Bali News

Netherlands is potential market for Bali tourism

Bali Villas Admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:27:27 +0000

Netherlands, South Korea, Russia, and several other countries are the potential market for Bali’s tourism. They are potential because most of the foreign tourists visited Bali in the past few years were coming from those countries.
Ida Komang Wisnu, the head of Bali Statistic Department, said “the government and other tourism components must intensify the promotion to those countries.” He added that the number of people from Netherlands, South Korea, and Russia visited Bali is increasing in the last few years.
“Previously, those countries are not counted as the countries that can supply a lot of tourists to Bali,” Wisnu said.
He also explained that the number of tourists from Netherlands visited Bali in January 2010 was 6,226. The number increased 40% compare to the same period last year which was 4,444 people.
While in 2009, the total number of tourists from Netherlands was 77, 526 people. The number increase 22% compare to the previous year which was 63,471 tourists. The tourists from Netherlands contributed 3% from the total number of tourists visited Bali in January 2010.
Wisnu explained that other countries were also increasing in the total number of tourists visited Bali. They were Autralia which increased almost 60% Russia and South Korea. While there is also decreased happened to some countries susch as Japan, China, Taiwan, malaysia, France, and USA.

News by International Bali Post

Hotel occupancy rates decrease 6 percent

Bali Villas Admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:56:31 +0000

The hotel occupancy rates in Bali was 53% in January 2010 for star hotels. The number decreased 6% compare to December 2009 which was 59%. Ida Komang Wisnu, the head of Bali Statistic department, said “the hotel occupancy rate is highly connected with the number of tourists visited Bali.”
He said that the number of foreign tourists visited Bali in january 2010 was 179,273. the number decreased 19% compare to December 2009 which was 222.546 tourists.
The highest hotel occupancy rate in Bali was in badung which was 55% while the lowest was in Buleleng which was only 33%. In Tabanan, the hotel occupancy rate was 47%, Gianyar 42%, karangasem 34%, and Denpasar 52%.
The highest hotel occupancy rate was for the three star hotels while the lowest in the first star hotels.
The tourists visited bali was using the hotels in average of 3.61 days. The condition increased 0.28 days compared to in December which was 3.33 days. While the hotel occupancy rate for the non star hotels was 31%.

News by International Bali Post

Indonesia to host Asia-Pacific GEOSS on climate change

Bali Villas Admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:53:32 +0000

Spokesperson for the National Aviation and Space Institute (LAPAN) Ratih Dewanti said Indonesia will host the 4th symposium of the Asia-Pacific Group on Earth Observation System and Systems (GEOSS) on global climate change.
She said that this time the deliberations will be on global climate change involving various countries. The world is now working together in reducing the impact. She said the meeting of 26 Asia Pacific countries from March 10 to 12, 2010, at Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel and Suits, Bali, is expected to strengthen cooperation network among its member countries.
The network will form national, regional, and international synergy in building observation network for public welfare. There are four topics on which the symposium will focus.
“The topics are monitoring capacity and Asia-Pacific climatic variability, management of water and hydro-meteorological recources relating to natural disasters, forest carbon monitoring, and Asia-Pacific biodiversity observation networks,” he said.
The outcome of the Bali meeting will become a recommendation for the Group on earth Observation System (GEO) of a ministerial Summit in Beijing, China, in November this year.
The GEO Meeting is an international collaboration to dig the potential of earth observation to overcoma environmental problems facing the world. GEO members are international organizations and governments relating to world observation activities.
The nine areas to be discussed by GEO are natural disaster, health, energy, climate, water, weather, ecosystem, agriculture, and biodiversity.
Dewanti said the climate is closely linked to the life of people and may have serious impacts on various sectors of human welfare.
For this part, many countries in the world are making many efforts of adaptation and mitigation of the impacts of climate change.
GEOSS is an infrastructure in making decisions to respond to environmental problems more effectively. GEOSS also functions as a means of countries in the Asia and Pacific region for exchange of information and understanding in handling climate change.
“State Minister for research and Technology Suharna Surapranata is slated to open the event,” Dewanti said.

