Direct foreign arrivals via Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport for May 2004 demonstrate increasingly brighter prospects for a buoyant tourist market. In fact, if arrivals continue their current trend, Bali's direct foreign arrivals over the coming few months stand poised to set all-time records on a month to month comparison basis.

Back With A Vengeance

May 2004's arrivals total of 117,191 represents a 144.9% boost from the same month just a year before when Iraqi war jitters and SARS concerns kept many at home.

Comparing total arrivals for January to May 2004 (516,475) with the same period the year before shows an improvement of 70.9% and a total only 1.75% behind the January to May 2002 period – a bumper "harvest year" in terms of tourist arrivals until the market suddenly collapsed following the October 2002 Bali bombing.

Perhaps most heartening in the latest Bali arrival figures for January to May is the fact that they are roughly on a par with totals achieved in 1999 and 2000, suggesting recovery – at least in terms of total arrivals – may be nearly complete.

A Note of Caution

While there's much cause for joy in the latest arrival tallies, more detailed figures in coming installments of Bali by the Numbers will demonstrate major shifts in market mix that have also resulted in major reductions in the average length of stay for Bali visitors and lower average spends per visitor.

Stay tuned!

More information: Download Arrivals January to May 1999 to 2004

Self taught and a respecter of no particular artistic tradition, Balinese artist Ida Bagus Indra's work is both iconoclastic and whimsical.

His latest exhibition, entitled Women and Children, permits Ida Bagus Indra to continue to explore two of his favorite themes. Approaching his material from an emotional rather than an intellectual perspective, Ida Bagus' children are wondrous beings - amusing, cute, naughty, spoiled and at times angelic. By comparison, his depictions of women in their many roles – mothers, objects of desire and manifestations of Ibu Pertiwi, the Earth Goddess – is both complex and ambivalent. The juxtaposition of these two related but distinct themes not only creates a thought provoking suspension but also a subtle form of social commentary that provokes the viewer to review personal attitudes and stereotypes.

Women and Children - an exhibition by Ida Bagus Indra - is open at the Ganesha Gallery at the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay July 6 - 20, 2004.

The Gallery is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Goestamar Ardibrata – better known to many in Bali as "Tam-Tam" - has returned to Bali following a brief Jakarta sojourn to assume the job of Operations Manager at Bali & Beyond Magazine.

The former manager of the now defunct Mabua Express fast-ferry operating between Bali and Lombok, Tam-Tam's new role with the well-known monthly tourism magazine represents his latest assignment with the Mugu Rekso Abadi Group(MRA), the owners of the former ferry service, several magazines, and a wide number of tourism enterprises in Indonesia.

Tam-Tam began his career in the mid-1980s with Smailing Tours & Travel in Jakarta before joining the Melia Bali Sol Hotel in 1990 as Assistance Sales Manager. This was followed by a sales role at the Ramada Bintang Resort before joining P.T. Mabua Intan Express for several months in 1995. From there he moved to the position of Sales Manager at the Sheraton Timika in Irian Jaya (now Papua). Two years later in June of 1997, he returned to Bali and Mabua first as the Director of Sales and Marketing before finally being promoted to General Manager.

Bali Hotels Association (BHA) has joined forces with Bali Tourism Board (BTB) to survey 10,000 visitors to Bali about how they feel about changes in visa policies.

In February 2004, the Indonesian government implemented a new visa policy, granting visa free entry to nationals from 11 countries, and visas on arrival for a fee to 21 nationalities. Nationals from other countries are required to apply for visa before their arrival at an Indonesian gateway.

[Details of New Visa Policy]

Upon check-in at any BHA member hotel, guests will be offered a simple questionnaire to complete. The survey gathers details including nationality, date and time of arrival, how visitors' visas were obtained (abroad or on arrival), cost and type of visa, length of time to obtain the visa, and length of time to clear passport control. Additional questions include reactions to the visa on arrival policy.

"The survey is our response to the government's request for industry reaction to the temporary visa policy," said BHA Chairman Robert Kelsall. The survey data will be compiled by BTB and reported to the government and media in August. Survey cards in English, Japanese and Korean are also being distributed to member hotels for immediate implementation.

If you'd like to participate in the survey you can do so online via the BHA Web Site.

More information: Tourism Survey on the Bali Hotel Association Website

Bali's traditional Gamelan orchestra enthusiasts can be expected to stop, shake their heads and wonder what they're hearing along Kuta's busy beach boulevard during the period July 12-17, 2004.

And, chances are that more than just their heads will be shaking after they listen to the joyful and infectious sound of a West Indian Steel Band. One of Australia's most well known steel bands, Los Panimales will perform twice daily at Bali's Hard Rock Hotel each afternoon and evening July 12-17.

Steel Band music traces its roots to the 1940s in Trinidad where it made its initial appearance at West Indian Street Carnivales. Today, the sound of the Steel Band belongs to the world with bands resident in countries far removed from its West Indian birthplace.

The 5-member Los Panimales musical group - performing a repertoire covering Calypso, Salsa, Soca, Cha-Cha and Reggae - will perform each afternoon at 4:30 p.m. on Sand Island located in the middle of the Hotel's swimming pool – the largest in the island. Each afternoon's concert will have a carnival atmosphere as the musicians perform under the palm trees accompanied by show dancers and games organized by the hotel.

Be warned, with the pool concert venue located just a short distance from the busy beach-side boulevard of Kuta you should expect traffic jams as passer-bys become enraptured by the unique sound of music produced by oil barrels transformed into melodious musical instruments.

