BisnisBali says that the Bali Tourism Board (BTB) has told all the regencies in Bali to upgrade their tourism sites and place less emphasis on drives to seek new tourism investments. The Chairman of the BTB Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya said, "What's most pressing is the repair of tourism sites not the building of villas and hotels."

Wijaya said now is the time to undertake repairs on tourism sites, both in their physical infrastructure but also in the way in which they are managed. He also said that Bali's steadily increasing arrival number should act as an incentive for all involved to present the very best of Bali to its visitors.

BTB statistics show that in 2007 some 4.7 million tourist visitors came to Bali, composed of 3 million domestic visitors and 1.7 million foreign visitors. Wijaya feels confident that by reinvesting in Bali's tourism sites the number of visitors can be increased to 5 million in the current year. "The repair of tourism sites must become a priority," Wijaya warned.

Responding to an ongoing initiative by the Regent of Klungkung to invite investors to his region, Wijaya said that such an effort does not represent a problem. At the same time the BTB chief said he hoped Klunkung would focus its efforts of repairing on its popular tourism sites - such as Kertagosa, Kamasan and Nusa Penida.

BisnisBali reports that Bali's immigration chief, Drs. I Nyoman Putra, has vowed to sack any immigration officers found to be accepting payments outside of the official tariff set for document processing.

Putra said that the official tariff for document processing is posted at all immigration offices and promised to fire any officials found to be charging "additional fees" for immigration services.

Separately, BisnisBali interviewed an unnamed woman who admitted that she regularly uses the services of non-official "go betweens" to save money and time when processing immigration matters.

The current official tariff for immigration services in Bali:

• Issuance of a 48-page passport for an Indonesian citizen Rp. 200,000 (US$21.50)

• Issuance of a 24-page passport for an Indonesian citizen Rp. 50,000 (US$5.40)

• A travel letter for an Indonesian citizen Rp. 40,000 (US$4.40)

Immigrations documents should be completed within 3 working days after paying the official fee and the presentation of a photo copy of current identity card (KTP), a family card (Kartu Keluarga) and a birth certificate (akte lahir).

Nusa Bali reports that 222 people have lost their lives on Bali's roadways in the past 5 months, underlining the tragic consequences of failing to follow traffic rules and drive carefully on the Island's roads and streets.

Bali's police report that in the period January – May 2008 there were 644 recorded traffic accidents in Bali resulting in 222 deaths, 428 serious injuries and 491 minor injuries. Meanwhile, the material cost of these traffic mishaps is estimated at Rp. 674 million (US$72,500).

Compared to the same period in 2007 the evidence is that Bali's roads may be increasingly dangerous. In the January – May 2007 period there were 593 accidents that caused 225 deaths, 392 serious injuries and 514 minor costing Rp. 762 million (US$81,970). In terms of total accidents, driving in 2008 is 8.6% more dangerous than it was in 2007.

Police reveal that the most traffic fatalities occurred in Bali's heavily populated Badung regency (52) followed by Gianyar (33), Jembrana (29), Tabanan (26), Buleleng (25) and Klungkung (4).

In order to upgrade the safety on Bali's highways, police continue to intensify traffic enforcement efforts and have introduced an education programs for motorcyclists (safety riding).

Bali's Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa officially celebrated its 25th anniversary on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, with a gala reception crowned by a firework display.

The first international hotel within Nusa Dua’s Bali’s Tourist Development Corporation (BTDC) complex, the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa’s unique Balinese architecture has played host to numerous heads of states, including an official visit by the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

As the result of the successful launch of the hotel, the Nusa Dua Complex is now a fully developed accommodation, shopping and entertainment center that is host to leading hotels offering more than 4,500 rooms.

The beach in front of the 381-room hotel was the venue for a 25th anniversary beach party with separate food stalls offering cuisine selections from around the world.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of long-service awards to more than 100 staff who have worked at the Resort since its opening 25 years ago.