News by International Bali Post

The Tegalbesar Beach abration is worsening

Bali Villas Admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:29:18 +0000

Brunt of the waves make the Tegalbesar beach area, Negari, Banjarangkan continued to be eroded. In addition, the river flow has begun to make turns, causing more worry among the residents near Tegalbesar beach. “The brunt on the estuary side of the river has eroded the west part of the coast. Especially in estuaries of Melangit River, the Tegalbesar border with Gianyar has already been shifted permanently”, said a local resident, Monday (8/2).
It has often being complained to the government officials, but no response has been given. In reality, ifleft unchecked, the abrasion will become increasingly severe. Residents’ lands are also eroded including the one used for the cleansing ceremony (Melasti).
In terms of abration, particularly about the blocking of Melangit River’s flow, Head of Klungkung Public Works Office, IB Adnyana when he asked for confirmation, on Monday (8/2), revealed that the current problem is enrirely handled by the Provincial Government of Bali. Regent of Klungkung, Wayan Candra said that he had sent a descriptive letter into the provincial government of Bali in relation to these issues. “But there is no response yet”, he said as he mentiones that the matter of water-way blocking of Melangit River is the responsibility of the provincial government because it involves dealings across districts (Klungkung and Gianyar).

News by International Bali Post

Celebrate the Caka New Year 1932, Denpasar to Organize Ogoh-Ogoh Competition

Bali Villas Admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:49:24 +0000

On welcoming the Caka New Year 1932 (Nyepi Day) on Monday (March 15) Denpasar city government will hold an Ogoh-Ogoh or papier mache demon competition among the Sekaa Teruna or customary village youth club throughout Denpasar City. Other than intended for ritual need, the competition also becomes an arena of creativity for the young, especially Sekaa Teruna in Denpasar. It was revealed by the Mayor of Denpasar in the face Sekaa Teruna not long ago.
Denpasar Mayor I B Rai D. Mantra said that ogoh-ogoh competition held this year posed an attention of Denpasar city government in responding to the creativity development of major communities, especially the adolescence. At that time, the teens will be given the opportunity to fully express their ideas and creativity in art. “Creativity based on this superior culture has been shown by the teenagers in events like kite competitions, ogoh-ogoh, traditional sports such as metajog, mecingklak, gale-gale and others,” said Rai Mantra proudly.
ON the creativity, Rai Mantra admitted to feel very proud because in entering the “competitive” world, the identity has a very important meaning. Throughcreativity was also expected to encourage the art creativity transmitted to public, the youth chiefly sekaa teruna to always be creative with a variety of innovative designs.
Each sekaa teruna making the ogoh-ogoh was given development incentive worth IDR3.5 millions. Komang Astita, Chairman of Denpasar Assembly of Cultural Advisory (Listibiya) explained more about the technical requirements of the competition. According to him, the assessment would be divided in two stages, namely for the level of subdistrict would be taken 3 champions and then assessed at Catus Pata (around central crossroad of Denpasar). Astita also added that the competition once turned dormant denoted an arena of art and cultural creativity in combination with the religious activities.
In the meantime, Made Karim, the Head of Denpasar Assembly of Customary Village explained that sekaa teruna played important roles and functions being very strategic in societal life. According to him, Sekaa Teruna was the children of hamlet because they would continue the devotional services of their parents as well as the cultural heritage.

