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BALI UPDATE #387 - 09
February 2004
Bali Gets New Tourism
Boss
Gede Nurjaya Heads
Bali's Top Tourism Body.
Mr. I Gede Nurjaya has been appointed by Bali's
Governor to replace Mr. I Gede Pitana as the Chief
of the Bali Tourism Authority (BTA).
The appointment, effective January 29, 2004, makes
Mr. Nurjaya the Island's chief spokesman and product
manager in the predominant tourism sector.
Mr. Nurjaya's last post was as the Head of Public
Relations and Protocol for Bali, a post he held
for 5 years. Previous to that he has served as
the Chief of Tourism for the Municipality of Denpasar
and as a camat or sub-district head in
both Kuta and Kintamani.
Born on Bali's North Coast in Singaraja, Mr. Nurjaya
is a graduate of the APDN Civil Servant Training
Institute in Mataram, Lombok, and received his
Masters in Management from Bali's Udayana University.
He is married to Ibu Trisningsih who also
works in Government service with whom he has three
children.
Bapak Nurjaya told balidiscovery.com
that he is looking forward to exchanging ideas
with all the stakeholders in Bali tourism towards
forming a unified strategy for developing and
promoting Bali's culture through tourism.
Bali - Broome - Karatha
Schedules Announced
Austasia Airlines
to Commence Once Weekly Service March 5, 2004
Between Bali and Western Australia.
Austasia Airlines will commence
its once-a-week flight schedule between Broome
and Karratha in Western Australia and Bali on
Friday, March 5, 2004.
Schedules
Using B-737 aircraft chartered from Merpati
Nusantara, an Indonesian airline, the
flight will operate a circle route Denpasar
Broome Karratha Denpasar.
Denpasar Broome MZ9506 departing
Bali at 0910 hours and arriving Broome at 1110
hours.
Broome Karratha MZ9502 will
depart at 1240 hours landing in Karratha at 1350
hours.
Karratha Denpasar MZ9505
will depart Karratha at 1435 hours and arrive
back in Bali at 1650 hours.
Fares
While a number of attractive accommodation and
air packages are available for both Australian
and Bali-bound passengers on the new service,
the airline has announced the following fare levels
for the commencement of services.
Broome/Karratha to Bali Fares
Economy: one-way Adult AU$ 580; round trip AU$
890
Business: one-way Adult AU$ 960; round trip
AU$ 1475
Economy: one-way Child AU$ 435; round trip AU$
670
Business: one-way Child AU$ 720; round trip
AU$ 1107
Economy: one-way Infant AU$ 58; round trip AU$
90
Business: one way Infant AU$ 96; round trip
AU$ 148
Bali to Broome/Karratha
Economy: one-way Adult AU$ 465; round trip AU$
710
Business: one-way Adult AU$ 760; round trip
AU$ 1180
Economy: one-way Child AU$ 348; round trip AU$
535
Business: one-way Child AU$ 575; round trip
AU$ 885
Economy: one-way Infant AU$ 45; round trip AU$
72
Business: one way Infant AU$ 76; round trip
AU$ 118
NOTE:
Fares listed do not include applicable local
taxes and visa fees.
Children's fares apply to passengers between
the age of 2 to 11 years inclusive. Infant fares
for passengers under the age of 2 years.
Baggage allowance is 20 kg for economy and 30
kg for business class.
For more information and bookings please use the
e-mail link provided below.
Air Paradise to Adelaide
Bali's Own Airline
to Offer Non-Stop Connection to South Australia.
Air Paradise International (API)
will commence twice weekly non-stop service between
Denpasar (Bali) and Adelaide in South Australia,
effective March 2, 2004.
The new service will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays
with the southbound service (AD 70) departing
Denpasar at 0115 in the early morning hours, landing
in Adelaide at 0845. The return northbound leg
(AD71) leaves Adelaide at 0945 landing in Bali
midday, at 1215.
