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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Garuda to Order 10 Boeing 777-200ERs

Bisnis Indonesia reports that Garuda Indonesia has followed up its recent move into profitability by announcing plans to purchase 10 Boeing 777-200ER aircraft worth an estimated US$2 billion to support route expansion plans to Europe, the Middle East and East Asia. The Operational Director of PT Garuda Indonesia, Ari Sapari, told the press that the a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of the 10 wide-body aircraft will be signed at the Singapore Air Show February 18-22, 2008.
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Become a Friend of the Festival

The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is offering enthusiastic supporters the chance to be on the ground level of Asia's most dynamic annual gathering focused on intellectual dialogue between readers and writes from around the world. Started in 2004 and held on an annual basis, the Festival brings to Bali world-renowned writers, journalists, literary agents, artists and publishers from across the region in a dynamic meeting of minds. Promoting Bali as a cultural and artistic center, the Festival also aims to foster a love of literature among young Indonesians.

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Bali`s rescuers search for missing Japanese tourist

Rescuers aboard a ship and a helicopter continued to search for a Japanese tourist who was missing in Nusa Penida waters, Klungkung district, Bali Island. "Hiro Hiko Kubo, 66 years old, from Japan was reportedly missing while diving," Barokna, chief of the search and rescue team, said at Badung Strait, on Saturday. The Japanese disappeared on Friday (Feb. 8) at around 3 pm local time, and the accident was reported to the rescue team at 7.30 pm, he said. The search was focused on areas around the diving location at 8.39 degrees southern latitude and 115.27 degrees eastern longitude. Last July, the search and rescue team managed to rescue four German tourists whose boat had sunken after being hit by huge waves in Nusa Penida waters.

Source: http://www.my-indonesia.info

Made Pastika Named PDI-P's Man to Run for Bali Governor

The Bali Post confirms that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) have formally put forth the names of Police General I Made Mangku Pastika and Aank Agung Puspayoga as their candidates for Bali's next Governor and Vice-Governor. Their candidacy was reportedly confirmed at a meeting at the Jakarta headquarters of the PDI-P on Saturday, January 26, 2008.

Pastika is the former Chief of the Bali Police, credited with capturing the three 2002 Bali bombers and currently serves as the Operational Chief of the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (BNN). Puspayoga is the Vice-Mayor of Bali's capital city of Denpasar.

The nomination of the two by acclamation by the inner circle of the PDI-P is subject to final ratification by the Chairperson of PDI-P, Indonesia's former President Megawati Soekarnoputra.
Source: http://www.balidiscovery.com

Is Bali Tourism Unfriendly to Local Culture?

The Chairman of Bali's Chapter of the Indonesian Tourism Think Tank (MPI), I Wayan Budarmaja, recently told the Bali Post that the Island is becoming increasingly unfriendly to the Island's endemic culture. Budarmaja complained, "there is a tendency as though the design of tourism is only concerned with serving the desire of tourist visitors, with no orientation to the needs of the people of Bali and their culture."

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Bali named "best exotic destination" by Luxury Travel

The Indonesian resort island of Bali has again won "The Best Exotic Destination" award, this time from the London-based Luxury Travel Magazine, a tourism official said. "The readers of Luxury Travel Magazine in 27 countries have chosen Bali as the best resort island," the head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office I Gde Nurjaya said on Thursday. The award was presented to Bali through the Indonesian Embassy in London, he said.

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FHT Bali 2008 Food, Hotel and Tourism in Bali

Food & beverage suppliers of raw materials and equipment will gather in Bali February 28 – March 1, 2008 at the FHT Bali 2008 – Food, Hotel & Tourism Bali. Organizers are promising a 40 % increase in participants at this year, making the Bali gathering one of the largest trade gatherings of its type in Indonesia.

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Renowned American Culinary Expert Brings His Skills to Bali

InterContinental Bali Resort has appointed John P. Rees Jr. as its Director of Food and Beverage. Rees brings 25 years of culinary expertise to the Bali Resort and his assignment to revitalize all areas of the food and beverage operation. An American national, Rees is a hands-on manager who strongly believes in the art of communication and teaching his teams an ultimate respect for food. It is not unusual to find him behind the counter demonstrating how to roll pizza dough or flitting between tables, interacting with guests while trying to accommodate all taste preferences.

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Bali to Focus on 10 Key Markets in 2008

Bisnis Indonesia reports that Bali is eyeing 10 major source markets as the key to achieving a self-proclaimed target of 2.5 million foreign visitors in 2008, a very ambitious 49% improvement over the record-breaking total of 1.67 million visitors who came to Bali in 2007.

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'No' to Request for Higher Passenger Service Charges

The Government has apparently given the "thumbs down" to a proposal from PT Angkasa Pura I and II (AP) to increase by 50% the passenger service charge paid by domestic and international passengers at most Indonesian airports. As reported on Balidiscovery.com AP is claiming the large increase in departure fees is needed to upgrade service and security at the Nation's airports.

