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BALI UPDATE #524 - 25 September 2006
The Bulgari Resort,
Bali is Open for Business
On an Island Famous
for Outstanding Boutique Resorts Bulgari Prepares
to Go 'One Better' with its 59 Villa Cliff Side
Property.
As of September 23, 2006, The Bulgari Resort,
Bali, has begun welcoming privileged guests to
its secluded "all villa" cliffside retreat.
Set on a 150 meter high plateau overlooking the
Indian Ocean, the 59-villa resort is the second
property by Bulgari Hotels Resorts, following
the successful 2004 opening of the Bulgari Hotel,
Milan, Italy.
Designed by architects Antonio Citterio &
Partners, the Bulgari Resort, Bali is located
on the southern tip of the Jimbaran Peninsula,
close to Bali sacred temple of Uluwatu. The
resort reflects the traditional Balinese architecture
combined with a sophisticated contemporary design,
using indigenous stones, native wood finishes
and refined craft-made fabrics exclusively created
for the Bulgari Resort.
The 59 individual villas, freestanding and
private, include an open-air pavilions, terrace
and private plunge pools, and uninterrupted
ocean views from the southernmost tip of the
island. The villas, decorated with Balinese
antique and pieces of art also offer state-of-the-art
technological features. The resort has 3 two-bedroom
villas of 500 square meters each and a 1300
square meters Bulgari Villa. Reachable by a
private access, the Bulgari Villa boasts two
master bedrooms, a large living area with built-in
bar, an oversized dining room and a home theatre.
An outdoor meditation pavilion, a large lap
pool and an extensive terrace are some of its
unique features intended to earn the top-end
villa the moniker as Bali's very best accommodation
on an island known for its luxurious villas.
The oceanfront Spa embraces many elements of
Balinese tradition. The main pavilion is an
antique, hand-carved joglo house from the island
of Java, which was dismantled, relocated, and
then reassembled at the Bulgari Resort, Bali.
A complete range of healing and beauty treatments
are provided by an expert staff of professionals.
The Spa offers a swimming pool, open air relaxation
lounge area, yoga pavilion, rain showers, steam
rooms clad in green and gold mosaic and two
private Spa Suites complete with outdoor garden.
Enjoying breathtaking ocean views, the Resort's
large swimming pool forms part of an extensive
ornamental lake, where the bar, the lounge and
the resorts two restaurants are located. Characterized
by an informal ambience, the all-day dining
restaurant combines authentic Balinese dishes
- enriched by various regional influences from
the Indonesian archipelago - with a selection
of international specialties. An Italian restaurant,
open for dinner only, serves a contemporary
interpretation of classical Italian cuisine.
Andrew Skinner, an acknowledge master of Asian
culinary traditions, is the Executive Chef at
the Bulgari Resort in Bali.
With its own pristine private beach, suitable
for long walks along the oceanfront and served
by a Beach Club, is reached via a special elevator
system.
A Closer Look at
Bali Arrivals Through August 2006
Bali by the Numbers:
A Look at Total Arrivals from Bali's Major Markets
January – August 2000-2006.
Balidiscovery.com takes a
closer look at Bali's foreign arrivals January
to August, providing a comparative look covering
the years 2000-2006.
Total Arrivals All Markets
Total foreign arrivals to Bali January –
August 2006 reached 792,665, a number that was
down -21.1% from the same period in 2005. However,
when compared to 2003 - another "post-bombing"
year, arrivals for the first eight months of
2006 are +29.78% ahead of the same eight months
just three years ago.
Japanese Arrivals
Similarly, Japanese arrivals are down -31%
for January-August 2006 versus 2005, and are
a striking +56.7% ahead of 2003 – the
last post bombing year that befell Bali.
Australian Arrivals
In the doldrums and showing little sign of
recovery Australian arrivals are down -56.3%
on a cumulative basis January-August for 2006
versus the same period in the previous year.
When compared to the same period in 2003, the
2006 figures are a scant +2.5% ahead of the
totals 3 years ago.
Taiwan Arrivals
While Taiwan arrivals are +7.6% ahead of 2005
for the period January-August 2006, total arrivals
still lag well behind Taiwan’s cumulative
performance for each year 2000-2004.
South Korean Arrivals
January – August 2006 arrivals lag -19.2%
against the same period in 2005. When compared
to the same period in 2003, the current year’s
performance ranks +107.4% ahead of the earlier
“post bombing year”
European Arrivals
Showing a less dramatic deleterious response
to the 2005 bombing, European arrivals are down
only -9% for January-August 2006 versus January-August
2005. Compared to the same period in 2003, arrivals
are up +40.1% .
Americas Arrivals
Arrivals from both North and South America
are down -20.5% for January-August 2006 when
compared to January-August 2005. Showing better
resilience to Bali's second bombing, 2006 arrival
totals are +27.9% ahead of 2003.
