BALI UPDATE #342 - 7 April 2003

Breaking News: Visa Free Facility Revoked

Confusion Reigns as President Megawati Suddenly Revokes Visa Free on Arrival Facility.

Despite widespread protests from Indonesia's tourism industry, the Government has forged ahead with its plans to revoke the visa-free facility enjoyed by the citizens of 48 countries visiting Indonesia.

In a Presidential decision No. 18 of 2003 dated 31 March 2003 - and only made public on Monday, April 7, 2003, President Megawati Soekarnoputri declared:

• The Visa free facility on arrival has been revoked for reasons of "reciprocity and national security."

• Countries excepted from the new regulation include Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Hong Kong (SAR), Macao (SAR), Chile, Morocco, Turkey and Peru.

• Nationals of other countries (assumed to be limited to those listed in the former 48 formerly granted visa-free visits and not listed in the exempted nations) will be granted a visa of 30 days at the Indonesian arrival gateway following the payment of a fee. While the Presidential decision does not specify the amount of the visa fee, a figure of US$ 50 has been widely discussed.

• The 30 day visa issued at the Countries gateways will be non-extendable and not eligible for mutation into another form of visa.

• Visitors wishing to stay for more than 30 days will be required to apply beforehand for visas at the Indonesian Embassy in their country of residence.

• Those visitors who are visiting Indonesia under the terms of a contract signed between an Indonesian tour operator and a foreign tour operator will be allowed an additional 6 months before the new visa policy is applied.

Confusion Likely to Prevail

The new visa policy is likely to raise a number of questions and confuse the traveling public.

That the President's decision has immediate effect may result in uneven administration and payment practices at local airports. How will people be treated who refuse to pay the additional visa? Will official receipts be issued? How will the authorities determine those travelers exempted from paying due to existing contracts with Indonesian tour operators?

What currencies will be accepted and at what rates of exchange?

Visitors arriving in the days just prior to the announcement were apparently not charged the visa fee. So, when, exactly, will the charge be imposed?

Dark Days Ahead

Despite widespread protests from the tourism industry and surveys showing that a drop of as little as 3% in visitor arrivals would completely nullify any foreign exchange advantage resulting from a visa fee when compared with lost foreign exchange generated by foreign tourist, the Government has pushed ahead with its plans to impose the new visa policy and fee system.

Cry, the Beloved Country

A tourism industry already reeling from the ill-effects of the war on Iraq, travel advisories prejudicial to Indonesian tourism, a teetering world economy and a SARS crisis - is likely to see the latest decision as a potential "death blow" to a market sector being lobbied continuously by the Government to avoid layoffs at all costs.

SARS Roundup

Indonesian Finally Taking Steps to Respond to the World Wide Epidemic.

Indonesia's response to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic appears to be finally getting into gear, despite an intial degree of confusion on how exactly to confront the illness which has infected over 2,300 people worldwide and resulted in at least 84 certified deaths.

Growing Awareness of the Health Threat

On Friday, April 4, 2003, the same day that Indonesia's Minister of Health, Achmad Suyudi declared SARS as a national epidemic, Indonesia's Vice-President Hamzah Haz said that the disease represented a national emergency.

Similarly, the Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare, Yusuf Kalla is continually updating President Megawati Soekarnoputri on the latest developments in connection with the disease. According to Kalla, "the President has asked that the maximum steps be taken (to prevent the spread of the disease), including examining all arriving passengers entering Indonesia." Kalla added, "those suspected of suffering from SARS will be quarantined in area hospitals" specially designated to treat and prevent the spread of the epidemic.

5 Suspected Cases

As of Saturday, April 5, 2003, the Government has identified 5 "suspected" cases of SARS – one of whom has died. The first suspected case was detected on the island of Batam, near Singapore, in a female migrant worker returning to Batam from her employment in Singapore. The second case involved a woman who developed flu-like symptoms after being visited by a Singaporean, later diagnosed with the disease. The third incident involved a migrant worker who died of multiple organ failure at a Jakarta Hospital, but who's x-rays indicated to be free of pneumonia. The remaining two cases also involved migrant workers returning to Indonesia from Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Press reports state that the Government has asked the assistance of the Center for Disease Control in the U.S.A. to assist in examining the laboratory tests of all suspected Indonesian cases of SARS.

Special Telephone Numbers Established

The Government has established an information center on SARS at the Jakarta Hospital for Infectious Disease (RSPI). A telephone hotline has been established at ++62-21-6506568.

Bali's Response

Bali's Sanglah General Hospital has been designated to handle any suspected cases of SARS encountered in Bali. To date there have been no suspected cases of SARS in Bali, although the Indonesian-language Bali Post reported that one Canadian fatality attributed to the disease had visited Bali on an Asian itinerary including both Hong Kong and Bali.

Hospitals throughout Bali have introduced the use of surgical mask for staff working at reception areas and in emergency treatment rooms. Masks are also in evidence at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport, where arriving passengers are being given health advisory cards by port health officials. The promised examination of all inbound passengers, according the local Bali press, had yet to be introduced by Friday, April 4, 2003.

