Bali tourism, after having been in the dark shadows of terrorist activities, may soon be on the road to recovery. The US government has endorsed the Indonesian tourism capital by lifting its almost decade-long travel advisory.
The move is expected to have a domino effect on Bali’s tourism, with other countries following the US action.
“The US government has lifted the warning due to objective improvements made by the Indonesian government in its current security situation,” said an official statement from the US embassy in Indonesia, emailed to media organizations.
In 2000, the US State Department issued a travel warning following several bombings in the country’s capital, Jakarta.
The twin Bali bombings in 2002 resulted in the death of more than 240 foreign tourists, mostly Australians on holiday in the island who died as a result of the explosions, blamed on the regional Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network.
Every year since then both the Australian and Indonesian governments have held a remembrance ceremony in Bali as a mark of respect to those who died in the bombings. However, Australia, which claims 88 Australian tourists were killed in the first Bali bombing, is yet to lift its travel advisory.
The Indonesian government has since then prosecuted and convicted winning praise from the international community due to Bali’s attractions as a holiday destination.
“The Indonesian government has disrupted, arrested and prosecuted numerous terrorist elements,” said US Ambassador Cameron Hume, adding there has been “significant” improvements in the country’s security situation.
Ambassador Hume said he expects more US businessmen, tourists and scholars to visit Indonesia following Sunday’s announcement, “helping to expand trade, tourism and educational exchange between both countries.”
Increased security precautions since the bombings include sweeping cars for bombs using metal detectors at hotels, shopping malls and other public buildings.
In a statement following the US announcement, Dino Djala, spokesman for Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said the US move is a very good and positive sign. “It will help remove psychological barriers that have prevented Americans and others from going to Indonesia.”
Major General Ansyaad Mbai, Indonesia’s anti-terror official, was quoted as saying, “It will push us to be more effective in handling security matters. The US decision would not slow our efforts to battle extremists.”
By Yusof Sulaiman.
Source: Travel Video
May 28th, 2008
The Guinness 9 Ball Tour in Aug 31-Sep 2 last year saw a fitting finale in Indonesia.
Indonesia has historically been known as an exotic land where the people are as warm as the yearlong sunshine, and nowhere is this more apparent than on the island of Bali.
Located just off the Eastern tip of the major island of Java, this exotic crown jewel of the Indonesian archipelago was the venue of the Grand Finals of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2007, welcoming to its sandy shores a host of 10 of Asia’s best 9-ball pool players.
Tropical paradise: Bali played host to the Guinness 9 Ball Tour Grand Finals in 2007, which saw 10 of Asia’s top pool players converging on this Indonesian island for their chance at winning the coveted title.
Held from Aug 31-Sept 2 at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Nusa Dua, Bali, the final and most eagerly anticipated leg of Asia’s most prestigious pool tournament was played out in emphatic fashion by Asia’s top cue-masters. Having picked up the most qualifying points over the first five legs of this tournament, which were held in diverse locales like Jakarta, Kaohsiung, Genting Highlands, Singapore and Shanghai before arriving here, these 10 players were the best from an already elite pool of champions.
Featuring the likes of former World Pool Association (WPA) Champions Wu Chia-Ching from Chinese Taipei, Ronato “Ronnie” Alcano from the Phillipines, upcoming Taiwanese cueist Chang Jung-Lin, Malaysian pool stalwart Ibrahim Amir, and newcomer Dharminder Singh Lilly from India, the finalists came with impressive credentials.
It all came down to a nail-biting finale, which saw Chang Jung-Lin of Taiwan going head-to-head against Lee Vann Corteza of the Philippines to determine who would walk away with the title, as well as the prize money of US$36,000.
Both played exceedingly well, but in the end, Chang Jung-Lin triumphed over his worthy competitor 11-8. Jung-Lin was ecstatic over his win.
“Now that I’ve won my first international title, it gives me immense relief and joy because it means that all my years of training has finally come to fruition. It’s more than just the monetary reward – it’s about being recognised as an international player that makes this victory mean so much to me,” he said.
Taking aim: Lee Vann Corteza places his shot and pockets the ball with pinpoint accuracy against Chang Jung-Lin at the finals of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour Grand Finals in Bali.
To spread the excitement before this grand finale, the organisers had four other cities in Indonesia – Medan, Bandung, Surabaya and Jakarta – host a speed pool tournament for amateur pool players. Known as the Guinness Black Challenge, these initiatives gave pool aficionados the chance to participate in a unique test of their skill, speed and strategy, as well as get the opportunity to go to the Grand Finals in Bali and hang out with all the professional players there.
Certainly it was a prize worth savouring for any pool fan!
The Guinness 9 Ball Tour is the ultimate stage for world-class pool professionals and offers a unique opportunity as a development ground for Asia’s top pool players to compete against each other.
The top 10 players who participated in 2007’s inaugural Grand Final in Bali not only stood the chance to win their share of US$70,000, but also earned an automatic berth in the World Pool Association Championships to make their mark on a truly global stage.
With so much having happened at last year’s grand final, you can surely expect the bar to be raised for this year. Guinness, the number one international premium black beer in the world, is proud to continue its position as the title sponsor of the 9 Ball Tour.