Schedules will change slightly on March 28 in
accordance with daylight savings adjustments in
South Australia causing the inbound flight to
Adelaide to arrive an hour earlier at 0745 and
the northbound flight to leave at 0845. Bali departure
and arrival times remain unchanged.
Now barely a year old, Air Paradise International
now flies to 6 cities: Perth, Melbourne, Sydney
and Adelaide in Australia; Seoul in Korea; and
Taipei in Taiwan.
Officials in Bali Escalate War on Avian Influenze
Bird Flu Update: Bali Receives 1.5 Million Doses of Vaccine.
Indonesia's Directorate General of Livestock and the Minister of Agriculture have provided Bali poultry enterprises with 1.5 million dosages of bird flu vaccine for the protection of chickens and ducks on the island.
Local press reports indicate that the avian influenza or bird flu has already claimed 398,000 birds in Bali who have died from the disease or been culled as a precautionary measure to stop the spread of the disease. Local farmers who have lost birds are being provided with day-old-chicks as a form of government compensation to help them restore their businesses.
No Confirmed Human Cases in Indonesia
To date, there have been no confirmed cases of human infections of avian influenza in Bali with all cases of human infection in the region among people working in close proximity to captive poultry populations.
In a related development, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on February 6, 2004 that tests carried out in Vietnam on the first suspected human-to-human infections have now been fully sequenced by the Government Virus Unit of Hong Kong's Department of Health.
Both virus samples, taken from two Vietnam sisters who died of avian influenza, contained no human influenza genes causing researchers to conclude that the women caught the disease from a captive poultry populations and not from each other. This is consistent with earlier findings and no illness has been reported in other family members, the women's local community, or in health workers who attended them.
Visa Rules Being
Strictly Applied
Immigration Authorities
'Playing It By the Book' for Those Arriving with
No Visa.
During the first week of the new visa-on-arrival
policy's introduction at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport,
it appears that local immigration officers are
applying the very letter of the law against the
visitors of certain countries arriving in Indonesia
without a visa. In the first four days of the
new visa policy following its February 1, 2004
introduction, at least 42 foreign nationals were
refused entry into Indonesia and required to leave
on the next outbound flight during the first week
of the new policy.
Under the new policy the nationals of 11 countries
and territories are given visa free of charge
upon landing in Bali while the nationals of 21
other countries are eligable to obtain a visa
at the airport following the payment of a US$
25 fee for a 30 day visa and US$ 10 for a 3 day
visa. Nationals from any country not on the free-visa
or visa-purchasable on arrival list, however,
must first obtain a visa from an Indonesian Embassy
of Consulate before landing in the country.
According to local press reports, 42 tourists,
some of them elderly, were forced to immediately
fly out of the Country when they arrived without
a visa in their passport. The affected tourists
were from Spain, The Netherlands, Sweden, Austria,
Mexico, Turkey and Ireland - all countries whose
nationals are required to obtain a visa before
landing in Indonesia.
The tourists supposedly arrived in Bali with the
mistaken impression that they would be able to
secure a visa after paying a fine at the airport.
In reality, however, the immigration authorities
are applying a strict interpretation of the rules
and refusing any special facilities to such passengers,
requiring those affected to immediately depart
and apply abroad should they wish to try to return
to Indonesia.
The Government says the new visa policy generated
more than US$ 143,000 in state revenues from visa
fees during the first two days of the program's
introduction.
The Mangku Pastika Method of Law Enforcement
Bali's Police Chief Tells International Conference on Counter Terrorism About His Approach to International Police Cooperation.
At the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Terrorism held at the Nusa Dua Complex February 4-5, 2004, Bali's Chief of Police Inspector General Made Mangku Pastika was a featured speaker at the conference attended by President Megawati; government ministers from 23 countries; and ranking officials in law enforcement from Europe, Australia and the United States.
The ministers and law enforcement officials attending the conference were eager to learn the views of Chief Pastika on how best to deploy and coordinate an international police investigation in the aftermath of an international terrorist incident, such as the one that occurred in Bali on October 12, 2002.
