Bali Travel News

Bali gets Rp 8.7 trillion from state budget

2010-01-07T23:45:00.000+02:00

Bali received Rp 8.7 trilllion (US$925 million) from the state budget for the 2010 fiscal year, Governor Made Mangku Pastika confirmed Thursday.

“We will disburse the fund to support economic activities that stimulate growth, create job opportunities and reduce poverty,” he said.

The governor elaborated that government officials’ salaries would amount to Rp 1.918 trillion; procurements of various goods (Rp 1.25 trillion); capital spending (Rp 1.14 trillion) and social aid (Rp 580.37 billion).

General Fund Allocation is set at Rp 3.54 trillion, while special allocation fund Rp 333.35 billion.

Pastika suggested that each of the government’s agencies pay serious attention to the fund’s allocation.

The governor said he would focus on seven sectors including health, education, agriculture, and environment.

“We will also improve infrastructure in many parts of the island, especially in the remote areas.”

Bali is enjoying a robust tourist industry. However, the industry benefits only some of the island’s eight regencies and muncipality such as Badung and Gianyar.

* News * World news * Global terrorism Confusion over Bali terror warning from US embassy

2010-01-05T21:37:00.000+02:00

JW Marriott hotel

Workers clean up the site of the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta after a bomb attack in July. Photograph: Bay Ismoyo/AFP/Getty Images

The US embassy in Indonesia today issued a warning of a possible attack in the popular tourist destination of Bali tonight, saying it was based on information from the island's governor.

A message on the US embassy website carried what it said was a statement from the Bali tourism board.

The statement read: "The governor of Bali, Mangku Pastika, wishes to share a message with all of us: 'There is an indication of an attack to Bali tonight' ... please don't panic, but put your security system to full alert."

However, Putu Suardika, the head of public relations at the Bali governor's office, denied that Pastika had made such a statement.

Government urges Aussies to delay Bali travel

2010-01-03T21:52:00.000+02:00

AUSTRALIANS are being urged to reconsider travel to Bali after the Government's "very high threat" warning over the New Year period.

However, there was confusion yesterday about the origin of a New Year's Eve warning to tourists on the holiday island, which was circulated by the US Embassy in Bali.

It quoted the Governor of Bali, Mangku Pastika, warning there was an indication an attack was planned for New Year's Eve.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs also posted the warning on its SmartTraveller website, saying it was circulated by the Bali Tourism Board, and urged travellers to be alert to the statement.

Pita Prada celebrates traditional Balinese paintings

2009-12-31T10:04:00.000+02:00

Painting connoisseurs who find themselves stranded in Ubud this month should not curse their fate.

Yes, the seemingly eternal traffic jams, the overzealous street hawkers and the hordes upon hordes of noisy visitors tend to make this little town a suffocating place to get lost in.

However, for lovers of good paintings, the town currently offers a rare feast for the eyes: the first biennale of traditional Balinese paintings, featuring more than 150 paintings, including masterpieces from the past and breathtaking works from the present.

The Flavor of Bali, at Roadside Stands

2009-12-30T21:32:00.001+02:00

THERE are two kinds of culinary travelers who end up on Bali: ones who don’t flinch at spending hundreds of dollars for a bottle of Rioja at a trendy Asian-French fusion restaurant, and those who are obsessive about going as local as possible, searching out the most authentic Balinese meal, a box of Imodium A-D always at their side You’ll find the latter at Bali’s many streetside food vendors known as warungs. Scattered throughout Indonesia, warungs usually occupy a modest shack or roadside lean-to with a small counter and a bench where customers sit and eat traditional dishes. The bigger ones are no more than no-frills cafes, sometimes fashioned out of modest materials like rattan and corrugated metal.

Arrests, but Few Details, in Bali Murder

2009-12-29T19:01:00.000+02:00

Denpasar. Police in Bali are refusing to release details of the reported arrests made in connection with the brutal slaying of Japanese national Hiromi Shimada.

“I promise, we will reveal everything in two days,” Sr. Comr. Gede Alit Widana, chief of Denpasar Police, said during a news conference on Tuesday.

All Widana would say was that police had arrested the suspected killers, though he declined to give their names or possible motive, or say how many people had been taken into custody. He did say, however, that the 41-year-old Shimada’s two Indonesian ex-husbands — Agus and Harianto — were not among the suspects.

A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said several male suspects had been arrested in East Java. He declined to say how many suspects were being held.

The source added that the Bali Police were working particularly hard to solve the murder, saying “our chief always gives special attention [to tourist-related crimes] and orders immediate arrests.”

Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards Held in Bali

2009-12-28T14:13:00.001+02:00

The Balinese Food Festival event made its way to Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards 2009 in Bali.

The event theme "Tri Hita Karana" means to balance man with God, society and nature. And awards were given to members of the hotel and tourism industry who did just that.

Organized by Bali Travel News and the Indonesian Chef Association, the event attracted dozens of hotels and restaurants.

Traditional drinks and food served at the festival had to be specially prepared according to health and presentation standards.

Each participant must also prepare a typical Balinese menu, with a customized decoration as the theme.

An appetizer, main dish and dessert must be presented.

MAS Offers Three Daily Flights To Bali

2009-11-04T16:17:00.000+02:00

Malaysia Airlines is flying three daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bali from Wednesday, with the additional flight departing Kuala Lumpur everyday at 12.25pm and arriving in Bali at 3.20pm.

Its senior general manager, network and revenue management, Dr Amin Khan, said customers could now travel anytime at their convenience as the daily flights were timed every three hours, with departures at 8.45am, 12.25pm and 3.20pm.

He said in a statement today that demand had been picking up, especially with passengers from other countries flying to Kuala Lumpur and connecting onwards to Bali.

"Our load factor is strong at 80 per cent, which is 10 per cent higher compared to the same time last year," Amin said.

KL ranks top 3 city for business in Asia

2009-09-06T08:35:00.000+03:00

Kuala Lumpur has been ranked among the top three cities for business in Asia in the SmartTravelAsia.com’s 2009 Best in Travel Poll.

The Malaysian capital, ranked fourth last year, finished behind Hong Kong which remained the top city for business, followed by Singapore, while Bangkok, the “City of Angels”, dropped one rung to fourth. SmartTravelAsia.com, the region’s dedicated online travel magazine with over one million readers worldwide, said the category took in perceptions and actual experiences of business travellers in dealing with a range of factors like efficiency of transport and general services, signposting, hotels, airport and so on.

Low fares to Bali - buy before June 28 for fall travel

2009-06-20T17:35:00.000+03:00

Bali in the fall is niiiice - as they say, "bagus." The weather's great, surf's up and college students are back in school.

With Singapore Airlines advertising LAX to Bali for $679, take in the Indonesian island's colorful dances, fragrant flowers and funny monkeys all for what I once paid to go to Hawaii (I know). That leaves plenty of rupiah for surf tours, scooter rentals, heaping plates of mie goreng and hand-crafted art to bring back home.

Singapore Airlines is offering similar rates to Bangkok, Manila, Hanoi (and several more Asia destinations) from Los Angeles in this special promotion. Travel through Nov. 30, 2009.

Bali tourism unaffected by global crisis

2009-05-22T19:11:00.000+03:00

The current global financial crisis exacerbated by the outbreak of H1N1 influenza, has not affected Bali's tourism industry, say experts.

Aloysius Purwa, chairman of the Bali branch of the Indonesian Association of Travel Agencies (Asita), said Bali had experienced significant growth in the number of tourists visiting from January to May 2009.

"The number of tourists from China, Malaysia and Taiwan has increased," Purwa said.

Based on the latest data from the Bali office of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of Chinese tourists reached 21,492.

The number of tourists from Malaysia is also increasing, while Japan and Australia have remained the island's top markets since the early l980s.

New agro-tourism village in Karangasem

2009-04-22T14:09:00.000+03:00

The Bali provincial administration is currently developing an agro-tourism village project in Besakih, Karangasem regency, 75 kilometers east of Denpasar.

The project, overseen by the provincial agricultural agency, is scheduled to be completed within the next five years.

It covers a 200 hectare plot of land belonging to the Besakih community.

Head of the agriculture office, Wayan Badra Wisnaya, told reporters on Friday that since 2008, local farmers have grown 4,000 orange trees and 5,000 durian (durio zibethinus murr) trees on their lands.

"The office provided seeds for trees to the crop and horticultural office, valued at Rp 150 million," said Winaya.

Bali yet to lure tourists leaving Thailand

2009-04-18T21:38:00.000+03:00

Bali has failed to attract foreign tourists leaving Thailand's political problems, said an official at Ngurah Rai International Arport.

Dimyati, assistant public relations manager of state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I, said there had been no increase in flights from Thailand to Bali.

"Everything is normal. We have regular flights to Bangkok by Thai Airways and Air Asia," Dimyati said.

Anti-government protesters managed to force their way into the venue of the East Asian Summit at a hotel in Pattaya, Thailand, on Sunday.