Book a stay at the [Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa]

Fast paced preparations are underway in anticipation of the MRA Bali International Triathlon to be held at Bali's picturesque Jimbaran Bay and south island on Sunday, June 29, 2008.

Organizers report that registrations are running well ahead of last year's inaugural event for individual racers swimming the 1.5 km water course, 42 km cycling route through Nusa Dua and the Ungasan peninsula, and 10 km run through Jimbaran village. Registrations are also ahead of last year's levels for 3-person teams covering the course in the "corporate team challenge" and the 5 km fun run being held simultaneously with the triathlon.

Fun for both the athletes participating in the event or those coming just to enjoy the excitement of race day. The start and finish lines located on Jimbaran Beach's race headquarters, opposite the Four Season’s Private Estates at Jimbaran Bay, will be the place to track the progress of athletes, enjoy music and live broadcasts from Hard Rock Radio, sumptuous quantities of food and drink, booths displaying local merchandise and free massages from Bali's world-renowned Jari Menari.

Free Massages

Back by popular demand, the Jari Menari team will be on hand offering free massages to rejuvenate athletes. At last year’s event, Susan Stein, the founder of Jari Menari’s and her team spoiled athletes from their special pavilion equipped with massage tables, massage chairs and reflexology stations. According to Stein: "We loved setting up under a tent and in the 'bale' where the cushioned matt proved to be the perfect location to share massage and stretching sessions. The fresh air and coolness under the canopy were welcome relief from the heat and we arranged the tent like a living room for massage, very comfortable to be working in the open air, with natural light, sound of sea and birds to serenade us all.”

As shown in the accompanying pictures on balidiscovery.com - after swimming, running, and biking athletes were thrilled to be touched by the Jari Menari "dancing fingers" team as muscles needed attention and encouragement to relax after the hours of hard use.

Bupati to Start the Race

Following his attendance at last year's race, the Badung Regency's bupati, Anak Agung Gede Agung, now confesses he is a fan or triathlon and has graciously accepted an invitation to start the race at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, June 29th.

Be There!

There's still time to register to undertake the Olympic Distance event or the 5 km fun run by registering at [Official Bali Triathlon Website].

Special accommodation packages are also on offer from Bali Discovery Tours at [Triathlon Accommodation Offers].

As much fun for spectators as it is for race participants, join the party at Jimbaran Beach starting from 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, 2008.

Triathlon Team

click image to enlarge

With foreign arrivals to Bali continuing to break all previous records as reported in Balidiscovery.com [See: An April to Amaze], it is worthwhile to examine historical arrivals from Bali's top four markets and new markets emerging over the past 9 years (2000-2008).

Bali's Top Four Markets

As shown in the graph presented on Balidiscovery.com, Bali's four top-producing markets of Japan, Australian South Korea have retained that position over the past nine years, with South Korea only emerging as a contender in 2003, following changes in South Korean travel policies.

The two Bali terror attacks of October 2002 and October 2005 both caused arrivals to drop, but with recovery taking place on a more fast-paced basis following the second outrage.

Bali's Top Four Markets

click image to enlarge

New Emerging Markets for Bali

Also shown on Balidiscovery.com, arrivals from the People's Republic of China, Russia, India, Malaysia and Singapore have risen dramatically. Russian, Chinese and Indian arrivals date their ascension from a loosening of visa rules by the Indonesian government for visitors from those countries and increasingly easy air access to Bali from those locations.

Malaysian and Singaporean numbers are directly linked to the emergence of new low-cost airlines making a visit to Bali more affordable.

NOTE: 2008 arrival numbers presented on the graphs are the "projected" arrivals for the current year based on growth trends demonstrated through the period January-May 2008. That growth rate was then applied to total arrivals for 2007 to extrapolate the projected arrivals for 2008.

Bali's Arrival New Emerging Markets

click image to enlarge

Australian TV and singing star Jason Donovan chose June and Bali as the time and location to wed his longtime girlfriend Angela Malloch.