News by International Bali Post

Preventing Further Damage, Forest in Jembrana Will be Tightly Guarded

Bali Villas Admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:49:00 +0000

In order to prevent more damage done to forests in Jembrana, the entrance of the forets will be heavily guarded. Destruction of tens of thousands of hectares of forest in Jembrana really made the regent of Jembrana, I Gede Winasa disided to revitalize the program of zero-visit to forest by placing a number of officers to guard the entrance to the forest.
Jembrana Regent Gede Winasa who was annoyed because the forests in Jembrana were being destroyed even more, on Tuesday (2/2), gathered the chief of villages as supporters of forest protection.
Winasa said forestry issues are a fundamental problem that must be addressed, so it is vital to involve the village community leaders in protecting the forest.
To intensify forest protection, Winasa revitalizes the zero-entrance to forest program by involving traditional institutions. “The revitalization of this program should immediately be done because we have spent billions of funds to treat the forest but no results have been gained. With this program, everyone in prohibited to enter and exit the forest”, he said.
With this policy, Winasa asked the village leaders to abide by regulations that have been made in the form of traditional law (awig-awig).
For this program, Winasa manages the technical supervision is by placing Pamong Praja Police Unit officials, village and Subak administrators which are supporters of the forest protection at the entrance points.
“Guards for each point should be composed of two officers, one village and one Subak administrator who will oversee Jembrana’s forest for 24 hours”, he explained. If later along the way there are cases of illegal logging to be found, Winasa requested that the post guards to contact base camp through a communication device that has been prepared. “In half an hour, officials at the base camp must have already arrived at the scene” he said. For the testing of the system, Winasa expected to prepare six checkpoints scattered throughout Jembrana district.
He thinks this could be done starting next Monday. “If you do not enter the forest, it would recover by itself. In this program only animals are allowed to enter”, he said. Not only that, Winasa also threatened to isolate the village which has been at least reluctant and careless for three times. Likewise, any assistance for those villages will also be stopped. Winasa invited all brave village leaders to impose sanctions and bring the destructors of forests to the court. In addition to sanctions, Winasa also will provide IDR 1 million prize to anyone who can catch the thief.

News by International Bali Post

Jero Wacik opens immigration on board service

Bali Villas Admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:07:13 +0000

Tourism minister Jero Wacik officially started the operation of the “Immigration on Board” service at Ngurah Rai airport in Bali on Monday. “The operation of the service is expected to be able to cut lines at the Visa on Arrival counter so that foreign tourists would feel more comfortable. I hope in the future I can expand the service for Korea, China and Australia destinations,” he said.
He said the service was the latest breakthrough in improving service to foreign tourists and it would ease their arrival in the country because they should not have to stand in line at the airport.
“Tourists have so far complained about the Visa-On-Arrival service which could take hours. If their immigration process could be completed on board they certainly could directly leave for hotels upon arrival,” he said.
The immigration on Board service is now still limited to Garuda flights from Narita, Japan. It is hoped it could be expanded to other countries as well.
“The facilities will make tourists eager to come to Indonesia,” he said.
The commerce director of Garuda Indonesia, Agus Priyanto, said the national airline company would continue to support the government’s program for increasing tourist arrivals.
“this is Garuda’s step to help ease foreign tourists’ arrival in Indonesia,” he said.
Regarding the minister’s plan to expand the service to cover tourists from other countries he said “we have been ready to implement the Immigration on Board program for tourists from other countries soon the immigration and banks are ready.” The head of Bali tourism service, Ida Bagus Kade Subhiksu, hoped the effort would increase the number of tourists from a number of Bali’s main tourism markets such as Australia, China and Korea. Australian tourists to Bali in 2009 reached 20 percent of the total number of foreign tourists, followed by Japanese tourists (14 percent), Chinese (9 percent) and Korea (six percent).
Malaysian tourists ranked four in number after the Chinese but they have a free-visa facility for a short visit.

