.

Don't Step On My Steel-Toed Shoes

Dyatmika Gala Dinner-Dance to Include Taxi Dancers.

Bali's Dyatmika School has formally set its Gala Dinner 2002 to take place at the Sanur Beach Hotel's Wantilan Convention Centre on Saturday, September 7, 2002.

As with past events, the emphasis for this year's dinner is on creativity and fun with the adoption of "Pesta Dansa" or "Dance Party" as the theme for the evening. The organizers have promised to bring back nostalgic memories of the 1940's with decorations inspired by the famous movie epics of that era. Music will be supplied by a local Big Band, brought out of mothballs exclusively for this special evening of dances.

For those who need help with their cha-cha, foxtrot, Lambeth Walk and carioca's the organizers are offering dance lessons in the weeks leading up to the dance and will even provide professional taxi dancers on the big evening for Fred's lacking their Gingers or vice versa.

In conjunction with the dance a silent auction of art works by some of Bali's leading artists and an exhibition of old photographs will be held.

Tickets covering a lavish dinner and wines start from Rp. 400,000 (approximately US$40.00) per person. VIP seating is also available.

More information: Dyatmika Gala Web Site.

Appointments and Changes at Sheraton Nusa Indah

Fay-Lin Yeoh Moved to Bali by Starwood as Director of Sales.

Ms. Fay-Linn Yoeh has been shifted from Singapore by Starwood Asia-Pacific to become Director of Sales at the Sheraton Nusa Indah Resort in Bali. A graduate of the Institute Hotelier Caesar Ritz in Switzerland, Ms. Yoeh has held posts with Holiday Inn, Shangri-La, and Radisson, before joining Sheraton.

Other Changes at Sheraton Nusa Indah

The Sheraton Nusa Indah Resort and Bali International Convention Center have also announced an extensive restructuring of its sales and marketing team. That division of the company is now divided into two sub-sections, one dealing with FIT Travelers and the other addressing the Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition Sector.

Mr. Aryo Indarto is now Director of Leisure Sales; Mieke Pinaria serves as Sales Manager, Leisure; and Amelia Soesanti as Sales Coordinator, Leisure.

Under the new restructuring, Fay-Lin Yeoh heads the department including the hotel's Public Relations Department where Levie Martin is Public Relations Manager. Also reporting to the Sales Manager are Gede Sugiarta, Manager Revenue Management and Maria Goretti who is Reservations Manager.

The Meetings and Conference division is lead by Alex Riva, Director of the Bali International Convention Center assisted by Tanto Ruwiyadi, Director of Sales (MICE).

In announcing the restructuring, Mr. Michael Cottray, General Manager of the Sheraton Nusa Indah Resort and the Bali International Convention Center said, "this repositioning will enable us to be more focused and responsive in establishing our property as a prime resort with a World Class Beachfront Convention Center, the best choice on the island of Bali."

Bali-Based Writer's Latest Book

James Murdoch Publishes Biography of Peggy Glanville-Hicks.

The Bali-based Australian music expert and author, James Murdoch, has just completed his latest work, the official biography of Australian woman composer, critic, and feminist - Peggy Glanville-Hicks.

Peggy Glanville-Hicks: A Transposed Life, covers the life and times of an important Australian female musician, focusing on the musically eventful 1950's and 1960's. Included in the book are never before seen photographs of Peggy Glanville-Hicks, (P G-H) together with the story of a remarkable woman told with affection and admiration by her friend and colleague, James Murdoch.

P G-H was born in Australian in 1912 and worked professionally in the United States, England and France before her death in Sydney in 1990. Her body of works includes solo concertos, chamber music, four operas and five ballets.

James Murdoch, who makes his home in Ubud, is the author of numerous books on Australian music and the founder of the Australian Musical Center. His professional career includes periods as the Music Director of Spanish Dance Theatre and as the Assistant Musical Director of the Australian Ballet Company. In the 1960's he founded the London-based James Murdoch Management Pty Ltd representing a number of leading performing artists and composers. Returning to Australia in the 1970's, Mr. Murdoch has authored numerous articles and books on music – including A Handbook of Australian Music (1983) and has served as President of the Professional Branch of the Music Information Centers.

Mr. Murdoch has lived in Bali since 1990.

Peggy Glanville-Hicks: A Transposed Life is published by Pendragon Press of New York.

More information: P G-H Book Link

Eggs with Two Shells

Melia Bali Makes Latest Guests Swim Home.

On August 07, 2002, guests and staff from the Melia Bali gathered on the beach of Nusa Dua to release some 40 baby turtles back into the Ocean.

Like all major undertakings on the island, the release date was fixed by local religious leaders who declared the date auspicious for this important event and who also made prayers and offerings at the release ceremony. This story, however, begins 7 months earlier when a large turtle, estimated to be 30 years old, came ashore at the Melia to deposit 108 eggs on their sandy beach.

Concerned for the safety of the baby turtles and the very survival of the species, the management of the hotel contacted the staff of the nearby Bumbu Bali Restaurant to seek their advice and assistance. The Restaurant is a leader in local turtle preservation efforts, allocating large amounts of time and money to purchase live turtles and turtle eggs from the local market for eventual return to the oceans.

Two months after the eggs were laid, a total of 70 turtles were born with 40 surviving to be released back into the sea. These surival rates are not out of line with those occuring in nature.

More information: Book a Stay at The Melia Bali

QANTAS Strike – Delays Expected

Work Stoppage on 19 August - Expected Inconvenience for Travelers.

A planned 24-hour industrial action by the Australian Services Union on Monday, 19 August, 2002, is expected to play havoc with many travelers ticketed on QANTAS.

While all international flights will operate during the work stoppage, delays are to be expected with QANTAS recommending passengers to arrive at airports a minimum 3 hours before their scheduled departure times.

Domestic services and regional link services operated by QANTAS are expected to be the worst affected. The airline said a number of domestic flights may be cancelled during the strike and appears to be urging people traveling domestically to rebook their flights and stay connected to the Carrier's website for the latest schedule changes.

The strike is the second action by the Union seeking a pay increase from the Australian carrier.

More information: QANTAS Website