The former star of the Australian TV series "Neighbours" and London West End musical star, Donovan, surprised friends and family who joined him in Bali ostensibly to celebrate his 40th birthday party when he "tied the knot" with his housemate of nearly a decade with whom he has fathered two children, Jenna, eight, and seven-year-old Zac.

Donovan was once linked romantically to his "Neighbours" co-star, Kylie Minogue who has gone on to pursue a successful musical career.

The choice of Bali by Donovan for his wedding to Malloch must have been something of a bittersweet choice for Donovan, who made headlines many years ago when photographers caught Donovan and Minogue frollicking in Bali's surf. Donovan's wedding in Bali has beaten his co-star and friend to the Altar as Minogue remains single.

Neighbours

Neighbours is an Australian soap opera shown five days a week that has been in continuous production since 1985. The story line follows the intrigues, petty squabbles and romances of several families living on Ramsay Street in the fictional Australian suburb of Erinsborough.

Reruns and rebroadcasts of the show are seen around the world, including the U.K., where the program is broadcast twice each day. Perhaps because the English don't believe it the first time?

The State New Agency Antara reports that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to travel to Bali to open to open the 30th Bali Arts Festival on June 14, 2008.

I Made Adi Djaya, the Chairman of the Festival, told Antara, “the head of state to be accompanied by a number of ministers will watch cultural attractions involving thousands of artists from Bali as well as other regions."

12 foreign ambassadors assigned to Jakarta are also being invited to Bali to join the President at the opening ceremony and parade. The 12 ambassadors were selected based on the participation of arts groups from their respective countries in the month-long celebration. The ambassadors invited by the organizing committee hail from the United States of America, Japan, Singapore, India, South Korea, Thailand, Britain, and Malaysia.

The 30th Bali Arts Festival has adopted "Self-Control Towards Balance and Harmony" as its organizational theme.

All nine regencies of Bali, five provinces from outside of Bali and delegations from 12 nations will present performance groups at the Bali Arts Festival.

Festival Schedule

[2008 Complete Schedule of Bali Arts Festival]

Radar Bali and Nusa Bali report that on Thursday, June 5, 2008, during an inspection visit of the area surround Uluwatu temple, members of the Badung regional government and House of Representatives and were shocked to identify 10 villas in violation of provincial zoning laws.

The 10 villas were variously found to have broken zoning laws on "set back" from canyons and ravines; zoning use rules; and building permit requirements.

Villas Violating the Sacred Radius

Separate reports in both Nusa Bali and Radar Bar listed the following villas as being in violation of zoning rules:

Buildings within 1-2 km of Pura Uluwatu

• PT Bali-Bali - Building permit issued in 2005 as a residence. Now used as a meditation center. Violating zoning use rules.

Buildings within 2-3 km of Pura Uluwatu

• Vila Nyangyang. Violating zoning use rules.

• Unnamed Villa holding a building permit No. 049 issued in 2006. Violating zoning use rules.

• Vila La Gen a/k/a Vila La Om. Building permit No. 1779 issued in 2007. Violating zoning use rules.

• Istana Villa holding building permit No. 172 issued in 2002. Violating set-back rule from a cliff or ravine.

• Suluban Villa holding building permit No. 634 issued in 2008. Violating set back rule from a cliff or ravine.

Buildings within 3-5 km of Pura Uluwatu

• Blue Point Villa holding a residential building permit issued in 2006. Violating set back rule from a cliff of ravine.

• Tirta Luhur holding a residential building permit No. 1378 issued in 2005. Violating zoning use rules.

• Pekuren Residence holding no building permit and violating zoning use rules.

• Tirta Uluwatu holding building permit for an office No. 791 issued in 2002. Violating zoning use rules.

PT Bali-Bali

Among the villas mentioned in the press reports is PT Bali-Bali in Banjar Karang Boma. Built for meditation, the PT Bali Bali Villa has, according to the report, had its permits withdrawn for violating zoning rules and appears to have been abandoned in a half-finished state of construction.

The Uluwatu inspection team was said to be shocked to discover that several of the illegal villas have been in operation since 2002, constructed during the administration of Cok Ratmadi as Regent of Badung.