In a later development, Health Authorities have reportedly assigned 15 physicians employed by the Departent of Health to stand by at Bali's ariport from Saturday, April 5^th.

More information: Center for Disease Control & Prevention Website

SARS Apparently No Bar to PATA

Chief of Tourism Body Says PATA Conference Must Go On!

Mr. Setyanto P. Santosa, the Head of the Body for the Promotion of Culture and Tourism (BPBudpar), said that the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Conference to be held in Bali April 14-17, 2003 will go ahead despite the current SAR crisis.

Insisting there were no plans to postpone or cancel the conference of top tourism leaders from the Asia Pacific, Mr. Setyanto was quoted in the Indonesian-language Bali Post as saying, "We have received a confirmation form the head office of PATA in Bangkok that there will be no postponement."

Currently 742 people representing 41 countries have registered to attend the Conference. Mr. Setyanto predicted that any "fallout" in registrations connected with the SARS scare will not result in more than a maximum 10% cancellations.

Many of the delegates who traditionally participate in the annual PATA Conference originate from nations worst affected by the SARS epidemic, including Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Taiwan.

The PATA Conference taking place in Bali will be the 52^nd annual gathering of the association dedicated to the promotion and development of travel within the entire Asia-Pacific region.

More information: PATA Bali 2003 Conference Website

Medical Reports Required for PATA Delegates

PATA Delegates Required to Show SARS-Free Certificates at Nation's Airport.

According to the Indonesian-language Bali Post, delegates arriving to participate in the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Conference in Bali April 13-17, will be required to show a medical report from their home country stating they are free of the SARS virus. The announcement was reportedly made by the Bali Chief of the Ngurah Rai Airport immigration office, Drs. I Made Widiartha when speaking to the press on Saturday, April 5^th.

In making the announcement, the immigration chief did not indicate what sanctions, if any, might be applied to PATA delegates failing to produce the required medical report.

Meanwhile, Mr. Peter De Jong, the President of PATA, based in Bangkok, has issued assurances to international delegates attending the Bali conference that they will be able to enjoy free and unimpeded access to the Country at airport gateways providing they are free of any symptoms connected with the SARS virus.

More information: Related Story: SARS Apparently No Bar to PATA

60 Minutes in Bali

Australia's Channel 9 Visits Bali Six Months after the Bombing.

On Sunday, April 6, 2003, Australia's Channel 9 public affairs program "60 Minutes" broadcast a special "Return to Bali" segment featuring the story of a group of young Australian's injured in the October 12^th bomb blast returning to the scene of that fateful night.

A moving story of courage and the human spirit's determination to rise above adversity, "Return to Bali," showed 13 young people back in Bali, bidding farewell to the friends they lost and how an island shared their tremendous sense of grief and loss.

The full transcript of the story together with a short video clip are available via the on-line link provided below.

The link also features a survey showing that nearly 80% of those voting say that, six months on, they would not hesitate to visit Bali on a holiday.

More information: Channel 9 On-line 'Back to Bali' Link

He' s Got Meetings Covered

Mystery Solved: We Discover the Identity of the The Bali MICE Guide's 2003 Cover-Boy.

When Bali Discovery Tours published the Bali MICE Guide 2003 as part of our efforts to increase the meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) market to Bali, our editor purchased an image from one of Bali's leading image libraries to grace our cover

Until recently, the name of the young man in Balinese dress on this year's edition of Bali's only comprehensive guide to meetings and conferences was something of a mystery. Prompted by numerous enquiries regarding our cover model's identity from readers around the world, we set about a "reverse search" in order to find out who exactly was the person depicted on our cover.

Meet Made Supartha

Our search eventually led us to the Novotel Coralia Benoa Bali where we discovered out cover-boy, Made Supartha, working as a waiter at "Coco's" beachside restaurant.

A 25 year-old young man who hails from Singaraja, on Bali's North Coast, Made Supartha has worked as waiter for the past 3 years at the popular Tanjung Benoa Resort while also pursuing his interest as a professional dancer. Photographed for our cover in one of his dance costumes, Supartha is well known for his rendition of the Oleg Tamblingan and physically challenging Kebyar Duduk dances. Possessing a dance repertoire that is truly international, Supartha performs regularly in special programs prepared by his hotel for their guests, including a special Tahitian dance performance.

Bali MICE Guide 2003

Produced annually by Bali Discovery Tours for the Bali MICE Initiative, the Bali MICE Guide 2003 (BMG 2003) is an essential resource for anyone organizing an event in Bali, one of the Asia's most exotic, diverse and well-equipped international conference destinations.

Covering the width and breadth of the island, BMG 2003 incorporates detailed information on 32 hotels, 10 professional conference operators (DMC's), venues, activities and attractions, team building, food and beverage caterers, conference gift outlets, international courier and freight and cargo agents, telecommunications and marketing specialists, as well as many other conference-related products and services.