After briefing the conference attendees on the forensic and investigative steps that led to more than 30 arrests following the Bali bombing, Chief Pastika shared his views on the unprecedented level of international police cooperation achieved under his directions.
Operating under written rules of engagement (ROE) signed in the days after the bombing, Chief Pastika managed to coordinate a massive police effort by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Australian Federal Police (AFP), Scotland Yard, and police from Germany, the Philippines, Japan, New Zealand and Sweden. Those rules of engagement and a separate set of procedures for mutual assistance on criminal method stipulated limits on police powers for visiting police officials and protocols for sharing all evidence and information collected during the course of the investigation.
In his conference presentation, as reported in the Indonesian-language Bali Post, the Bali Police Chief showed slides of how the investigation developed day by day and related anecdotal stories on how he learned to cultivate cooperation between visiting policemen, including an episode when foreign police officers forced their way into a local hotel room while investigating the bombing, acting outside their limited authority as consultants to a Bali police investigation. According to the report, Chief Pastika wasted no time in laying down the law to the visiting police officers, exercising the leadership and command style that earned him respect from fellow police officers from around the world and eventually resulted in the arrest of the Bali bombers.
Weather Briefly Closes Bali Lombok Ferry
Ferry Crossing Closed for Two Days Due to High Winds and Waves.
The Car Ferry Service between Padang Bai (Bali) and Lembar (Lombok) was closed for two days on February 3-4, 2004, due to high winds and waves.
The disruption in service commenced on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 3 and lasted until the morning of the following day.
Shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the Car/Passenger Ferry Perdana Nusantara was forced to turn back to Lembar Harbor due to high winds and waves. Shortly thereafter, when another ship, the Wicitra Dharma was also forced to return to Lombok at 19:30 hours, the Port Master for Lembar immediately declared the port closed until 6 a.m. the following morning.
On Wednesday morning weather conditions improved sufficiently allowing the resumption of normal service and the deployment of several extra departures to handle the backlog in cars and passengers on both sides of the straits caused by the temporary shutdown of service.
Large Bali Delegation to AIME in Melbourne
Bali Goes on the Road Seeking Conference and Incentive Business.
AsiaPacific Incentives & Meeting Expo 2004 (AIME 2004) in Melbourne February 17-18, is expected to draw record participation with 650 exhibitors and 2,700 buyers making it the largest trade show for the meeting and conference in the southern hemisphere.
The event, held each year at the Melbourne Exhibition and Conference Center, provides a range of scheduled buyer-seller meetings, social functions for networking, and professional development seminars.
Large Bali Delegation to Attend
A sizeable Bali delegation will be on hand in the Indonesian pavilion at AIME 2004 with the following Bali tourism operators registered to attend:
Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort Bali, Tour East Indonesia, Melia Bali Villas and Spa Resort, Hotel Padma Bali, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa, Lila Tours, Leisure Accor Indonesia, Bali Discovery Tours, Sheraton Laguna Nusa Dua, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel & Vilas, Bali Inter-Continental Resort, Bali World Travel.
The Bali delegation looks forward to meeting their colleagues in the meeting and conference industry from around the world who will be attending AIME 2004 in Melbourne.
Anggrek Umah Anyar To Close for Renovations
New Owners to Extensively Renovate Petanu River Hillside Property.
Anggrek Umah Anyar, a 12 villa luxury project located among the rice terraces of the Petanu River, north of Ubud, will close on March 01, 2004, to undergo a major renovation and refurbishment of all guest rooms and public areas.
The property was recently purchased by a Jakarta business group from its Australian owners who will soon re-launch the property in a more upscale product positioning.
No firm re-opening date has yet been announced by the owners of the property.
The War on Terror
Major Bali Conference Seeks Regional and International Cooperation to Defeat Terrorists.
A two-day meeting of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Terrorism was held in Nusa Dua, February 4-5. 2004. The gathering drew ministers for 23 Asia-Pacific countries, six international organizations and representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia.
