Some 124 sailing yachts carrying an estimated 500-600 people are expected to drop anchor off Bali's north shore at Buleleng starting from September 23, 2007.

Participating in Sail Indonesia - an initiative to attract yacht tourism to Indonesia organized by the Yayasan Cinta Bahari Indonesia - the area near Lovina and Buleleng in North Bali represents just one of 16 country-wide destinations preparing to welcome yachting enthusiasts from around the world.

Several years in the planning, the Sail Indonesia visit to North Bali has involved numerous coordinating meetings between the private sector and the region's tourism officials to ensure the success of the armadas visit, which organizers hope will become a annual event.

A total of 22 nationalities are expected to be represented among the 500-600 yachting visitors expected to spend an average 7 days enjoyimg the many facets of culture offered in Bali's less-visited North.

Local business and government officials hope that a successful visit to North Bali by Sail Indonesia will advance efforts to see the establishment of a dedicated cruise terminal in the area.

Presented a "Celebration of the Balinese Lifestyle" - the Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) have announced the dates for the Nusa Dua Fiesta 2007 as October 18-21, 2007 centered at the Peninsula Island at Nusa Dua.

The Peninsula, covering 5 landscaped hectares on a promontory in the Indian Ocean, offers an attractive venue for the four days of activities including culture, fashion, food, arts, sports, music and exhibitions. Designed to appeal to an audience of all ages, Fiesta 2007 will present traditional arts performances from Bali as well as other provinces across the Indonesian archipelago. The event will also showcase the talents of renowned Balinese musicians including Balawan & Batuan Etnik, a wortld-famous Balinese guitarists backed up by his ethnically-inspired band.

"Besides demonstrating what the Nusa Dua has to offer, we would also like to take the opportunity to promote Bali to the world. The inaugural Nusa Dua Festival was first held in 1996 and over the ensuring years we have aspired to create different themes so that tourists can experience something unique at every event," said I Made Mandra, President Director of the BTDC.

Nusa Dua is one of Bali's best-known as tourist areas and home to famous resort and attraction brands including, Club Med, Bali Desa Suite Nusa Dua, Kayu Manis Private Villas & Spa, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa, The Westin Resort, The Laguna Resort & Spa, Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resort, Grand Hyatt Bali, Inna Putri Bali Hotel Resort & Spa, Ayodya Resort Bali, Novotel Nusa Dua Hotel & Residence, Swiss Grand Bali Hotel, Amanusa, Bali Golf & Country Club, Bali Collection & Entertainment Complex, Bali Lawn Bowling, Matsuri Restaurant, Victus Life, Museum Pasifika, and Bali Eye. All share a common 300-hectares site set in magnificent tropical gardens replete with a championship 18-hole golf course.

A survey conducted by the Indonesian Consumer Council Foundation (YLKI) of Jakarta and the Consumers Protection Bureau (LPK) in Bali reveals that 72.5% of the people who use Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport are unsatisfied with the level of service provided by Island's sole airport.

In a public meeting on Thursday, August 30, 2007, to reveal the results of the survey and elicit comments on how to improve service at the Airport, the Chairman of LPK in Bali, I Putu Armaya, called on Ngurah Rai's management to improve both the facilities and services they provide to the public.

As reported in the Indonesian-language Bisnis Bali, of the 200 foreign and domestic respondents included in the survey only 27.5% said they were satisfied with the level of service provided at Bali's air gateway. Of the 72.5% who expressed dissatisfaction with the Airport's services, chief complaints centered on:

. Check-in procedures as relates to boarding procedures, excess baggage rules, schedules, confirmations and information access.

. Parking facilities

. Toilets

. Airport Service Charges

. Waiting rooms

. Flight delays

. Ticket inspections

. Baggage handling

. Transportation

. Baggage trolleys

. Immigration services

. Porter Service

Respondents suggested that the Airport's management PT Angkasa Pura I improve the quality of manpower employed at Ngurah Rai to enhance skills, integrity and the credibility of those who earn their living at the facility.

Over Commercialized

A number of respondents complained of the over-commercialization of the airport and too many shops operating at Ngurah Rai.