The valuable guide is also filled with a wealth of pre and post-trip attractions and activities, suggestions on how to build custom itineraries, and a multitude of sports and recreation suggestions for groups and individuals.

There are chapters on Bali's arts and culture, island tours for participants, partners and families, golfing and marine activities and excursions, information on Bali's world famous spas, a thorough survey of high quality and unique dining and entertainment options, information on the island's distinctive fashion scene and souvenir and handicraft retailers, a year-round calendar of events and festivals, and an index of participating advertisers.

Available free only to qualified decision-makers in the conference and meeting business, BMG 2003 presents the very best of what Bali has to offer in one easy-to-use reference tool everything the professional organizer needs to know to put together a successful and memorable MICE event.

Qualified event planners, trade representatives and specialty travel agents may register for copies of the guide on line via the link provided below.

More information: Apply On-Line a Copy of the Bali MICE Guide 2003.

Presidential Elections Set

Date Announced for Indonesia's First Direct Presidential Elections in 2004.

The National Elections Commissions (KPU) have formally announced July 3, 2004, as the date for Indonesia's first nation-wide direct popular elections for the presidential and vice-presidential posts. Should the initial election prove inconclusive, a second run-off election will be held on September 13, 2004.

2004, promises to be a year of heightened political activity overall in Indonesia with legislative elections scheduled to precede the vote for president and vice-president by three months, taking place on April 5, 2004.

According to the KPU Chairman, Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin, the decision to separate the legislative and presidential elections was made to ensure the overall quality of the election process and in order to generally reduce political temperatures during the election period.

Adelaide, We Missed You!

Garuda Re-launches its Adelaide to Bali Flights.

Following a five month hiatus, Garuda Indonesia has resumed flight services between Bali and the South Australian capital of Adelaide, effective April 1, 2003.

Flights were stopped following the sudden drop in passenger demand after the Bali bomb attacks of October 12^th.

Initially, flights will operate twice each week on Tuesday's and Friday's, with a third weekly flight scheduled to start in June.

Operating the service with Airbus 330 equipment, the Tuesday and Friday flights will fly northbound leaving Adelaide at 0810 hours local time arriving in Bali at 1510 hours. The southbound flights from Bali departs in the middle of the night at 55 minutes past midnight arriving in Adelaide at 0700 hours.

A Change in Name Only

Paradise Plaza Hotel Launched in Bali.

Effective April 01, 2003, the Radisson Bali Hotel and Radisson Bali Suites ceased to exist with the ending of Radisson's management contract for all its hotels in Indonesia.

Re-launched as the Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel and Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites the Bali properties will join their sister properties in Surabaya, Purwakarta, and Yogyakarta in dropping their Radisson connection as they commence operation under their new brand of Prime Plaza Hotel & Resorts.

Eager to preserve the substantial good will and strong reputation established under their Radisson branding, Prime Plaza proclaim that their hotels have the "same smile, new name and even better service." Senior managers have agreed to remain on board at the hotels ensuring a continuity of service and management standards.

Mr. Ian Barrow, General Manager, of the Bali properties, commenting on the change of regime at his two Bali properties, said, "We are very proud of the high standard of true Balinese hospitality we provide our guests and are excited to be in a position to further develop our products and services."

More information: Book a Stay at The Bali Sanur Paradise Plaza

Dressing a Legend

Nelson Mandela's Preference for Balinese Batik.

Former South African President and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela's love of Indonesian batik is legendary. Long-sleeved hand-crafted Indonesian batik shirts are his preferred dress, even on the most formal of State occasions.

In fact, such is Mr. Mandela's fondness for batik that the dress standards of a formal business suit when calling on the Queen at Buckingham Palace were reportedly waived, allowing the renowned African leader to pay his respects on HRH while wearing one of his favorite batik shirts from Indonesia.

Mardiana Ika Invited to Africa

Bali fashion pioneer, Ika Mardiana, recently received a formal invitation from Nelson Mandela to stage a series of fashion shows featuring Balinese batiks and traditional Indonesian woven textiles during a coming tour to South Africa.

The fashion tour is scheduled to take place in August of 2003.

Quoted in the English-language Jakarta Post, Mardiana Ika said "Mr. Mandela adores the ethnic textiles of Indonesia. Every time he attends a fashion show he usually wears batik or woven cloth."

Singing the G I A Blues

Garuda Indonesia Airlines Contemplates Drastic Flights Suspensions.

Garuda Indonesia Airlines (GIA) is threatening to suspend operations on any of its international flights operating as load levels of less than 40% in the face of declining passenger discouraged from traveling due to the War in Iraq and the SARS epidemic.

Bachrul Hakim, Executive Vice President for GIA, issued the warning of further flight suspensions, saying the airlines was continually monitoring load levels and forward booking patterns.

Flights to the Middle East have already been reduced from eight to two per week. Plans to reintroduce and add flights in Europe and Australia, suspended following last October's terror attack in Bali, are also under review and may further delayed should the international slump in international air travel be prolonged.