While my suggestion that we all consider watching some other channel for CNN for our news was not altogether serious, some readers of the newsletter have come back calling for a total boycott of CNN by Bali hotels while others have suggested a more moderate approach.

WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM . . .CNN's coverage of national events now taking place in Indonesia have the side effect of making many tourists believe it is unsafe to travel to Bali and this fact is costing income and jobs on the island. It would be naive for us  to think that we can influence or moderate coverage of public unrest or forest fires, but can we use our powers of persuasion to convince CNN to also include coverage of current developments in  tourism?

I would like to suggest  that if you agree, please  write a letter along the following lines to Maria in Jakarta. Perhaps such a letter will at least cause some good news about Indonesia - the story of the safe and pleasant holidays available in Bali - to be told.

Here's my suggestion for an e-mail to Maria:

Maria Ressa
Email: 102374.255@compuserve.com
ATTN: Maria Ressa
Jakarta Correspondent
CNN

Dear Ms. Ressa:

As someone who is employed in the Indonesian Tourism Industry,  I am writing to call your attention to the terrible economic effects the sudden downturn in tourist arrivals is causing to Bali and suggest that in addition to your coverage of civil unrest and forest fires CNN consider some additional Indonesian  coverage of Bali that would correctly  our island as the safe and world-class tourism destination . Such coverage could also portray the steps now underway by the public and private sector in Bali to try to communicate this to the rest of the World.

A new organization called "Bali Promo" headed by the chief of Bali Tourism, Mr. Luther Barrung, has recently been formed to help publicize Bali's continuing attractiveness as a world-wide tourism destination. As part of this program, the tourism private sectors in Bali, together with the Government, will soon launch publicity drives  in major overseas markets to portray our island as safe and a real bargain for foreign tourist because of the devalued rupiah. Steps, such as these,  are necessary to preserve the more than 500,000 jobs in Bali which emanate  from tourism and to help balance the current  public perception of Indonesia as potentially unsafe.

Those of us in Bali would not assume to tell you how to cover the national news events now taking place in Indonesia. We would, however, implore you to please consider a story on the "other side of the Indonesian crisis" and how unjustifiably Bali has suffered from negative coverage on Indonesia. Such a story would correctly show that Bali  is still a safe and currently very inexpensive place to spend a holiday. The steps being taken by Bali Promo to help Bali's tourism industry to recover might be worthy of coverage by CNN.

All of us in Bali would warmly welcome a visit to Bali by CNN and I am sure that Mr. Barrung's office and the directors of BALI PROMO would extend every courtesy during such a visit.

Thanks for your attention

 

TTG ASIA PRAISES NATAS' COOPERATION WITH BALI PROMO

The following was included in an editorial in TTG's April 17 edition:

" . . .On the local front, the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) is demonstrating private-sector initiative. Its proposal to twin Singapore and Bali and its invitation to a high-level delegation to meet Singapore Airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and its own representatives deserves a pat on the back. Both are attractive destinations, but both have been affected by the economic downturn. Bali, in particular, has had to bear the brunt of the pullout of half a dozen international carriers, plus an almost 50% cut in domestic flights.

. .NATAS is also brokering a deal with the STB to form and fund a task force to promote Singapore and Bali at major trade events."

 

Several editions back when we included important press contacts in Singapore, your editor failed to point out that one of the very best press contacts lives right here in Bali and is very eager for any information you have to help tell Bali's story.

Debe Campbell regularly contributes to a very impressive list of publications, including:

TravelNews Asia
Asian Hotelier
Travel Talk (Australia)
Hotel & Motel Management International (USA)
Standby (Denmark)
The Peak (Singapore)
Outbound Travel (Singapore)
Golf Vacations (Singapore)
Trips (Australia)
Corporate Traveller (Australia)
Relax (Australia)
Travel Away (Australia)
Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Asahi Evening News (Japan)
Far East Traveller (Japan)
Action Asia (Hong Kong)
Billboard (London)
Kem Chicks World (Jakarta)

AND in-flight magazines for:
Garuda
Garuda (Japanese)
Eva Air
Cathay Pacific
Singapore Airlines
Japan Airlines
Korean Airlines

Regent/Four Seasons and Hyatt in-room magazines
And also writes  for APA Guide Books.
The bottom line is, information and photos that are sent to Debe are placed in as many publications, as far and wide as possible....Debe's  a mini news dissemination service.

Be sure to put Debe's contact on your media list now!

Debe Campbell
Jl. Muding Indah 2X
Kerobokan, Kuta, Bali
80117 Indonesia
Tel/fax: (62-361) 423596
E-mail: 76255.3012@compuserve.com

 

I will be meeting with Dr. Wayan Semendra the Head of the Regional Health Department tomorrow morning. Watch this space for important information!

J.M. Daniels
Editor/ Vice Chairman PATA Bali Chapter

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