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US$45 Million Condo-Hotel Project for South Bali

www.property-report.com states that a US$45 million resort is now under construction on Bali's Bukit Peninsula. The Outrigger Panorama Resort & Spa has reportedly been conceived and developed by mc2 and will be managed by Outrigger Hotels & Resort from Hawaii.

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Garuda Flies into the Black

The National News Agency Antara reports that PT Garuda Indonesia - the flag carrier of Indonesia managed to post an unaudited profit of Rp. 259 billion (US$27.8 million) for 2007. This contrasts with a loss of Rp. 197 billion (US$21.2 million) record in 2006.

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1,600 Police Officers Secure International Anti-corruption Conference

Maximum security is being applied by the National Police (Polri) for the International Anti-corruption Conference in Nusa Dua, Bali. At least 1,600 personnel are being deployed in the operation called “Sandi Puri Agung I 2008”.

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Watching Bali's Number

In an op-ed piece published in the Bali Post, a tourism commentator, who writes under the name "Gregorius," has called on Bali to pay more attention to the collection and analysis of tourism data. What follows is a free translation of Gregorius' comments from the Saturday, January 26, 2008 edition of the Bali Post.

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Soeharto Dead at 86

The man who ruled Indonesia as its second President for 33 years from 1965-1998 died shortly after 1:10 p.m. Jakarta time on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at Jakarta's Pertamina Hospital.In failing health since his ouster from power 10 years ago, Soeharto succumbed to multiple organ failure surrounded by members of his family. Despite medical reports over the past few days that the former dictator's health was improving, Soeharto's condition suddenly deteriorated on Saturday.
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Bali to Spend US$538,000 on Tourism Promotion

Tempo Interaktif reports that the Provincial Government of Bali will spend Rp. 5 billion (US$538,000) on tourism promotion from a total tourism budget of Rp. 11 billion (US$1.18 million) for the Island. The Head of the Bali Tourism Authority, Gde Nurjaya told Tempo that Bali is targeting 1.9 foreign visitors in 2008, explaining, "that is a realistic figure because last year the number of foreign tourists hit 1.6 million. "The 2007 figures represented a marked improvement from 2006 when 1.2 million (Editor: 1.26 million) foreign visitors came to Bali.

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The Made Djelantik Collection

15 Paintings of the late Dr. A.A. Made Djelantik now form part of a permanent exhibit at the Museum Agung Rai in Ubud, Bali.As reported on Balidiscovery.com, the much-loved and respected Djelantik died on September 4, 2007 [See: Good-night, Sweet Prince] in Denpasar at the age of 88 after a long illness.A man of many parts, Dr. Djelantik was a member of Balinese royalty, a medical practitioner, a leading world expert on malarial disease, author and artist.

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Search Halted for Missing Students on Mount Agung

The search on Bali's Mount Agung for 2 missing students from Bandung's Widyatama University - Eko Saputra Sudirman and Yunita Indah Savitri has been halted.As reported on Balidiscovery.com, [See: 3 Students Missing on Mt. Agung] 3 trekkers went missing on December 26, 2007, with a search effort commenced on December 30, 2007. The body of one of the hikers, Muhammad Ikbal (21) was discovered by searchers on January 6th but the remaining 2 students are still missing.

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Bali to Host Bird Flu Summit

The State News Agency ANTARA reports that world experts on Bird Flu (H5N1) will gather in Bali later this year. Organized by New Fields Exhibitions, Inc., the conference will bring together companies working in the fields of Avian Influenza Prevention, scientist and government health officials. Among the topics to be discussed are prevention, planning for pandemic handling and care for those infected with the disease.

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Visa-Free Facility Proposed for 10 Countries

Travel Trade Gazette's (TTG) Mimi Hudoyo reports that the Indonesian Department of Culture and Tourism is seeking agreement to change current visa regulations to permit visa-free short visits from 10 countries.If the proposal submitted to the Ministry of Law and Human Rights is successful, the citizens of Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, U.K., Germany, France, the Netherlands and Russia would be able to undertake holiday visits without having to purchase either a 7 or 30-day visa at the Indonesian port of entry as required under the visa-on-arrival policy now in place. Currently, 63 countries are eligible to pay a fee of US$10 for a 7-day visa or US$25 for a 30-day visa.

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Jakarta Airport Service Charge to Increase?

Angkasa Pura I - the government-owned operating authorities for all Indonesian airports is seeking government approval to increase passenger service charges by 50% for Jakarta, bring charges for international passengers in line with those already in place in Bali. The Chief Director of PT Angkasa Pura II Edie Haryoto told Bisnis Indonesia that an application would also be made to the Department of Transportation to allow an increase of 50% for domestic passenger service charges and international passengers.