Many foreign leaders were trapped in the hotel and had to be evacuated on board helicopters to U Tapao military airbase.

Bali Traveling

2009-04-15T19:08:00.000+03:00

Bali becomes hotspot as Aussies seek value for money

2009-04-11T23:23:00.001+03:00

Indonesia is becoming a new hot spot for Australian tourists, with the numbers travelling there rising 24 per cent in a year to record levels.

The Bureau of Statistics reported that overseas travel had shrunk 2 per cent since its peak in August. Yet travel to Indonesia has jumped almost 20 per cent, overtaking the United States, Britain and Thailand to become Australians' second most popular destination, behind New Zealand.

The Philippines, New Zealand and the Pacific islands are also becoming more popular as destinations for budget-conscious travellers.

Bali is back, for all seasons

2009-04-03T20:01:00.001+03:00

We'd walked down there the previous evening, strolling along the sand on dusk and taking a table at the Menega Cafe, the same place that had been targeted by terrorist bombers only a few years before.

The restaurant was crowded with tourists that night – Italians, French, Germans, Britons and Australians – the relaxed, holiday ambience proof that, while some travellers may have succumbed to fear, most refused to bow to terror and continued to travel.

"You'd never know that this had been the site of one of the attacks, would you?" I said to my partner, savouring the chill of the Bintang beer as the first mouthful hit my palate.

Bali Turns Into Ghost Town as Nyepi Is Observed

2009-03-29T09:53:00.000+03:00

Bali’s normally bustling streets and beaches resembled a ghost town on Thursday as all activities were put on hold for the Hindu Day of Silence, ushering in the Saka New Year.

For 24 hours, the popular resort island observed Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu ritual that proscribes complete silence and puts prohibitions on worldly distractions such as work, travel, entertainment — and even tourism.

In Kuta, for instance, not a single visitor, local or foreign, was seen bathing or sunning on the beach, and all restaurants, bars and shops shut their doors for the day. Only groups of pecalang, or traditional security guards, were seen roaming Bali’s neighborhoods, ensuring public observance of the prohibitions.

“In addition to keeping security, the purpose of the patrol is to warn visitors who stray into the streets,” said Balinese customary law authority secretary Kuta Made Gunawan.

How Green is My Bali

2009-03-25T13:11:00.000+02:00

FEW DESTINATIONS HAVE BENEFITED FROM MODERN TOURISM QUITE LIKE BALI. BUT WHEN YOU SELL CULTURE FOR PROFIT, ASKS JOHN BOWE, CAN YOU REMAIN TRUE TO YOURSELF?

I have a neighbor named Richard. He’s a prime example of what I call a Baby Boomer Bummer. Richard was a globe-trotter in the late ’60s and ’70s, before exotic travel became popular with the masses. When I pass him in the hall with my suitcase, he always asks where I’m going — then interrupts to wax euphoric about how much better my destination was back in his day. Evidently, food and sex were not only free, but better and unlimited.
When I told Richard I was going to Bali, I braced myself for the worst. Few places provoke baby-boomer rhapsody like this Indonesian island. It makes them so sad: hundreds if not thousands of years of cultural evolution undone by a few decades of modern, Western-style development, much of it of the globalized luxury persuasion. But this has always struck me as a naïve, not to mention selfish, point of view. Yes, of course, Bali was a different place before it had a Four Seasons, a Hard Rock Hotel, two million tourists a year, terrorist bombings and so on. And, of course, at some level I — like all travelers — want every quaint corner of the world to remain untouched. Yet whom does t

Bedazzled in Bali

2009-03-23T10:35:00.000+02:00

Hinduism came to Bali by invitation. It was not a religion foisted by conquering hordes or unloaded by traders as they exchanged gold for vanilla pods. What the traders brought with them were stories of India’s great Rajas and the Javanese chiefs aspired to emulate the luxurious lifestyle of these kings. There was just one little problem — these simple-minded people were unaware of political machinations and so Brahmin priests were brought in from India to accomplish their goal.

As the kings grew stronger, so did Hinduism in the region. This process went on from the 1st century to the 14th century. Buddhism came to Bali and the Majapahit Empire was the strongest and largest. But all this changed in the 15th and 16th century with the advent of Islam in Java and Sumatra. The aristocrats, musicians, artists and learned men fled to Bali to avoid conversion and Bali became what it is even today a veritable fairground of arts and crafts.

Bali Hotels Association Offer "Bali Bonus Nights"

2009-03-17T09:16:00.000+02:00

Bali, Indonesia (PRWEB) March 11, 2009 -- Bali Hotels and Resorts are world renowned for offering outstanding value for the most discerning travelers. True Balinese Hospitality in combination with one of the world's most vibrant traditional cultures HAVE caused Bali time and again to be named the world's favorite tropical island destination in prestigious international surveys.

