A Jug of Wine, A Loaf of Bread and Thou

Australian Grapes, Fermented and Bottled in Bali, 'Two Islands' Bring Excellent Wine at Affordable Prices to Tables Across Indonesia.

In November of 2007, Two Islands - a line of exciting and most affordable wines were introduced to a select audience of hospitality, tourism and the local media in Bali.

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Who's That Knocking at my Door?

Bad Driving at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport Spoils the Paint Jobs on Two Garuda Jets.

Two incidents within a single week at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport have brought more unwanted attention to Indonesia's national carrier Garuda.

On Monday night, February 25, 2008, a Boeing 737-400 suffered damage when an Aerowisata Catering truck dented the aircraft when its driver struck the aircraft during a transfer of in-flight meals. That accident left an 80 cm long gash along the side of the plane's fuselage that grounded the flight and caused delays to passengers scheduled to depart on the same plane the following morning.

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Indonesian tourist arrivals up 13.2 percent in January

The number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in January rose 13.2 percent to 437,617 from a year earlier, a report by the Central Bureau of Statistics showed Monday.

Arrivals via Indonesia's 11 main entry points rose 14.4 percent to 360,179, with Bali's Ngurah Rai international airport receiving the most passengers, the report was quoted by AFP as saying.

It said 147,319 tourists arrived via Ngurah Rai in January against 115,557
a year earlier.

The report said visitor arrivals are expected to increase in the coming months as the government steps up efforts to promote 2008 as "Visit Indonesia Year."

Last year, 5.51 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia, up from 4.87 million in 2006.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

PATA Training Bali’s Hotel Executive

Kadek Suartana, the Front Office Manager of the Maya Ubud Resort & Spa recently attended the 6th Executive Program in Hospitality Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Hotel & Tourism Management.

The 5 day intensive course was funded by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Foundation with scholarships provided to worthy applicants on a competitive basis.

The materials covered by renowned professors during the course included human resources, financial management and quality service management.

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Bali's Benoa Prioritized to Become Cruise Terminal

According to the Department of Culture and Tourism, Bali's southern seaport of Benoa is being prioritized for development as an international standard turn-around port for cruise vessels.

In a report carried in Bisnis Indonesia, the government is reportedly seeking to equip the Benoa Port facility with hotels and amusement centers seen as necessary supports to a passenger port facility. The report also says that the provincial government of Bali has been asked to undertake dredging in various parts of the current harbor to allow visits by larger vessels.

The Secretary General of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Sapta Nirwandar, told a meeting of sea-tourism operators: "We want Benoa to become a cruise ship terminal with the dimensions of an entertainment area in accordance with the dynamics exhibited by other international turn-around-ports. Benoa has become a priority for us."

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Bali Buffeted by High Winds

Bali's Shorelines Eroded and Kuta Beach Temporarily Closed by High Winds and Waves Expected to Continue through February 19th.

"Nicholas" - a tropical storm located south of the Nusa Tenggara islands and off the Western coast of Australia, produced strong winds, heavy rains and large waves for Bali and adjoining islands during the second week of February 2008.

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Pastika's Political Platform for Bali's Future

PDI-P Candidate for Bali's Governor General Made Pastika Outlines His Vision for Bali's Future. As reported on Balidiscovery.com, former Bali police Chief, General Made Mangku Pastika is the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) candidate for governor of Bali. A recent article in the Bali Post provides insights into the hopes and ambitions held by the man who may become Bali's next chief executive.

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Bali's January 2008 Arrivals Burst Out of the Starting Gate

The National News Agency Antara reports that 154,000 foreign tourists visited Bali in January 2008. While these figures remain preliminary until confirmed by yet-to-be-received official figures from Bali's immigration office, the 154,000 tally suggests a record-breaking start to 2008, exceeding arrival totals for January 2007 (109,504) by a whopping +40.63%.

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Kuta Apartment Complex Raises Local Zoning Issues

Bali Post has drawn attention to the construction of a new apartment complex on Jalan Majapahit in Kuta.

Quoting a member of the Badung House of Representatives (DPRD) from nearby Legian, IGN Sudiarsa, the Bali Post questioned the building of the large apartment complex in an area zoned for residential purposes. In the legislator's opinion, the operation of a commercial apartment complex including shopping and dining facilities is not in conformance with local codes limiting residential dwellings in the subject area.

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Race for Bali's Governorship Heats Up

As reported by Balidiscovery.com, the race for Bali's Governorships is taking shape with the formal candidacy by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) of Police General I Made Mangku Pastika and Anak Agung Puspayoga as their candidates for Bali's next Governor and Vice-Governor.

That race further intensified in the first week of February when Gde Wiratha, the outspoken head of the Bali Chapter of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN), announced his candidacy for the Golkar Party. Wiratha, who owns a number of tourism enterprises in Bali, is the brother of Kadek Wiranatha - the founder of the now-defunct Air Paradise. Gde Wiratha is an ardent advocate for legalized casinos in Bali.

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Does Ireland Point the Way for Bali?

The 2002 introduction of a 33 cent per bag tax on plastic bags in Ireland may point the way for reducing the plastic bags that litter Bali's streets, clog its sewers, pollute its waters and have become permanent fixture at the Island's landfills. Launched simultaneously with a massive advertising awareness campaign, the tax on plastic bags managed to transform Irish society. Just weeks after the tax's introduction, plastic bag use in Ireland declined by 94%, while re-useable cloth bags have become more indispensable than, say, an umbrella or a hat. People seen carrying plastic bags in Ireland receive the kind of unenthusiastic public reception once reserved for rich ladies in fur coats, pets that soiled walkways or a cigar smoker in crowded restaurants.

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Dear Tourists: Please Sneak a Peek at our Peak!

Hotel operators in the Bangli region of Bali, which include the tourist destination of the crater-lake area of Kintamani, met on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, with the executives of Bali's Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agents (ASITA) to seek help in restoring Kintamani's reputation as a favorite tourism destination. The Chairman of Bangli's chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), I Ketut Putranata, called on ASITA to lend support to hotels and restaurants operating at Kintamani.

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