Visitors Spending More, But Leaving Sooner

The authoritative Indonesian Digest prepared by Ibu Wuryastuti Sunario reports: The most recent 2007 Passenger Exit survey conducted among international visitors to Indonesia reveals that, on average, tourists spent US$ 57.89 more per stay this year than was the case in 2006. At the same time, length of stay declined by 0.7 days, reports the Department of Culture and Tourism in its website budpar.go.id.
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Stormy Weather in Bali

Heavy rains in late December 2007 caused flooding and landslides in Bali that have been linked to at least two deaths of villagers in Tegalalang, north of Ubud. Also of spiritual concern to local Balinese Hindus was the damage caused by recent inclement weather to several religious temples across the Island.

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Four Generations of Balinese Dance Share a Single Stage

Date: August 20, 2007 thru December 15, 2008
Time: Daily

On the 1st and 15th of every month, four generations of talented dancers from the Djimat family in Batuan will take to the stage to share their rich cultural legacy of Balinese performing arts. Performances will be held at Umah Kodok Stage at Batuan Sukawati Gianyar starting at 8:00 p.m. on the designated dates every month. Presented by the Djimat family and the Tri Pusaka Sakti Foundation, each performance will showcase dancing family members ranging in age from 6 to 85 years-of-age.

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And Deliver Us from Amateurs...

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced last week that the slogan "Visit Indonesia 2008 – Celebrating 100 Years of Nation's Awakening" is going to be quickly revamped. No doubt, this decision is accompanied by no small amount of panic as airplane fuselages must repainted, letterheads reprinted, brochures reformatted and republished, and television adverts re-edited before January 1, 2008 when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to officially inaugurate the Visit Indonesia Year 2008 (VIY 2008) promotion.

Visit Indonesia Year 2008 officially launched

The government officially launched Visit Indonesia Year 2008 on Wednesday, with the main aim of luring up to 7 million foreign tourists and booking US$6.4 billion in foreign exchange income. To help reach the target, the government is setting aside $15 million for a domestic and international advertising blitz.

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What's New Pussycat? Dining with Lions in Bali

What is almost certainly Bali's – and perhaps Asia's most unique dining venue has opened with the inauguration of the Tsavo Lion Restaurant at the Bali Safari & Marine Park, located just 20 minutes east of Denpasar on the new Jalan Bypass Professor Ida Bagus Mantra highway.

Set within the 40 hectare site of the newly opened Bali Safari & Marine Park, the Tsavo Lion Restaurant is built in a style reminiscent of a Kenyan Lodge. A circular outer wall constructed of thick tempered glass separates diners from a large pride of magnificent African lions who, during the course of our visit, had a tendency to keep a close watch over our dinner with their noses pressed against the glass window next to our table.

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Bali a Bargain Destination for Japanese Travelers

Republika on Line reports that Japanese tourists consider the cost of a Bali holiday as relatively inexpensive, costing only Rp. 5 million (US$526) for a three day holiday including accommodation at a star-rated hotel. Quoting a Ubud-based travel agent, Ni Wayan Kawiani, the low cost of a Bali holiday has made the island a repeat destination for many Japanese travelers. Popular with both young Japanese and older office workers, the Japanese, according to Kawiani, see Bali largely as a safe and secure destination.

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New Arrival Record to Bali Already in Hand

Bali by the Numbers: 1.52 million Foreign Visitors for January-November 2007 Sets New Record with One Month's Arrivals Still to be Counted. With 1,517,650 foreign tourist arrivals for the period of January-November 2007, Bali has already achieved a new record for arrivals in a single year with one month's arrivals (December) still to be counted.

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The Russians are Coming!