In response to the uncertain global financial situation and encourage travelers not to delay their Bali holiday plans, more than 40 leading Bali hotels have joined forces to offer "Bali Bonus Nights" on new bookings for hotel stays through June 30, 2009.

Bali hotels slash rates

2009-03-03T14:43:00.000+02:00

Hotels in Bali are slashing room rates amid falling occupancies as the global economic downturn takes its toll on the tourism-dependent economy.

Total foreign arrivals hit a record 1.97 million last year as the island recovered from the impact of the 2005 terrorist attack. The second biggest market behind Japan, Australia accounted for more than 300,000 visitors, up 51 per cent from 2007.

However, the recovery is expected to be disrupted amid the international credit crunch, with the Bali Tourism Authority estimating foreign visitor numbers will drop 8.6 per cent to 1.8 million this year.

Hotels are scrambling to fill rooms. Budget and mid-range properties popular with Kiwis are offering the steepest discounts, with some halving published rates, while upmarket resorts hit by a slowing in the executive market are trying to be more creative in their response to the downturn.

Travel Picks: Top 10 most romantic retreats

2009-02-20T01:27:00.000+02:00

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - With couples across the world celebrating Valentine's Day, luxury travel company Hideaways International Inc has come up with a list of the world's 10 most romantic retreats.

This list was compiled by Hideaways International and is not endorsed by Reuters:

1. Chateau Eza, Cote d'Azur

Guests will be awe-struck by the Mediterranean views spread out below their cliff-side perch. Just 10 rooms and suites offer plenty of privacy, plus in-room massage, stone fireplaces, Jacuzzis, and private balconies.

2. Hotel Splendido, Portofino

Private balconies spilling over with fragrant flowers, the warm Italian sun, and great views. It's hard to imagine a more romantic setting for a honeymoon or any other special occasion. Other romantics who've visited this love-nest include Taylor and Burton and Bacall and Bogart.

American Tourists To Bali Up Substantially Following Lifting Of Travel Ban

2009-02-11T12:50:00.000+02:00

The number of American tourists to Bali has been increasing since the Indonesian government had lifted its travel warning, classiying the number of American tourists coming to the island resort as one of the big-ten.

The number of tourists from other western countries also increased by an average of 20 percent, Ida Komang Wisnu, Head of the Bali Central Bureau of Statistics said here Monday.

Komang Wisnu said the number of foreign tourists to Bali reached 1,664,854 last year. And their number increased further this year.

A total of 1,298,130 tourists came to Bali from January to August 2008, which was a 20 percent increase compared to the 1,079,751 people in the same period last year.

Americans from January to August 2008 coming to Bali reached 46,923, up by 30 percent from 36,092 compared to the same period in 2007 whereas the number of French tourists increa

Bali tourism expiring

2009-02-06T13:52:00.000+02:00

Experts continue to claim that Bali's tourism industry is on the decline and that the island may become marginalized when the ASEAN charter takes effect in 2015 and makes travel to other regional tourist attractions more affordable for Indonesians.

Daradjatun Kuntjoro Jakti, former coordinating minister for the economy, said Friday that Bali's tourism industry had reached a saturation point that could endanger public livelihood if the administration did not act.

His data shows that Bali's income from foreign tourist has continually dropped to $4.44 billion in 2006 from US$5.74 billion in 2000, despite the rapid development of tourism-related infrastructure projects within the six-year period.

Club Med promotes its Club Med Bali resort through concept of ‘All Inclusive Holidays’

2009-01-20T14:41:00.000+02:00

Club Méditerranée (commonly known as Club Med), a French corporation of vacation resorts which has about 80 resorts worldwide, recently renovated one of its oldest resort (outside France)- Club Med Bali after investing in a makeover worth Euro five million. Club Med Bali was closed on September 1, 2008 for renovation and has opened its doors again this month. Olivier Horps, Vice-President-Marketing, Asia Pacific, Club Med told TravelBiz Monitor, “Club Med is promoting its resort in Bali through the concept of ‘All Inclusive Holidays’ post its renovation which gives it a touch of modern design and Balinese architecture.

By ‘All Inclusive Holidays’ we mean, our guests can enjoy a hassle-free holiday as everything is taken care of- from a host of fun activities to food, drinks and snacks and childcare services at no additional cost. It caters to the needs and requirements of all the segments from individuals to families and groups to honeymooners.”