The Airport's Management Responds

In responding to the criticism contained in the consumer survey, PT Angkasa Pura I's general manager in Bali, Suweta Putra said the input from the public must be greeted positively and used in plans to improve airports services and facilities.

He said plans were now underway that will enlarge passenger waiting room facilities and that he intends to soon invite members of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) and the Indonesian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (ASITA).

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. have announced that W Hotels - one of the world's fastest growing luxury hotel brands - will open its first property in Indonesia in 2009.

W Retreat & Spa-Bali will be the brand's fourth property joining the Maldives, Vieques and Koh Samui.

W Retreat & Spa-Bali

The new W Retreat & Spa-Bali will be located in the Seminyak area of Bali, featuring 232 rooms, including 80 villas. Developed by PT Dua Cahaya Anugrah, - the resort's 152 guest rooms will provide direct ocean views while its 80 villas will reflect the design of a traditional Balinese courtyard with private pools.

"Following the success of our first W Retreat & Spa, the award-winning W Maldives, W Retreat & Spa-Bali is a terrific extension of our brand's growth in the Asia Pacific region," said Ross Klein, President, Starwood's Luxury Brands Group. "The rich and deeply spiritual culture of Bali, combined with the cosmopolitan style and energy of Seminyak, provides a perfect setting for the newest edition to our Retreat & Spa product offering. With the announcement of W Retreat & Spa-Bali, the W brand continues to extend beyond the boundaries of everyday travel, offering a magical mix of sexy destinations and sublime design."

"We are thrilled with the signing of W Retreat & Spa-Bali, marking the entry of the W brand into Bali, undeniably one of the top-rated resort destinations in the world," said Miguel Ko, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific. "The W Retreat & Spa - Bali will be a unique alternative to the more traditional Bali resorts. Located on a seven hectare absolute beachfront site in Seminyak, the resort will be within walking distance to Bali's most trendy boutiques, galleries, restaurants and clubs," added Ko.

The resort will offer two gourmet eateries - W Kitchen and the retreat's Waterfront signature restaurant - a poolside destination bar. W The Store - the brand's retail component, a spa, pool and health center are also part of the new retreat.

Whatever - Whenever

The trendy resort will also boast the signature Whatever/Whenever Concierge Service that provides guests with whatever they want, whenever they want it.

Opening in 2009 - W Retreat & Spa-Bali.

Bali's list of world-class international golf course has grown to four with the partial opening in May 2007 the New Kuta Golf Course at Pecatu on the southern Bukit Peninsula.

Covering 85 hectares, the course was designed by Golfplan using the talents of the renowned Ronald Fream, David Dale and Kevin Ramsey. The landscaping utilizes a native links style approach. Lush greens are complemented with scenic backdrops of the surrounding Indian Ocean. The course also offers a driving range.

Perched above limestone cliffs that border Bali's Dreamland beach, the course is part of a larger Pecatu development that will contain luxury resorts and residential units.

The back nine holes are now open for play with the entire 18 hotels expected to come on line by November. New Kuta Golf's signature hole #15 provides breathtaking views to the island's Dreamland beach to the south, Balangan Beach to the north the and Bali's sunset coast to the west.

For the luxury golfer, New Kuta Golf features a luxurious clubhouse featuring a dedicated function venue. The Clubhouse also offers a restaurant, bar and spa with panoramic views of rolling fairways and Bali's blue seas.

Golf Facilities include locker rooms and a pro shop. Dining and conviviality are catered for at The Link Restaurant and Members Lounge.

An Island of Golf Choices

Island visitors keen for a round of gold now have the following choices in Bali.

. Bali's Golf & Country Club - located within the Nusa Dua Complex and designed by Rodney Wright and Robin Nelson, is rated as one of Asia's 5 best golf courses by Fortune Magazine.

. Le Merdien Golf Course and Spa - located near Bali's fabled Tanah Lot, this championship Greg Norman course has been repeatedly named Asia's best course by Asia Golf Monthly.

. Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club is Bali's 18-hole course designed by Peter Thomson located in Bali's mountain hill district.

. New Kuta Golf Course at Pecatu.