Assisted by regular flight service from Moscow to Bali on Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines and visas-on-arrival, Russian arrivals to Bali are booming – up +64.56% year-to-date January-November 2007. The December – January period if high season ex Russia with travel operators organizing charter flights to Southeast Asia to handle the added demand.
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Balinese Moments – An Exhibition by Ventje

Bali's Casa Iseabo – Gallery of Contemporary Art will host an exhibition of paintings depicting Balinese life by Ventje S. With inspiration drawn from the daily life and spiritual practice of the Balinese, Ventje's paintings reflect his deep love of the Island and its people. Colorful, realistic and rich in detail - Ventje's works reveal a spiritual understanding of the Balinese drawn from months dedicated to sitting and careful observation in a Denpasar market or roaming the rice fields of Bali.

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Monte Swims for a Greener and Bluer Planet

On the morning of December 10 American environmental and humanitarian swimmer Monte Monfore swam six kilometers from Serangan Island to Nusa Dua. His Reverse Climate Change Swim was an official parallel event to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali. Addressing the media before entering the water the 47-year-old endurance athlete said, “This swim is to support efforts to reduce global warming, and highlight the serious threat it poses to the world’s endangered coral reefs.” Continuing his series of swims promoting the United Nations Millennium Campaign the native Californian announced the event was also promoting Millennium Development Goal number 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability.

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Bali breakthrough launches historic climate

Nearly 200 nations agreed at U.N.-led talks in Bali on Saturday to launch negotiations on a new pact to fight global warming after areversal by the United States allowed a historic breakthrough. Washington said the agreement marked a new chapter in climate diplomacy after six years of disputes with major allies since President George W. Bush pulled out in 2001 from the Kyoto Protocol, the main existing plan for combating warming.

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180-nation talks head toward "Bali Roadmap" deal on climate, emissions reductions

A U.S.-European standoff headed toward a compromise solution late Friday at the U.N. climate conference, breaking a deadlock over how ambitious the goal should be in negotiating future cutbacks in global-warming gases, the U.N. climate chief said. Asked whether a deal was assured, Yvo de Boer replied, "Absolutely. The only question is how long is it going to take to get, how long we will have to stay up to wait for it." Said Germany's environment minister, Sigmar Gabriel, "The climate in the climate conference is good."

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Ambassador praises Bali`s success in hosting UNFCCC

Polish Ambassador to Indonesia Thomas Lukaszuk has praised the success of Indonesia`s tourist resort island of Bali in hosting the two-week international conference of parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which closes on Friday. Ambassador Lukaszuk made the appreciation when he accompanied Governor of Polish province Poznan, Ryszard Grobelny, to meet Bali Governor Dewa Beratha here on Friday.

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Bali talks try to end impasse on climate goals

Negotiators at climate talks in Bali tried to break a deadlock on Friday over emissions goals after the European Union accused the United States of blocking progress at the 190-nation meeting. The two-week talks, which are supposed to end on Friday, aim to launch two years of negotiations on an international pact to fight global warming. But the United States, Japan and Canada are opposed to any reference to numerical goals for emissions in the final text.

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Are Green House Gasses Caused by Men's Neckties?

Does the Bali UN Conference signal a changing dress code for a warmer world? Delegates at that conference from 140 countries in Bali from December 3-14, 2007, have apparently been told there's no need to don their suits and ties as they discuss how to create a cooler world. "The dress code is to be relaxed, not to wear tie or jacket," said John Hay, spokesman for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.Top UN officials, including Yvo De Boer, the UNFCC Executive Secretary wasted no time in embracing the new dress standard, assuming the main podium wearing a traditional and stylish Indonesian batik shirt.

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HIV/AIDS Cases Among Foreign Residents in Bali

Republika On-Line reports that 25 or 1.5% of the 1,641 Bali residents suffering from HIV/AIDS is comprised of foreign nationals.The Chief of the Communicable Disease Section of the Bali Health Office, Dr. I Gusti Lanang, told the press that the foreign victims of HIV/AIDS were led by Dutch citizens accounting for 6 patients; 5 from America; 3 from Australia and 2 each from Canada and Switzerland. The remaining sufferers were individuals from Italy, Spain, Japan, Ireland, East Timor and other countries.