When asked about the many building violations, the Secretary of Commission B of the House of Representatives, Wayan Sudiana, could only shake his head while calling on the executive branch of the Island's government to urgently take action.

When Sudiana was asked if the errant villas would be demolished, Sudiana retorted: "don't demolish them, just revoke their permits. That's the easiest way, isn't it? (That's) The solution is at hand."

Sudiana told the press that the religious guidelines (Bhisama) provided by the Council on Hindu Affairs (PHDI) do not represent "sacred verse," as recently claimed by the a professor from the Hindi Dharma University (IHDN). Nonetheless, the legislator explained, these guidelines cannot be simply ignored, adding, "the provincial laws are also not 'sacred verse' but what are they if they can violated."

The legislative inspection team visiting Uluwatu was led directly by its Chairman, I Gede Adnyana. Also joining the inspection team were Commission A & B of the House of Representatives who were joined by regional enforcement officers, zoning officials and officers of the planning department.

After initially gathering at the sacred Pura Uluwatu the group visited the PT Bali-Bali villa in Banjar Karang Boma which is located within a 2 km radius of the temple and well within the prohibited 5 km "no-build" zone. During the round of inspections the villa was locked and closed, forcing the inspection team to jump the villa's walls for a closer examination. A member of the regional planning authority confirmed that the villa was closed and that its permits had been revoked due to zoning violations.

Istana Villa and Suluban Villa.

The team then moved on to the Istana Villa and Suluban Villa. A lively debate followed over set-back rules from ravines and canyons for the villas perched on the edge of a limestone cliff. While legislators joining the team complained of clear violations of set-back rules, Badung officials refuted such complaints claiming that rules designating the area as suitable for tourism accommodation mitigated any set-back violations.

Sudiana angrily rejected the explanation of officials who played a role in granting building permits to the villas, presenting an actual copy of the regulations to underline his disagreement.

The head of the regional zoning authority, Suwandi, said that the Istana Villa breaks set back rules, explaining that the status of the luxury villa built in 2002 is only now undergoing inspection and has been registered as a "pondok wisata" or "tourism cottage."

Local Residents Protest Regulations

Meanwhile, Radar Bali said that local residents in the Uluwatu area expressed their displeasure with the visit by local lawmakers and regional officials without including local residents as representatives in the process.

Many local landowners have called on the government to change the 5 km 'no build" zone surrounding Pura Uluwatu. Villagers have complained that they are compelled to live "off their lands" and enforcement efforts are limiting their income capabilities.

Local land owners have steadfastly rejected suggestions to sell their land to the government as a means of ending the long standing dispute.

Related Articles

[A Bali Demolition Derby – Part I A Bali Demolition Derby – Part IV ]

[A Bali Demolition Derby – Part III ]

[A Bali Demolition Derby – Part II ]

[A Bali Demolition Derby]

[Crackdown on Construction Near Uluwatu]

[Editorial: Cry, the Beloved Country]

Republika reports that public transportation providers in Bali are reporting a drop in passengers by as much as 60% in the aftermath of an average 28.7% increase in fuel prices. [See: Fuel Prices Increase 28.7% ]

Bus operators between the various cities and villages of Bali are befuddled by the sudden drop in business. One transportation manager at Denpasar's Ubung terminal, Ketut Jiwa, said, "we don't know the cause, maybe people are just too tired to leave home."

Speaking on Monday, June 2, 2008, Jiwa said the sudden drop in passenger levels is not a phenomenon limited only to Denpasar, but is also being reported by operators in Gilimanuk and Singaraja.

Another operator of an intra-provincial bus line, I Wayan Sadia, told Republika that bad weather conditions over the Bali Straits have also played a role in the sudden drop in passengers.