News by International Bali Post

Sand storm disturb activities in Kuta beach

Bali Villas Admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:06:28 +0000

The activities in Kuta beach was disturbed by sand storm. The storm made the sand covered the road in the beach area. I Gusti Ngurah Tresna, the head of Kuta authorized officer, said “the wind is very strong. The big rocks in front of Kartika Plaza hotel are destroyed by the strong wind.”
The big rocks actually placed there to block the big waves from hammering the hotel compound but the wind break it into pieces. The condition made the hotel staffs and the officers of Kuta must clean the debris. “The hotel management has come to us and asks assistance to clean the debris. We also requested the help from the government to handle the problem,” Ngurah Tresna said.
Eight rocks as much as one ton each were placed in the beach area in front of Kartika Plaza hotel. It was needed to prevent the abrasion on the area. Six out of eight rocks were destroyed by the strong wind and big waves. Ngurah Tresna said “we already contacted the authorized department in order to replace the destroyed rocks. The damage needs to be repaired soon because the abrasion could get worse especially during the poor weather condition.”
Rai Yusa, the head of General Work Department said that the problem will be handled by the abrasion handling team. “the team will try to reassemble the rocks for temporary support because it is very dangerous to work in the poor weather condition,” he added. Currently, the team will monitor the condition in the beach area in order to determine the next step.

News by International Bali Post

Art groups develop rapidly abroad

Bali Villas Admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:05:10 +0000

Art groups that teach traditional Balinese dancing and music develop rapidly throughout the world. The condition gives positive effect to tourism in bali. Kadek Suartaya, a lecturer in Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Denpasar, said “the most famous art groups are Sekar Jaya in US and Sekar Jepun in Japan.”
He explained that those art groups were the pioneer on those countries. Currently, there are tenth of art groups in many countries that offer lesson for those who wanted to study Balinese cultures.
The art groups were established by the former od ISI students who came from various countries.
“After finishing their study in ISI, the students often establish art groups in their native countries and teaches dances or music for those who want to study it,” Suartaya said.
Ami Asagawa, a manager of an art group in Tokyo, said that many people interested in studying the music or dances. “An art group can have thousands of members who wanted to learn Balinese dances. They are vey interested in the unique culture of Bali,” she added.
Tourists from Japan who come to Bali for holiday also often take the opportunity to watch and learn Balinese dances and music. Suartaya said “the art groups often take part in Bali Art Festival (PKB) which is held annually in Bali.”
For that reason, the art groups often invite teachers from Bali in order to develop their skills in the art. They also visited Bali to learn first hand from the expert.

News by International Bali Post

Prioritize road to open access at tourism objects

Bali Villas Admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:23:27 +0000

The traffic congestion that usually happen in the Denpasar – Nusa Dua route raise concern from Bina Marga, the agency that responsible for roads’ development in Indonesia. According to Director of Technic Management at Directorate Bina Marga, Public Works Department danis H. Sumadilaga, to solve the problem central government plan to build Serangan – Tanjung Benoa Bridge or a high way that will build around Dewa Ruci roundabout.
The bridge, said Sumadilaga, will cost around IDR 1.3 trillion, meanwhile the high way cost less around IDR 150 billions. But up until now, the government doesn’t have budgets on the two projects. “We still count and do some researches about the two choices, which one is the best option for Bali,” he stated.
He admitted if traffic congestion can make Bali less attractive in tourists’ perspectives. That’s why, Sumadilaga explained, government trying to fix the problem as soon as possible because the traffic congestion in that route has been happened for sometimes now. “We will give fund support on the road development in Bali, especailly for the tourism reason. So far we’re already build road to connect Nusa Dua, Sanur, Denpasar to Kusamba, and will build ring road that will go around Bali,” Sumadilaga elaborated.
On National Outcome and Income Budget of 2010, added Chief of The Eight Chapter on National Road Development Ir. Susalit Alius, (CES, his area (Bali, NTB, and NTT) have budget allocation worth IDR1,07 trillion from IDR16 trillions that central govenmnet will spend to build national road. Especially in Bali, the allocation will focus on building the road to support the tourism sector, He stated, recently his office already built connection road to Tanah Ampo, Karangasem in order to give access to cruise port.

News by International Bali Post