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New Regulations Promised for Foreign Land Ownership

The Indonesia Government is calling on notaries to exercise more caution in the issuance of property deeds of transfer in order to safeguard the nation against threats to its sovereignty, morality and sense of nationalism represented by the growing ownership of land by foreigners in Bali.

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Better Buildings for Bali's Police Force

Bali's Chief of Police, Inspector General Paulus Purwoko formally christened a new four-storey headquarters on Jalan WR Supratman in downtown Denpasar on Monday, January 14, 2008. The 2,848 square meter building costing Rp. 8.3 billion (US$892,500) was built in 180 days and houses a lobby and reception area on level one; the Directorate of Traffic (Lantas) on level two; police patrol management (Samapta) on level three; and the operation center for the anti-terror group (Densus 88) on level four.

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Indian tourists to Bali up 81 pct

The number of Indian tourists visiting Bali in the first eleven months of 2007 jumped 81.6 percent to 19,204 from a year earlier, a tour operator said. "I believe the number of Indian tourists visiting Bali will continue to increase because Indian and Balinese peoples have many things in common," Cokorda Agung said on Wednesday. "The potential to attract more Indian tourists is very great, the more so because India will be one of the targets of the Indonesian tourism campaign to start in February 2008," he said.

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Tourism program focuses on visitor target despite 2007's miss

Despite failing to meet the tourist arrival target last year, the government said it is optimistic about reaching the targeted seven million tourists for this year's Visit Indonesia Year program.
Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said the government also wants some US$6.7 billion in foreign exchange revenue.

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Bali Hosts Conference on Fighting Corruption

Republic on Line reports that Bali will be the host of a major international conference on corruption January 28 – February 1, 2008. The Second Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Conference Against Corruption (CPS-3 UNCAC) will be held at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC) at Nusa Dua.

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Indonesia's Lion Air to Buy 49% of a Brisbane-based Airline

A number of press reports are suggesting that Indonesian Lion Air (PT Lion Mentari Airlines) is eyeing a 49% share in an Australian domestic air carrier as a possible precursor to establishing a feeder network for the establishment of international flights between Indonesia and Australia.
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2008: A Bumper Year for Meetings in Bali

The hospitality industry in Bali is optimistic of more MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) business from Australia following the recent success of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).More than 10,000 participants from nearly 190 counties attended the two-week conference in December to discuss rising global temperatures, creating the largest conference ever held in Indonesia.

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Indonesia Air Asia to Open Bali Base

Indonesia AirAsia (IAA) have announced their intention to open an additional operational base in Bali as the next step to establishing a regional presence for the Carrier. The Chief Officer of IAA, Dharmadi, told Bisnis Indonesia that the new Bali home base will commence operations in late March 2008, serving as a turn around point for new flights planned to Darwin and Perth in Australia.

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Garuda to Re-Start Bali-Nagoya Flights

Republic on Line reports that Garuda Indonesia will continue with plans to re-commence service between Bali and Nagoya, despite the current uncertainty created in the air transportation business by surging oil prices.
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It Takes Confidence to Travel

A Nielsen survey conducted in the last quarter of 2007 polling 26,312 Internet users in 48 major markets in Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and the Middle East demonstrates growing concern over the future of the global economy; a result that may have a negative impact on the wanderlust of holidaymakers. Conducted twice every year, the Nielsen Consumer Survey gauges consumer confidence, spending habits, spending intentions and major concerns held by the world's consumers. The survey collections perceptions from the public on the job market, the status of personal finances and the readiness of consumers to part with disposable income.
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Bali`s exports exceed target

Bali province in the first eleven months of 2007 exported US$461.9 million worth of non-oil/non-gas commodities, exceeding its target of US$458.7 million for the year. "I believe the foreign exchange earnings from Bali`s non-oil/non-gas exports will be 10 percent higher than the central government-set target," Head of the Foreign Trade Division at the Bali Industry and Trade Office Ni Wayan Kusumawathi said here Tuesday. On average, handicraft, agricultural, plantation and aquatic product exports contributed US$40 million to the province`s foreign exchange coffers per month, meaning that non-oil/non-gas exports would near US$500 million at the end of last year, she said.

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Making Kuta's Streets Safe for the Public

The physical infrastructure for streets in Bali is inadequate to meet the safety requirements of pedestrians and vehicular road users. Bad road surface conditions, the lack of sidewalks, insufficient drainage, and the absence of shaded and green corridors – all contribute to Kuta's failure to meet standards of safety needed for tourist areas with high levels of pedestrian traffic.