The Third Sanur Village Festival will take place August 6 - 10, 2008 . As in past celebrations, this year's Sanur Village Festival will maintain its focus on the area surrounding the Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel on Jalan Pantai Segara in Bali's historical Sanur district. And, as with previous festivals, visitors will be spoilt for choices of activities from which to choose during the 5 day event. Back on the schedule again are the jukung festival of local village boats, a music festival, an international cartoon exhibition, and an almost continual food festival throughout each day of the festival. Organizers have promised new and exciting activities to enliven the third running of the Sanur Village Festival.

Chairman of the Sanur Village Festival, I.B. Sidharta Putra, is very enthusiastic at the prospects for fun and entertainment on offer at this year's festival.

Sidharta said: "I can't believe at how fast time flies, and here we are getting ready for the third Sanur Village Festival. This year's celebration will take place on August 6-10, at the area of the Inna Grand Bali Beach. For sure in this third year, we are now more equipped, and more prepared to entertain everyone with our variety of shows we have coming up on the colorful agenda. This year, we will still have a kite festival, an international cartoon exhibition, beach and water related activities, and great musical performances focusing on the genre of Jazz crossover. Also, for those who have witnessed and experienced our food festivals in last years' festivities will surely miss the delicacies Sanur has to offer. I can't wait to see all of you back at the one and only Sanur Village Festival."

One event not to be missed is the photo contest that will take place again this year. Ardent photographers will compete for honors and prizes with photos depicting the beauty and uniqueness of Sanur.

Those needing further information on the photography competition should contacts Ida Bagus Putra Adnyana, (Pak Gustra) at ++62-(0)361-226084.

Garuda Indonesia is addressing the strong demand for Bali holidays by adding extra capacity from Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney, with further additions from Perth anticipated.

The number of Australians traveling to Bali in the first four months of 2008 increased by 25.74% against the same period last year. According to Garuda's Sydney office, the largest growth in Australian traffic to Bali in Q1 2008 is from Perth and Darwin (75% and 71% respectively), 44% from Victoria/Tasmania an 49% from New South Wales/ Australian Capital Territory.

In order to meet this burgeoning demand Garuda Indonesia will add additional flights to their Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney to Bali routes over the coming few months.

On June 25th, a third Darwin flight will commence, departing each Wednesday and adding an additional 134 seats to the route.

This will be followed on July 22nd by the introduction of a fourth Melbourne service operating from Bali to Melbourne on Tuesdays and returning to Bali on Wednesdays.

On September 2nd, two more services will be added to the Australian network. These will include a sixth flight on the Denpasar-Sydney route and a fifth flight between Melbourne and Bali.

Poerwoko Soeparyono, General Manager Australia & Southwest Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, said, "the introduction of these new services will bring an additional 1,013 seats to the Australian routes which should go some way towards addressing the growing demand for Bali as a holiday destination."

"Bali is enjoying all-time record visitor arrivals in 2008 and, being Visit Indonesia Year, it is hoped that this will extend to Indonesian destinations beyond Bali also," Poerwoko added.

The additional services will bring Garuda Indonesia’s weekly Australian operation to 31 flights per week from four Australian ports of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Darwin with further capacity expected on the Perth route as soon as the new Boeing 737-800NG aircraft arrive.

Details of the Additional Flights

Effective July 22nd

A new flight departing Melbourne on a Wednesday, will bring the total frequency of flights from Melbourne to Bali to four, departing Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The new flight will depart Bali on Wednesday at 11:55 p.m. arriving in Melbourne on Thursday morning at 7:25 a.m. and departing again at 9:55 a.m. arriving in Bali at 1:55 p.m. local time.

Effective September 2nd

Sydney will receive two new flights which will operate on a Tuesday and Friday, but its Thursday flight will be redirect to Melbourne as a further additional service. Thus Melbourne frequency will increase from four to five flight per week and depart daily except Monday and Saturday, and Sydney frequency will increase to six flights per week and operate daily except Thursday with Airbus A330 aircraft. The new Tuesday and Friday flights will depart Bali just after midnight at 00:25 a.m. and arrive in Sydney at 7:55 a.m. the following day and depart Sydney again at 10:30 a.m. and arrive in Bali at 3:00 p.m. local time.