(2/17/2007)
In a prolonged and sometimes heated extraordinary meeting of the Bali Tourism Board (BTB) held in Ubud on Monday, February 12, 2007, the 9 stakeholder organizations comprising the BTB reasserted their control by replacing the leadership and setting a new path for how business will be conducted in the future.
Ngurah In, Bagus Out
The Chairman of BTB Bagus Sudibya saw his term of office cut short with the election of two local hoteliers, Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya and Cokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, for the period 2007-2009. Wijaya is currently the Chairman of Bali Village, while Cokorda serves as the Chairman of the Bali Chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI).
In an initial vote to seek a pool of candidates to serve as Chairman for the BTB, Wijaya obtained 6 votes; Sudibiya 2; and the current Chairman of the Bali Chapter of the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agents (ASITA), Al Purwa, 1 vote. In the election that followed, Wijaya obtained 8 votes and Purwa 1 vote with Sudibya failing to gain a single vote of support.
New Management Set Up Ahead
Under new rules and by-laws now adopted, the BTB will be run as a consortium with the Chairman acting as a coordinator. Handling the management of the BTB on a day-to-day basis will be a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), yet to be named by the stakeholders.
Plans are also underway that will eventually expand the membership of BTB to include a more diverse cross-section of the community.
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