For table Click here
Kuznetsova Wins
Bali Wismilak International 2006
Russian Tennis
Star Dominates Bali Tennis Tournament for 3rd
time in Five Years.
Russian female tennis ace Svetlana Kuznetsova
took home her 3rd Wismilak Tennis Tournament
Champion's trophy after a hard-fought final
with Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli on Sunday, September
17, 2006.
Already a Wismilak veteran at the tender age
of 21 years, Kuznetsova recorded previous wins
at the Bali tournament in 2002 and 2004, making
the Bali championship the 7th career title for
the world’s 5th ranked female tennis player.
Although managing to defeat 26th ranked Bartoli
in only two sets to determine the winner of
the US$ 225,000 tournament, the center-court
action at the finals was intense. In the first
set both players battled to five games each
before Kuznetsova managed to win the set by
winning two successive games. In the second
and tournament-deciding set Kuznetsova's superior
conditioning forced a fatigued Bartoli into
numerous faults, seeing the Russian win the
set 6-2.
After 13th exciting years of world-class tennis
action on the WTA tour, the Wismilak International
now occupies a cherished position on the international
calendar of championship women's tennis with
players eager to return to Bali every year not
only for the keen competition on court but also
for the warm hospitality extended by the island's
people.
Bali Works to Reduce
Plastic Waste
Supermarkets and
Retail Chains in Bali Combine Efforts to Reduce
the Use of Plastic Bags.
The Indonesian language Kompas reports that
Bali has launched a drive to reduce plastic
waste on the island. Formally inaugurated in
early September by Bali's Vice Governor Alit
Kusuma Kelakan and Indonesia's Minister for
the Environment Rachmat Witoelar, the "anti-plastic"
campaign has received support from all 9 of
Bali's regencies.
Bali as a Proud Example
Minister Witoelar said: "I hope the initiative
of all regency chiefs in Bali can become an
example for every province and regency in Indonesia.
It is difficult to combat plastic waste, an
effort that will require at least 20 years.
I am very proud of Bali."
The "war on plastic" has been joined
in Bali by 16 of Bali's rgest supermarkets and
major retail outlets who will gradually reduce
the use of plastic used in the sales process.
Every day Bali produces and estimated 4,665
cubic meters of 150 tons of waste. Of this amount,
an estimated 70 percent is organic with the
remaining 30% comprised on non-biodegradable
material. Bali's capital city of Denpasar creates
150 cubic meters of waste each day.
Witoelar hopes the program to reduce plastic
use in Bali is a success and contributes to
current efforts to reduce pollution of the island's
seashore.
How Green is My Sanur
1,200 Trees Planted
to Preserve and Protect Sanur Village Community's
Environment.
In a special event attended by hundreds of
Sanur village residents, students and local
government officials on Friday, September 15,
2006, some 1,200 trees representing 7 species
were planted in the popular seaside area surrounding
Mertasari Beach. Also participating in the "re-greening
project" were Denpasar's Mayor Drs. AA
Puspayoga and Vice-Mayor IB Rai Dharmawijaya
Mantra.
Ir.Ketut Suandi, Denpasar's Head of Environmental
Services, hailed the event telling the Indonesian
language Bali Post the tree planting exercise
would hopefully help integrate environmental
action into every aspect of development in order
that Bali's natural environment becomes sustainable.
Bemoaning the fact that the people of Bali still
incorrectly view environmental actions as a
matter best left to the Government, Suandi insisted
that public participation is absolutely critical
to preserving the local environment.
An Increasing Crowded Sanur
Speaking at the community-wide tree planting,
the Chief of the Sanur Kuah village, I Made
Dhana, explained that his community's population
density had already reached 6,089 people per
hectare of land. Sanur covers a total area of
386 square kilometers inhabited by a population
of 12,177 people. As the result of Sanur's growing
population many green areas of the village are
under growing threat bring with it an accompanying
problem of waste and rubbish disposal.
Rescuing Garuda
Editorial: Following
US$ 107 Bailout by Government of Indonesia's National
Carrier, an Editorial in the Jakarta Post Asks
Will this Be Sufficient to Save Garuda?
A recent editorial in the Jakarta Post praised
the last-minute cash bailout of US$107 million
(Rp. 1 trillion) provided by Indonesian legislators
for Garuda Indonesia but posed the question
if such help provides anything more than short-term
superficial relief.
In the words of the Jakarta Post: "Without
debt restructuring to reduce its debts to a
sustainable level, without new strategic investor
to bring in synergy and without significant
progress in operational restructuring, Garuda
will again suffer a liquidity crisis and could
eventually go bankrupt. After all, Garuda is
burdened with almost $1.2 billion in debts and
an annual debt servicing burden of $110 million."