. Bali Beach Golf Course - Bali's first course offering 9 holes of straight forward play in the very heart of Sanur.

The 28-year-old Indonesian singing star Inul Darasita has promised the organizers of the Fifth Kuta Karnival that she will take to the stage and contribute her talents to the event's closing ceremony scheduled to run from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 pm. on the main stage of the festival on Kuta Beach on Sunday, September 9, 2007.

Adored by her fans. Or, vehemently condemned by critics who, in the most extreme instances, have worked to have her performances banned as pornographic - "Inul" and her vibrant drilling dance style are well known all the way from Sabang to Merauke.

Audiences at her dangdut concerts, with their evocative Middle Eastern and Indians musical themes driven by a strong dance beat, number in the thousands - dancing in euphoria to a peculiarly Indonesian musical genre.

Reminiscent of Elvis Presley whose gyrating hips were cropped out of his first major TV appearance a generation before, so, too, are Inul's hips considered too provocative for her now infrequent national TV appearances.

Inul, who is in Bali to open her new karaoke bar, reportedly eagerly accepted the invitation of the Kuta Karnival organizing committee to appear at the closing ceremony of the event.

Related Story

[ Kuta Karnival Schedule Announced]

Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport holds a virtual monopoly as the gateway for foreign visitors to the Island as well as serving the nearly 3 million travelers who pass through its domestic arrival terminal each year. As such, the future of Bali's tourism and the airport's carrying capacity are inextricably intertwined.

With a length of 3,000 meters and a width of 45 meters, Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) is too short and too narrow to handle the next generation of super-jumbo aircraft. Moreover, at its current length a fully-loaded and fully-fueled aircraft cannot take off from Bali's airport, requiring a intermediate stop at a larger regional airport in Singapore, Bangkok or Thailand before embarking on an extended long-haul intercontinental flight.

In order to keep pace with the technical operating requirements of the airline industry and local aspirations to grow tourism numbers, Bali's airport needs to urgently add 600 meters to its length and widen its runway to 60 meters. The implications of failing to expand landing capabilities may see airlines that now stop-over in Bali left with little choice but to bypass Bali in favor of more accommodative airports in the region.

And Here's the Rub

Aside from finding the necessary funding to expand the runway at Ngurah Rai and devising a means to engineer the rebuilding a facility whose sole runway serves as the main artery for Bali tourism, there are a number of other factors that make an upgrade of the island's runway problematic.

. With the exception of the four-lane highway running past the current runway's eastern end connecting the main island to the Nusa Penida peninsula, the east-west runway of Bali's airport almost completely bisects the isthmus connecting the main island to the tourist-intensive South.

. Expanding the length of the runway to the West would require the reclamation of seabed areas, raising fears that any change to the coast line would result in current flows that would erode nearby Kuta and Legian beach.

. Alternatively, expanding the runway to the East would necessitate the destruction of protected mangrove forests; a move certain to raise the ire of environmentalists.

. And, assuming an accord is finally achieved that would allow a eastward runway extension through the mangrove, the very real problem of how to maintain traffic access to the Nusa Dua and Ungasan areas will remain. Local cultural and religious beliefs make the obvious solution of a subterranean tunnel under the extended runway unpopular with the Island's majority Hindu population who have thus far successfully managed to resist the building of pedestrian bridges, highway tunnels and overpasses elsewhere on the Island. While rebuilding the current road to detour around an eastward runway extension would almost certainly necessitate an even larger sacrifice of protected mangrove forests.

Operating at near capacity, handling an estimated 6.25 million domestic and international passengers, and as many as 176 inbound and outbound flights each day - Bali's airport is quickly approaching it natural limits of how many passengers it can reasonably serve.

Hoping to attract 100 international events to Indonesia, the Indonesian Department of Culture and Tourism will soon subsidize the bidding process for major meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) considering Indonesia as a venue.

Speaking to the Indonesian-language Bisnis Indonesia, the Chairman of the Indonesia Congress and Conference Organizers Association, Iqbal Allan Abdullah, said, "We hope the promised government subsidy to assist bidding on international MICE events can soon be realized in order to allow us to attract more events to Indonesia."

