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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