And, indeed, the government cash injection
granted on Thursday, September 14, 2006, is
little more than a short term palliative for
what ails the Carrier. Considerably less than
the US$230 million sought by Garuda to allow
continuing operations while it negotiates "another"
debt restructuring deal with it European creditors,
the US$107 million given by the Government will
keep the Airline in the air for now but leave
it little room for seeking its second debt restructuring
since 2001.
While crediting Garuda with successfully reducing
its losses in 2005 to Rp. 675 billion from Rp.
875 billion suffered the previous year - lower
demand for international flights to Indonesia
dating from the 9-11 terrorist attack of 2001,
escalating fuel prices and a highly competitive
deregulated domestic airline environment have
all taken their toll on the Indonesian carrier's
bottom line.
Simply Not Enough
Mounting losses and persistent demands for
repayment of debt, according to The Jakarta
Post, could make "this latest financial
assistance will be rendered meaningless within
a few months if Garuda cannot conclude another
debt restructuring deal with its domestic and
foreign debtors to reduce its debts to a sustainable
level."
The newspaper added: "But a sustainable
debit level is not enough. Given the keener
competition within the domestic and international
markets, Garuda needs significant corporate
restructuring and a new strategic investors
to strengthen its competitiveness. Garuda requires
a new strategic investor to strengthen its capital,
improve its efficiency, modernize its jets and
make its route network more efficient. We should
not be such narrow-minded nationalists as to
oppose a minority foreign shareholder in Garuda,
despite its role as the national flag carrier.
The other alternative is another bailout at
the expense of taxpayers."
Urging more financial support The Jakarta Post
is positive about Garuda's future saying "despite
its current financial distress, (Garuda) has
a promising future, providing it can strengthen
its efficiency and improve its service to international
standards. And, most importantly, it has a vital
role to play in servicing the vast archipelago
and the Asian region."
Tourism Minister
to Be Ousted in Cabinet Reshuffle?
Jakarta-based Tourism
Think Tank Calls on President to Replace Jero
Wacik as Minister of Culture and Tourism.
The Indonesian language Bisnis Indonesia reports
that members of the Jakarta-based Tourism think
tank (MPI) have called for the replacement of
Indonesia’s Minister of Culture and Tourism
Jero Wacik in a rumored reshuffle of President
Yudhoyono's Cabinet expected sometime before
the end of this year.
Speaking on behalf of the MPI-Jakarta, Rudiana
said: "Although disasters continue to befall
the tourism industry this is not a reason for
the Republic of Indonesia's tourism industry
to be devastated, with the weak leadership (of
tourism) over the past two years allowing the
private sector to be brutalized."
Rudiana explained that as the result of the
weak leadership of the Ministry in charge of
tourism, the first echelon of Culture and Tourism
ministry officials have sought safe haven, waiting
for their individual pensions. Rudiana said
that officials are aware that the Minister's
appointment is a political position.
Rumors of a reshuffle in President's Yudhoyono's
cabinet have resurfaced in combination with
the second anniversary of his election to Indonesia's
top job which will take place on October 20,
2006. The President has promised that he will
annually review the results achieved by his
cabinet, a promise kept on the first anniversary
in 2005 that saw him replace three ministerial
posts.
In a stern rebuke of Minister Wacik's performance
as Minister of Culture and Tourism, Rudiana
told Bisnis Indonesia that Wacik has only measured
his success to date in terms of his ability
to please his superior, as measured in the number
of times the President attends special programs
organized by his department.
National Tourism
Target Remains at 5.5. Million
At Opening of 4th
Kuta Karnival Tourism Official Calls for More
Events and Underlines Continuing Commitment to
Target of 5.5 million Foreign Visitors in 2006.
In comments made at the formal opening of the
Kuta Karnival on Sunday, September 17, 2006,
a ranking Indonesian tourism official reiterated
the need for continuous tourism promotion and
more international-scale events in order to
attract foreign visitors to Bali.
Speaking of Targets
Firmansyah, a member of the Expert Staff of
the Minister of Culture and Tourism, told the
Indonesian language BisnisBali that the national
target of 5.5 million visitors to Indonesia
in the current year remains firm.
In 2005 the government failed to reach its
tourism target of 5 million, achieving only
4.8 million following the sudden downturn in
business resulting from the October 2006 terror
attack in Bali. Bali's stated target of 1.6
million visitors in 2005 was similarly thwarted,
reaching only 1.38 million foreign visitors.
Wishing to stem the increasing number of his
fellow countrymen choosing to travel abroad
on holiday each year, Firmansyah said "we
hope Indonesians will not holiday abroad and,
instead, just take their vacations domestically."
A Celebration of Life
The tourism expert's comments were made at
the official opening of the 4th Annual Kuta
Karnival which adopted "A Celebration of
Life" as its theme.