Complaining that the bidding competition to attract major events to Indonesia was intense, Iqbal estimates that between US$15,000-US$20,000 is needed in subsidies and incentives to attract and win bids for major onternational events.

As the final deadline and closing of the "grace period" for the registration of commercial villas drew to a close on August 29, 2007, a sudden rush of applications flooded Bali's Badung Tourism office in order to escape the promised coming crackdown on illegal accommodation operators.

When the final deadline passed, Badung authorities estimated that of 711 commercial villas operating in the region, 226 (32%) now hold formal licenses while 300 have filed for their licenses. The remaining 189 villas (27%) are operating illegally.

Authorities have indicated that the coming enforcement drive against illegal villas will soon commence with three separate formal warnings issued at intervals of one week prior prior to a final "sealing" or closing of the illegal villas for a minimum period of six months. Villas found to be lacking proper building permits and violating local zoning rules may be subject to demolition.

Related Stories

[ Most Bali Villa's Ignoring Registration Deadline]

[ Register Your Villa or Else!]

[70% of Bali Villas Illegal ]

PT Angkasa Pura I is targeting to commence operations of a new international airport in Lombok, Bali's near neighbor to the east, by 2010. To be built at an estimated cost of Rp. 665 billion (approximately US$72.3 million), the new airport for Lombok will be located in the central province of that island.

Construction on the new Lombok air gateway commenced in 2006 and is expected to be completed by 2009, with formal operations to commence the following year.

Funding for the new airport is coming from PT Angkasa Pura (77%), the Provincial Government of West Nusa Tenggara and (17%) and the Regional Government of Central Lombok (6%). The majority investor in the airport, PT Angkasa Pura, has funded their participation in the project through Rp. 115 billion (approximately US$12.5 million) in internal funding with the remaining Rp. 400 billion (approximately US$43.5 million) through borrowing.

The new airport will be located approximately 30 kilometers from the present Selaparang Airport. When completed, the new air gateway will have a main runway length of 2,750 meters, 650 meters longer than the present runway at Selaparang.

The new airport in Lombok is designed to handle 2.4 million visitors, an increase of 300% over the current facility which can only accommodate 800,000 passengers each year.

As reported on balidiscovery.com [See: The Pub with No Booze ], a shake-up in the Customs and Excise Department has caused a shortage in imported alcoholic beverages at Bali hotels, restaurants and nightspots.

According to Tjokorda Oka Artha, Chairman of the Bali branch of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), quoted in the Indonesian language NusaBali: "For two months now, alcoholic beverages in Bali have become scarce. In the market place no alcohol is available and at many establishments there is no stock. Because of this, the PHRI is coordinating with various parties to find a solution to the problem."

Tjokorda went on to explain: "We have presented this problem to the Minister of Trade and Industry and to the Minister of Tourism. We expect that by September 7th we will have their answer and solution to this problem."

Because alcoholic beverages and tourism are linked, the PHRI Chief explained, if the current shortage is not overcome soon tourist may decide not to visit Bali or bring their own beverages causing losses in tax revenues.

The Bali Head of the Department of Trade and Industry, Ketut Wijaya, confirmed that the problem of vanishing alcoholic beverage supplies was the topic of a meeting in Bali on August 22 between the relevant government agencies and members of the tourism industry. The recommendations of that meeting have been forwarded to the Central Government in Jakarta, including the suggestion that an official importer of alcoholic beverages be appointed for Bali where, in the past, the island has been dependent on two Jakarta-based importers.

The current shortage in alcohol supplies comes at a time when Bali is experiencing an unprecedented demand for liquor, estimated to total 334,400 bottles over the past six months with the following breakdown:

. Imported Beer - 146,120 bottles

. Champagne - 9,020 bottles

. Sparkling wine - 4,520 bottles

. Red wine - 46,110 bottles

. White wine - 64,630 bottles

. Spirits - 64,000 bottles

According to Nusa Bali, Bali collected Rp. 8.7 billion (approximately US$945,000) in tax revenues from the sale of imported alcohol in 2006. Through the end of August 2007, an estimated Rp.7.805 billion (approximately US$848,000) in imported alcohol taxes have been collected.