During the special 5-day engagement Los Panimales will present a second performance starting at 9:30 p.m. at the Hotel's Center Stage.

Both performances each day are open to the public without cover charge.

More information: Book a Stay at the Hard Rock Hotel

Bali's thriving night-life street of Jalan Abimanyu – home to numerous restaurants and bars is coming under increasing fire from local officials and local community members for flagrant violation of local regulations.

A number of bars and restaurants are operating on the street without the various permits and licenses required by local authorities. Badung's Bupati, Cok Ratmadi, recently visited the area promising to close down the renegade companies doing business without operating permits.

At the same time, late night entertainment venues on the street have become the object of angry objections from local community members, claiming many business are violating regulations governing live music and amplified music systems.

Bank Indonesia has announced plans to withdraw current Rp. 100,000 and Rp. 50,000 notes from circulation, perhaps as early as late this year or early in 2005.

The move affecting the two largest denominations of the Indonesian Rupiah is being taken by the Government to reduce the flow of counterfeit money in public circulation.

According to local press reports, current government estimates put a total of Rp. 1.2 billion (approximately US$ 128,000) in counterfeit money in circulation.

The issuance of new Rp. 100,000 and Rp. 50,000 bills to replace those being withdrawn is aimed at maintaining public confidence in the national currency and as a step intended to frustrate counterfeiters.

A solo exhibition of paintings by Freddy Sitorus - "My Myths" runs from July 17 until August 15, 2004 at Danes Art Veranda in downtown Denpasar.

Born in Kendari, South Sulawesi in 1965, Freddy Sitorus spent three years studying art and design at Bali's Udayana University before traveling to Australia where he spent a year at the Fine Art's Faculty of the Northern Territory University.

Describing his painting as a means of self-exploration, Freddy explains "in painting, I am looking inside myself."

Danes Art Veranda is located at Jalan Hayum Wuruk No. 159 in Denpasar.

Amadeo Zarzosa, General Manager of InterContinental Resort Bali recently announced the promotion of Shantha De Silva to the position of Resort Manager for the popular Jimbaran Bay Resort.

Shantha's career with InterContinental Hotels spans over two decades and includes stints at the Company's properties in Colombo, Sri Lanka; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Singapore; and Bali, Indonesia. His most recent appointment with the Group was as Director of Marketing at the InterContinental Resort Bali and Director of Marketing for all InterContinental Hotels in Indonesia.

Shantha De Silva holds a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Action Learning, bestowed by the Swiss Hotel Association Hotel Management School Les Roche. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK and a fellow of the International Management Centers Association.

A Sri Lankan national, together with his wife, Renu, is the father to two sons.

More information: Send Shanta De Silva a Congratulatory Note

On Tuesday, June 22, 2004, Harris Resort Kuta held its Grand Opening ceremony at a cocktail event attended by more than 100 tourism industry figures and local dignitaries. Well-known Indonesian hotelier and founder of PT Indonesian Paradise Island - the Resort's owning company, Professor Dr. H. Sukamdani Gitosardjono, officiated at a symbolic release of balloons marking the official opening of the property to the public.

Marc Steinmeyer of Harris Hotels & Resorts, who is also the President Director of Tauzia Hotels & Leisure Consulting, applauded the team at the Resort for their enthusiasm and hard work in opening the third property of the brand in Indonesia. After only two years, Harris International operates two hotels in Bali and a third in Batam. The Company is now working towards the opening of its fourth hotel in Jakarta scheduled for 2005.

At the opening, Jean Charles Le Coz, General Manager of Harris Resort Kuta spoke of the "simple, unique and friendly concept which is conveyed through every aspect of the hotel."

Located on Bali's famous Kuta Beach Boulevard, Harris Resort Kuta offers 191 guest rooms, including 11 suites and 4 family rooms. The hotel provides a Kids' Club, proudly spotlights local food in its restaurant, and offers pampering at its Giri Loka Spa and Fitness Center. There is also the Harris Cafe, 24-hour reception with a cyber-corner, free-form swimming pool, gym, room service, boutique, laundry and valet service, conference and meeting facilities with audio-visual equipment, and a kids' pool with a waterslide.

The property was established through the acquisition and total renovation of a satellite wing of its next door neighbor, the Sahid Raya Hotel.

More information: Book a Stay at Harris Resort Kuta

The young and very talented Indonesian artist Lalita Rachmania will be featured in a solo exhibition of her paintings from July 1-8, 2004, at The Villas Bali Hotel & Spa in Seminyak.

Born in Jakarta and spending part of her childhood in Japan, Lalita graduated from the prestigious Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 1992. From 1994 - 1997 she was employed as an art director for Indonesia's leading interior design and architecture magazine, Laras. Drawing from her experience with that publication, Lalita's paintings deal almost exclusively with interior spaces and their impact on the human psyche.

In 1997, Lalita moved with her husband and daughter to Bali where she now pursues her painting on a full-time basis.

The exhibition is open daily from 11:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Prana Spa at The Villas Bali Hotel & Spa. The Hotel is located on Jalan Kunti 118X in Seminyak.

For more information telephone ++62-(0)361-730840.

Japan's leading Destination Management Operator and travel wholesaler - Japan Travel Bureau has moved offices to a new building in the Jimbaran area of Bali and close to Ngurah Rai International airport.

Effective June 28, 2004, the new address for JTB in Bali is:

Japan Travel Bureau – P.T. JTB Indonesia

Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai No. 88

Kelan Abian, Tuban, Kuta, Bali 80362

Telephone ++62-(0)361-708761

Facsimile ++62-(0)361-708750

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