Bali Tourism Board Under Attack

(10/31/2006)

A series of articles in the Indonesian language Bali Post have cast the Bali Tourism Board (BTB) in a negative light, suggesting the private sector promotion initiative group is badly managed, unresponsive and guilty of malfeasance in how it is handling the Rp. 67 billion (approximately US$7.3 million) in funds allocated for the recovery of Bali's tourism industry,

The BTB's Supervisory Board (Badan Pengawas) charged with internal supervision of the organization's finances has reportedly sent two letters to the BTB outlining complaints of a lack of transparency in how fund are handled.

The BTB's Supervisory Board - drawn from the leadership of BTB's stakeholder organization and comprised of I Gusti Yudhara, Hadi Taryoto, John Ketut Pantja, I Gusti Agung Prana and Cok Putra are reported by the Bali Post are calling for a complete accounting of Bali tourism recovery funds from the BTB Chairman Bagus Sudibya.

Local press coverage has called into question Rp. 1 billion in funds (approximately US$106,400) supposedly allocated for the Bali Tourism Festival. Meanwhile, the Society of Indonesian Professional Conference Organizers (SIPCO), who claim they were appointed to run the Bali Tourism Festival, say thay have received no funds which have reportedly been diverted to a company owned by the BTB Chairman.

One Man Show

The Chairman of the Indonesian Water Sports Association (Gahawisri), Yos WK Amerta, has now joined the debate, telling the Bali Post that the BTB Chairman has been running a one-man show creating an atmosphere that does not encourage a dialogue with the tourism stakeholder organizations.

BTB In an exclusive interview with balidiscovery.com, Chairman Bagus Sudibya has repudiated the claims being leveled against the organization he leads questioning his style of management. ([See:An Interview with Bagus Sudibya]) insisting that participation and supervision of BTB's operations is open to all members of the tourism stakeholder associations that comprise the grouping.

Bali Parliament to Summon BTB

In response to the public debate and growing controversy surrounding BTB the Chairman of Commission B of the Bali Parliament (BRRD Bali), Ir. Nengah Usdek Maharipa, has told the Bali Post that the Chairman of the organization and the Head of the Bali Tourism Office will soon be summoned to a hearing to examine the operations of BTB and the expenditure of recovery funds.

Meanwhile, the Chairman and Secretary of the BTB placed an advertisement in the local newspaper Tokoh listing BTB's achievements and defending their financial administration.