Tempo Interaktif reports that despite two confirmed deaths due to bird flu, Bali tourism remains unaffected and visitors to the Island are, in fact, increasing. According to Bali's Governor, Dewa Made Beratha, "there have been no cancellations."

Beratha reaffirmed that the total tourists visiting Bali during the period January-August 2007 are the strongest in the past ten years.

Beratha insists that his Government is adopting an open stance in relating information regarding the incidents of bird flu in Bali as well as the steps being taken to control the disease.

As reported on balidiscovery.com, foreign tourist arrivals are up +34.9% s compared to 2006[See: Bali's July Arrivals Up 34.9%]. According to Tempo Interaktif, arrivals during the first 21 days of August, following reports of the bird flu outbreak, were up between +24-30%.

Other developments in the battle against Bird Flu in Bali as reported in a formal press statement issued by Bali's provincial government, include:

. As of August 25, 2007, 31 provinces in Indonesia have reported cases of Avian Influenza infecting 105 people, with 8 deaths across 12 provinces formally linked to the illness.

. In Bali, 42 of 56 sub-districts in Bali have reported H5N1 infections in their poultry populations. 2 confirmed deaths in Bali have also been attributed to the disease, both among individuals living in Bali's western regions.

. The Government of Bali created a coordinated team for the control and eradication of Avian Flu on August 8, 2007.

. A separate public health team has also been established to deal with the recent outbreak of the disease.

. The areas in which the H5N1 disease has been confirmed in the human or poultry populations have been declared closed to the import and export of poultry and poultry products.

. A cooperative network between the Island's animal husbandry department and health services have been established at the provincial, regency and sub-district level.

. A 72-member team focused on the principles of "participatory disease surveillance" and "participatory disease response" on the community level is now in place across Bali.

. District Surveillance Officers have been put in place as part of the rapid response team at the regency level.

. Specially equipped isolation units to handle human infections have ben established at Denpasar's Sanglah General Hospital, Sanjiwani Hospital in Gianyar and the Public Hospital at Tabanan.

. The microbiology lab at Bali's Udayana University has been established as a regional laboratory for the detection of Avian Flu, while the microbiology lab at Denpasar's Sanglah General Hospital and Bali's Health Laboratory have been designated as sub-regional laboratories for the detection of Avian Flu.

. The distribution of poultry vaccines, disinfectants, rapid-test kits, masks and surgical gloves has taken place at the regency and metropolitan level.

. Information to educate the public as to the causes and prevention of Avian Flu continues in all Bali print and electronic media with supplemental direct education program to the local populace in areas reporting confirmed cases.

. Direct surveillance teams have been put in place across the Island at foof markets, bird markets and poultry breeding centers.

. Ongoing blood testing of human populations in areas reporting bird flu cases are taking place to confirm that no human-to-human infections have occurred.

. The immediate extermination and disposal of all poultry stocks is now taking place whenever attempts to smuggle birds into Bali are uncovered.

. An extermination protocol for all local poultry populations found within a prescribed radius wherever poultry infections of H5N1 are confirmed is now in place.

. The vaccination of local poultry populations is ongoing.

. The introduction of bio-security measures heve been intorduced wherever poultry populations are concentrated.

Important Contacts in the Fight on Bird Flu

The following contacts form part of the front-line battle in Bali's battle against bird flu:

. Coordination Team for Participatory Disease Surveillance and Participatory Disease Response - Ibu Sukanadi - Telephone ++62-(0)8123685023 or +++62-(0)361-8522395

. Animal Husbandry Services - (Dinas Perternakan) - Dr. Ketut Suwarda, Chief of the Sub-division for Animal Health - Telephone ++62-(0)817356252

. Public Safety Center - Dr. I Ketut Subrata - Telephone ++62-(0)361-222412 (extension #118) Facsimile ++62-(0)361-224102

. Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar - Dr. I.G.B. Ken Wirasandhi - Telephone ++62-(0)8123958111 or ++62-(0)361-7844453.

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