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You Can Run, But Cannot Hide

As reported on balidiscovery.com, [A Bloody Start to the New Year] two "freelance security guards" lost their lives in gang violence outside Dee Jay Music at dawn on New Year's day in a violent altercation with local gangs. Shortly after the incident, police apprehended four suspected assailants in the attack and undertook a massive manhunt for five more suspects that concentrated search efforts in the Ubud area of Bali. Facing an "or else" surrender deadline from Bali's Chief of Police, Inspector General Paulus Purwoko, two of the five wanted men turned themselves into the police on Friday, January 11, 2008 leaving the remaining three suspects on the "most wanted" list of Bali's police force.

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Tourism Expert Calls for a Freeze on New Accommodation.

A leading academic and observer of Balinese tourism from Udayana University’s Tourism Study Department, Drs. I Putu Anom, has called on the Government to call a halt to the building of new accommodation in order to stop the diversion of land from agricultural purposes and to allow existing accommodation operators to consolidate their business positions.

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World’s Tour Guides Converge on Bali.

13th International Convention of Tourist Guides Meet in Bali January 11-16, 2009.
Some 1,000 tourist guides from around the world are expected in Bali between January 11-16, 2009, where they will participate in the 13th International Convention of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA). Held once every two years at different locations around the world, the WFTGA provides an important forum for professional tourist guides to exchange views and information pursuant to improving the professionalism of the tour guide trade. The Bali Conference, headquartered the Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel Bali will feature workshops and training sessions presented by 25 lecturers.

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Catch a Falling Star in Bali

On Wednesday, January 2, 2008, a meteor crashed to earth near the community of Glumpang, near Sukawati in the Gianyar Regency of Bali. The meteor strike, which occurred at around 1:00 a.m. local time, was accompanied by flashes of light and loud explosions when it landed in the fields of Nyoman Miasa. The meteor created a small crater some 30 centimeters deep and one meter across, but caused no property damage or personal injury when it landed.

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3 Students Missing on Mt. Agung

Three university students from West Java remain missing after last being heard from on December 26, 2007 during a climbing expedition on Bali's sacred Mount Agung. The three – all students from the Economics faculty of STIE in Bandung, West Java, were last seen ascending a steep mountain trail on Wednesday, December 26th.

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Out of Tune in Bali

Recent press reports suggest that Malaysia's Tune Hotel Regional Services Sdn. Bhd - the hotel operations affiliate of the no-frills Air Asia, has Bali in its sights as part of a rapid expansion program to open a network of low-cost accommodation venues.

And, If the flag ship Tunes Hotel's in Kuala Lumpur is any indication of what lays ahead for Bali, then the Island will soon play host to a "very prominent" red-and-white painted building resembling a massive coca-cola can with windows (see illustration).

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The Art of Living with H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Universally recognized as both a spiritual and humanitarian leader, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has dedicated his life to spreading his vision of a violence-free and stress-free society through the reawakening of human values. Sri Sri is perpetual traveler prepared to undertake perilous journeys in his commitment to conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, poverty alleviation, women's rights crusading, prisoner rehabilitation, and education. He has traveled and brokered his personal gospel of peace around the world, including in Sri Lanka, Iraq, Cameroon, Kashmir and Bihar.

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RI welcomes Germans first in 2008

German couple Michel and Jennifer Franchon Bernard did not expect they would be greeted by a crew of friendly airport staff members and a Sundanese jaipongan dance troupe upon arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on New Year's Day. "What a surprise. We are very happy. We never dreamed of this happening. I couldn't even sleep because of the holiday," Michel said.

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Tourist arrivals up 13.67 pct to 4.1 million

The number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in the first eleven months of 2007 rose 13.67 percent to 4,109,831 from 3,615,739 in the same period last year, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said. The increase reflected encouraging developments particularly for those engaged in the tourism industry, BPS Deputy Chief for Distribution and Service Statistics Ali Rosidi said in a press conference here Wednesday.

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Renting a Car in Bali? Say ‘Cheese.’

Car Rental Agencies Directed by Bali Police to Know Their Customers and Retain a File Copy of Driver's Identity Papers.

In order to enhance security procedures over the busy Christmas and New Year's period, Bali's Chief of Police Inspector General Paulus Purwoko is directing that car rental agencies retain photo copies of identity papers from all rental customers. During a tour of vehicle rental agencies in Sanur, Tuban and Kedonganan, Chief Purwoko asked that photo copies of driver licenses, identity cards or passports be kept in special file to assist police authorities in tracking down renters in criminal activities involving a rented vehicle.

Source: http://www.balidiscovery.com

A Dream Industry Driven by Strong Communications

Professor Dr. Gde Pitana, the former head of the Bali Tourism Authority (BTA) and now an expert staff for the Minister of Culture and Tourism, offered his informed overview of Indonesia's tourism industry in a special op-ed piece published in the December 27, 2007 edition of the Bali Post. Terming tourism as an industry that "sells dreams," Pitana said that the real challenge for tourism practitioners is not only in how to create dreams, but also in how to ensure dreams and expectations are realized by visitors to a destination.

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