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Minister denies tourism had significant impact on climate change

Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik has categorically refuted allegations that the tourism industry has had a significant impact on climate change. "People traveling from one place to another or from one country to another do not spread a great amount of carbon," he said here on Monday after opening a seminar on the impact of climate change on Indonesian tourism.

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Is Bali Losing its Cultural Compass?

Speaking at a seminar held in Bali on December 2, 2007, Indonesia's former Minister of Culture and Tourism. I Gede Ardika warned that Bali was increasingly disassociating itself from its traditional values. Quoted by the National News Agency Antara, Ardika delivered an address entitled - "Bali's Tourism: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Challenges for Nature and the Balinese People" – in which he said that the people of Bali were increasingly upset by the new attitude that considers all things are permissible in pursuit of private goals.

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Targeting 7 Million Foreign Visitors in 2008

In the midst of the launch of Visit Indonesia Year 2008, the Indonesian Department of Culture and Tourism is targeting 7 million foreign visitors for 2008. This represent a substantial increase from the 6 million visitor targeted for 2007, a number that was not attained and is expected to fall closer to 5.5 million when the current year closes on December 31, 2007.
In order to help achieve the ambitious target, the Ministry has established an official calendar of more than 100 official events to be hosted across Indonesia throughout 2008. If Indonesia manages to hit its proclaimed target, it will represent something on the order of a 27% increase in arrivals for a single year.

Australian PM to meet President Yudhoyono in Bali

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Monday he would hold talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a visit to Bali this week for a UN conference on climate change. Rudd, who was sworn in on December 3 after ousting conservative prime minister John Howard in elections last month, said he wanted to build relations with Australia`s giant neighbour on his first trip abroad.

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CAPOEIRA PERFORMANCE

CAPOEIRA PERFORMANCE: Members of the Senzala Balinese Capoeira Dancers symbolically attack balloons representing carbon dioxide during the launch of its campaign by the World Wide Fund (WWF) at the Bali International Convention Center on Saturday to coincide with the climate change conference in Bali.

Yudhoyono, UNFCCC delegates to visit Nusa Penida island

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and delegates to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference are scheduled to visit Nusa Penida island, some 90 nautical miles southeast of Bali, on Monday. The president and the delegates will observe pollution-free tourism objects such as wind power plants and environment friendly electricity installations of the state-owned electricity company PLN.
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Denpasar faces burgeoning household waste problem

A war scene occurs almost every morning in the slum area of Subak Dalem in North Denpasar, some 15 kilometers north of Nusa Dua. It’s a war of dumped rubbish that grows worse daily.
This war of trash and fetid garbage on that morning, involved 36-year-old housewife, Risma. When she opened her door, she was swamped by the piles of plastic bags mixed with cans, bottles, leftover food and other household waste in front of her house. Flies and a perpetual stink have become her daily breakfast’s accompaniment.

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No souvenirs, seedling please

Indonesian government officials have been asked to reduce spending on souvenirs for their guests. Tree seedlings have been recommended as a wiser gift choice, not only because it saves on the state budget, but because the trees will also contribute to nature conservation.

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Bali must bring developing nations on board

Climate change is a development, economic and investment challenge, not just an environmental issue. An effective global accord on climate change will have to recognize the interests and needs of developing countries.
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Close Up on Building Rules in Bali

The Bali Land Grab: A Practical Guide to "Set Back" Rules for Building Along Beach or River Fronts.

As an assistance to property buyers in Bali, here's a few highlight from Bali's Zoning Regulations of 2005 (Peraturan Daerah Provinsi Bali Nomor 3 Tahun 2005)

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No Strings Attached

State Power Board Asks the Balinese to Refrain from Flying Kites During the U.N. Conference on Climate Change.

Tempo Interaktif reports that the State Power Board (PLN) have asked the people of Bali not to engage in their favorite pastime of kite flying during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) set to take place in Nusa Dua from December 3-14, 2007.