The opening of the event saw the release of
200 baby green turtles into the surf of Kuta
and a festival of kites involving 1709 kites
that filled the skies overt the popular beach
side destination in Bali.
Supatra Karang, Chairman of the Kuta Karnival
reflected the general spirit of organizers and
participants of the event which filled the nine-days
from September 16-24 with 22 distinct sub-events
when he told the press, "how beautiful
are the differences that comprise the world
in which we live." Karang praised the 4th
Annual Kuta Karnival as a facilitator of Bali's
promotion, a source of community-building among
the people of Kuta and Bali as a whole, and
as a force for peace.
Four Seasons Quality
from Bali to the World
Four Seasons Staffers
from Bali in Demand at Affiliated Properties Around
the World.
Bali's Four Season Resort at Jimbaran Bay and
Four Seasons Resort at Sayan have well-deserved
reputations for excellence in service, earning
numerous international awards as two of the world's
most renowned resorts.
Because of their outstanding reputation, members
of the teams from both hotels are in growing demand
by affiliate hotels around the globe eager to
share in the expertise and charm that have made
the two Bali hotels famous.
Among recent members of the Bali Four Seasons
family who have accepted Four Seasons assignment
abroad include:o Christina Purba, the Director
of Sales at the Four Seasons in Bali accepted
a transfer in August to join the opening team
of Four Seasons Koh Samui, Thailand.
- In June Asni Muharam who was employed as the
Sales Manager in Bali moved to the Four Seasons
Maldives.
- In April Lilywati Gouw who served as the Administrative
Assistant to the General Manager in Bali moved
to a new position at the Four Seasons Maldives.
- In November 2005 Dewa Ayu Widiantini, Ni Wayan
Sutini and Ni Made Ariani moved to a Spa Therapist
roles at the Four Seasons Great Exuma.
- In June of 2006 Gusti Ayu Kade Karmini and
Ni Made Poniasih - two Bali Spa therapists, together
with Beautician Widiasih all moved to the Four
Seasons Shanghai.
Working to Formula
Hotel Santika Beach
Bali Gets ISO 9001: 2000 Certification.
Following a lengthy qualification period the
Hotel Santika Beach Bali has successfully earned
ISO 9001:2000 Certification awarded by PT SGS
International.
The international certification program means
that the hotel's management has developed a
fully integrated system of quality assurance
and consistent management standards.
Hotel Santika Beach Bali is the eighth member
of the Hotel Santika International Group of
Hotels in Indonesia to qualify under the rigorous
certification program and the first hotel in
Bali to be so recognized.
On hand to receive the official certification
certificate from SGS were senior members of
the Santika Group's management and the Hotel's
General Manager Made Sueca Negara.
Countdown to PATA
Mart Bali 2007
Indonesia Hosts Final
Night Dinner at PATA Mart 2006 in Hong Kong.
On the closing night of the Pacific Asia Travel
Association (PATA) Mart 2006 held in Hong Kong
on Friday, September 15, 2006, hundreds of guests
were treated to traditional dances from Bali,
contemporary Indonesian music and a lavish four-course
Indonesian dinner.
Guests were welcomed by the official host for
the evening, Minister of Culture and Tourism
for the Republic of Indonesia, Jero Wacik, who
encouraged the record setting total of travel
industry buyers and sellers to come to Bali
in 2007 where the next PATA Mart is scheduled
to be held in September 2007.
Shown on balidisocovery.com are snapshots taken
during the gala "Indonesian Night Program"
in Hong Kong.
Click
here for Images
More Sentences Handed
Down in 2005 Bombing Incident
4th in Growing List
of Terrorist Convictions Connected to October
2005 Blast Gets 15 Years Behind Bars.
A Bali court handed down a 15-year sentence
on Thursday, September 14, 2006, to Anif Solachanudin,
a 29 year-old accomplice in the October 2005
bombing which claimed 20 lives in Bali.
Trained to be a suicide bomber, Solachanudin
was found guilty of involvement in terrorist
attacks and for the possession of illegal explosives.
The presiding judge in the case handed down
a sentence of 15 years, 5 years more than that
requested by State prosecutors.
This is the fourth conviction in connection
with the 2005 Bali bombing. Convictions already
down by the Denpasar courts in connection with
the October 2005 terrorist attack include:
- Mohammad Choily, 28, who was given 18 years
in prison for providing explosives used to make
the bombs.
- Dwi Widiarti, 33, sentenced to 8 years for
providing technical expertise in transferring
to CD a video made by Malaysian terrorist Noordin
M. Top.
- Abdul Aziz, a 30 year-old schoolteacher was
sentences to 8 years in prison for creating
a website featuring Malaysian terrorists Noordin
M. Top and Azahari.
Following the October 2005 attack a massive
manhunt resulted in a shootout with police in
near Malang on Java in which Azahari was killed.
Noordin M. Top remains at large.
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