The Guinness 9 Ball Tour is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and organised by ESPN STAR Sports’ Event Management Group (EMG). This year, the tour will bring all the skills, tactics and prestige of Asia’s most prestigious 9-Ball Tour to Malaysia with the third leg of the tournament taking place in Genting Highlands Resort from 30 May to 1 June.
We are the champions: Chang Jung-Lin accepts his trophy and cash prize after a thoroughly engaging match against Lee Vann Corteza.
With a convergence of 24 of Asia’s best pool players in one venue, where they will showcase all their skills and accuracy as they vie to win this leg, while racking up more points to qualify for the finals to be held in Jakarta this year, there isn’t anywhere else that any self-respecting pool fan should be at than in Genting.
Be sure to find out more details on how to get tickets for this can’t miss leg of the tournament, as well as other information on Asia’s most prestigious pool tournament at www.guinness.com.my
Source: The Star
May 24th, 2008
The Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel, Bali, has just completed an extensive renovation of all its higher room categories and is ready to offer guests a more comfortable experience within an ambiance of resort tranquillity.
All 101 rooms, which consist of the balcony room, pool view room, deluxe room and suites, have been renovated with the hotel tagline of “Refreshingly Different” in mind. All rooms now feature a modern contemporary Balinese look, marble flooring, and warm colors that deliver a soothing ambience for guests.
All these higher room categories are located around the 110m long lagoon swimming pool and offer a tranquil environment to absorb the relaxing ambience of the resort.
Source: Hotels Magazine
April 22nd, 2008
Last year, 204,473 Australians visited Bali, up from 137,000 in 2006. Only the Japanese outstrip us in their enthusiasm for the beautiful island.
If that kind of growth continues, then 2008 will beat the 2004 record of 267,500.
But while Australian tourists have confidence in Bali, our Government does not and this is causing angst among a group of Australians involved in the tourism industry there.
The Little Bali Hotel and Resort Company argues it is time for the Government to reconsider its grade-four warning for Bali, especially in the light of DFAT’s downgrade of its Kenya warning from a grade four “reconsider your need to travel” advisory to a grade three “[exercise a] high degree of caution” recommendation.
The group’s founding member, Adrian Forsyth, says much work and resources have gone into keeping Bali’s key tourist areas safe.
“Local authorities regularly sweep all local residential areas to ensure that all people living in the area have the right to be there and police posts and vehicle inspection points have been erected on many streets entering the Kuta/Legian areas,” says Forsyth, who manages the Bali Garden Hotel in Tuban and the Samsara Hotel and Spa in Kuta.
“The Australian Government attitude continues to amaze us all,” he says.
“Just last December, Bali hosted the United Nations conference on climate change, which involved government ministers and heads of state from around the world - including the new Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.
“If it is safe enough for the PM to come here, why does DFAT continue to warn Australians against travelling to Bali?”
… and flavour
One Australian doing her bit to lure tourists to Bali and beyond is Maeve O’Meara. The energetic writer, television presenter and founder of Gourmet Safaris has added a Bali “girls-only” trip to her company’s schedule this year.
“It is such an incredible destination,” says O’Meara. The inaugural Bali Gorgeous Safari, from May 18 to 23, will be at the Warwick Ibah Resort in Ubud, owned by expat Asri Kerthyasa, who has lived in Bali for 30 years after marrying a Balinese prince.
O’Meara, who operates numerous gourmet trips around Sydney as well as taking international trips for both men and women, decided three years ago there was a gap in the market for female-only tours.
Vietnam was her first destination. It struck a chord, she says, as five-star resorts, shopping and spa treatments tend to appeal to women.
“In that time we have had only one man on these trips; brave soul that he was.
“And while he enjoyed it, we all agreed it was best to keep the Gorgeous Safaris exclusively female. Men tend not to want to try the 15th shoe shop looking for that perfect pair of shoes.”
As well as Bali, Gourmet Safaris has three more women-only trips to Vietnam and will launch into Thailand on June 8-15.
See www.gourmetsafaris.com.au
By Kay O’Sullivan.
Source: The Age
March 30th, 2008
Bali appears to have remained a main destination for Australians as the number of Australian tourists visiting Bali is only second to that of Japanese tourists, a local statistical official said.
Some 204,473 Australian tourists were among a total of 1,666,079 foreign tourists who visited Bali in 2007, the head of the local statistical bureau, Ida Komang Wisnu, said on Tuesday.
He said it was a significant increase compared with 2006 when the figure was only 137,000.
Meanwhile, the number of Japanese tourists visiting Indonesia in 2007 was recorded at 351,633, while tourists from Taiwan were in the third place with 138,849 people.
He said some of the tourists came to Bali not only for a vacation but also for business.
The head of the local foreign trade office, Ni Wayan Kusumawathi, separately said realization of Bali`s exports of handicraft and other non-oil/non-gas commodities to Australia increased to US$29 million, compared with only US25 million in 2006.
Indonesia has set itself the target of attracting seven million foreign tourists this year through its Visit Indonesia Year 2008 program.
Many provinces, including Papua, have prepared special packages to attract foreign tourists.
Source: TravelVideo
February 24th, 2008
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