Funded by the Indonesian and Australian Governments, the meeting was opened by President Megawati Soekarnoputri and drew top level participation by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
President Megawati's Opening Address
During her opening address at the Conference, Indonesia's President Megawati Soekarnoputri emphasized the need for cooperation and coordination between the national components of the international intelligence community in order to fight the spread of terrorism. Recalling the Indonesian experience in the wake of the bombing attack on Bali of October 12, 2002, and the Marriot bombing in August of 2003, she emphasized how cooperation among international police and intelligence branches had helped to quickly bring the perpetrators and suspects to justice.
Transnational Response for a Transnational Threat
The general consensus of the delegates attending the meeting was that the threat of international terrorism has become a harsh fact of modern life demanding an internationally coordinated response. To this end, two working groups were established to continue the work of the Conference.
A Law Enforcement Working Group headed by Indonesia, to devise methods and protocols for information and intelligence sharing, mutual access to crime data, and practical experience sharing on operational issues.
A Legal Framework Working Group headed by Australia, will examine issues of mutual legal assistance, extradition of terror suspects, and the implementation of UN resolutions and conventions on counter-terrorism.
Made Pastika
Bali's much-lauded Chief or Police, Inspector General I Made Mangku Pastika, was also asked to address the conference. Chief Pastika, Time Magazines Asian Newsmaker of the Year for his pivotal role in the investigation of the Bali bombing, told the conference to be prepared to adapt their thinking and strategies in meeting the terrorist threat. Quoted in the Associated Press he said, "we never know, the next terrorist attack could be in the form of sabotage or poisoning, so we have to be diversified in our thinking."
Chief Pastika's model of international police cooperation following a terror attack and its proven success in bringing over 30 suspects to trial is now being studied and emulated by police agencies around the world.
Easing the Queue for Visas
Steps Underway to Shorten the Waiting Time in Queues for Visas-On-Arrivals. Credit Cards Accepted for Visa Charge.
After an initial run of one week, changes are underway aimed at improving service to visitors required to purchase a visa upon arrival at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Credit Card Payment Accepted
Those required to pay the US$ 25 fee for a 30 day visa or US$ 10 for a 3 day visa can now do so by using their Visa or Mastercard at the tax collection offices operated in the arrival area by Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI).
More Payment Booths Promised
According to the Chief of Immigration at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport, Mr. Gde Widiartha, efforts are underway to reduce waiting time in lines by increasing the number of service booths handling the collection and issuance of the new purchased visas.
Currently there are 4 visa issuance booths in two arrival areas of the airport. Each of these 4 booths is supported by two bank booths where payment is made before proceeding to the visa booths. Plans are underway to increase the number of bank booths in an effort to reduce bottlenecks and waiting time, particularly during periods of heavy passenger arrivals.
More on Tourism Targets
Details on Government's Tourism Goals for 2004 and Results Achieved in 2003.
In 2003, foreign visitors to Indonesia totaled 4.428 million people, a drop of 12.02% compared to the 5.03 million visitors the Country welcomed in 2002. The drop in tourist number resulted an estimated 6.98% decrease in foreign exchange revenues earned from tourism, finally bringing into the Country a total US$ 4 billion in much-needed foreign currency.
Fewer Tourists on Shorter Stays, But Spending A Bit More
According to information provided by the Central Statistics Bureau, visitors in 2003 stayed for a shorter period of time than those who visited Indonesia just one year before. The average-length-of-stay for tourist visitors in 2003 was estimated at 9.69 days, down from 9.79 days from the previous year.
The Nation's statisticians also estimate, however, that the average spend per visit for tourist visitors to Indonesia in 2003 increased slightly, up 1.17%. The average total expenditure per tourist visitor equaled an estimated US$ 903.74 in 2003, increasing from US$ 893.26 one year before. In terms of daily spend in 2003, that's equivalent to US$ 93.27 spent for each day in the Country.
5 Million Visitors in 2004
Indonesia is aiming for ambitious tourist totals in 2004, predicting an increase of 12.9% or 5 million visitors.
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