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Seeds for Bali

Purchase a Seedling During the UN Climate Change Conference and Create a Forest on Nusa Penida Island.
Visitors to Bali and delegate attending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) between December 3 – 14, 2007 will have the opportunity to purchase trees saplings that will eventually become part of a "new" forest on the barren island of Nusa Penida, located only a few miles from Bali's shores.

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A Balinese Story of Turtles and Dolphins

Education is the key to environmental awareness, and language is the vehicle that endows us with the ability to learn and understand. Indonesia's ancient tradition of story-telling is slowly giving way to reading and a modern lifestyle that provides much less time for leisure activities and precious family time with our children.

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The Battle on Bali

Fight game enthusiast are in for a real treat this holiday season as Bali hosts its first Mixed Martial Arts Event (MMA) at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC) this December.

MMA contenders have been likened to modern day gladiators who employ a variety of fighting styles in a single bout ranging from boxing, ju jitsu, judo, muay thai, karate, kung fu, sambo and wrestling.

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All I Want for Christmas is an Economy Class Seat!

Garuda Indonesia have announced that they will add 9.984 seats on its flights to Bali (Denpasar) over the coming Christmas and New Year's holiday period.

In writtten communication with the Bali Post, the airline's Vice President, Pujobroto, has confirmed that 19,450 additional seats to six destinations will be added between the dates of December 19, 2006 until January 10, 2007.

In addition to the additional capacity to Bali, Garuda will also add 268 seat to Batam; 804 seats to Solo; 804 seats to Pekanbaru; 6,880 seats to Singapore; and 810 seats to Hong Kong.Garuda will generate the additional seat capacity either by adding frequencies or utilizing larger aircraft on existing services.

During the critical traffic periods of 20-26 December Garuda will deploy senior managers to various flight centers as members of special service teams to address problems and devise solutions as they arise in order to maximize service to the public.

Bali to welcome some 10,000

With thousands of government officials and NGO representatives arriving in Bali on the weekend, Indonesia has said it is ready for the 12 day UN climate change conference which starts Monday.

More than 10,000 people from some 180 countries have confirmed their attendance at the conference, including 130 environment ministers and five heads of state and government, plus Australian prime minister elect Kevin Rudd and U.S. former vice president and 2007 co-Nobel winner, Al Gore.

"We are ready for the big event," presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal told The Jakarta Post.

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Bali talks to seek global climate deal in 2009

About 190 nations meet on the Indonesian island of Bali from Monday to build on a "fragile understanding" that the fight against global warming needs to be expanded to all nations with a deal in 2009.

The Dec. 3-14 talks, involving more than 10,000 delegates in a tightly guarded idyllic beach resort, will seek to launch negotiations meant to end with a U.N. new pact in two years' time including outsiders led by the United States and China.

So far, only 36 industrialised nations in the Kyoto Protocol have caps on greenhouse gas emissions running to 2012.

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Bali prepares 1,028 medical workers to serve UNFCCC participants

Bali`s provincial health office, in cooperation with all hospitals here, has prepared 1,028 medical workers to serve participants of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference to be held here on Dec 3-14.

"They consist of general practioners, specialist physicians and paramedics and they will be posted in three locations, namely at the conference`s venue, in the Nusa Dua area and outside the Nusa Dua area," head of Bali`s health office, dr Dewa Ketut Oka, said on Thursday.

He said they would serve some 15,000 participants from 168 countries.

The medical personnel would also be supported by 21 ambulances and some field hospitals.

Besides, he said, all health and infrastructure facilities in the province, including the local health center and all hospitals would stand by for the occasion.

Bali`s handicraft exports up 8 pct

Bali`s export of various handicraft goods in the first ten months of 2007 rose 8.6 percent to US$202.8 million from US186.7 million in the same period last year.

Wooden handicraft goods and furniture still dominated the export with a value of US$113.7 million compared to US$105 million in the same period last year, Ni Wayan Kusumawathi, chief of the foreign trade subdivision at the Bali industry and trade office, said on Wednesday.

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