Bali Tourism Development – Equitable Approach

The State News Agency Antara quotes the Minister of Tourism and the Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, reminding Bali’s leaders that Bali Tourism Development must be distributed on a broader geographic basis and not be allowed to accumulate in limited areas.

Ensuring a more equitable spread of tourism development will prevent the adverse condition Sandiaga terms “overtourism” in Bali. “Overtourism” is a condition where certain, limited areas receive more tourists than they can reasonably handle and results in other problems that include traffic jams, increased crime, and public disorder. Bali Tourism Development

To avoid “over tourism” and its resulting adverse effects, Sandiaga’s Ministerial team is cooperating with the Provincial Government of Bali to enhance the tourism potential in Bali’s west, east, and north to lure tourists away from the popular tourist destinations in the Island’s south. Sandiaga said on Saturday, 02 July 2022: “I have been trading data with the Head of Tourism for the Province of Bali and the Deputy Governor of Bali on how to distribute proceeds of the development (of tourism) so it doesn’t all accumulate in Bali’s south. If this is not done, Bali will return to the pre-pandemic situation of overcrowding and ‘over tourism.’”

According to data compiled by the Central Statistic Bureau (BPI), the number of foreign tourists coming to Indonesia, including Bali, has increased 500% in April 2022 compared to April 2021. Meanwhile, an average of 15,000 domestic and 7,000 foreign tourists are visiting Bali daily in Bali.

The tourism minister is concerned with the revival of tourism in Bali, characterized by crowded road conditions. “Many roads are jammed. We need to promote a travel plan,” Sandiaga told the head of the Bali Tourism Service Tjok Bagus Pemayun. (Bali Tourism Development)

Accordingly, the Tourism Minister plans to travel the length and breadth of the Island to help develop tourist attractions in Bali’s east, west, and north. “Next week, we will travel to Bali’s west. Then, each week after that, we will circle the island to the west, north, and east because Bali’s south is beginning to suffer from ‘over tourism.’ We want to create events and tourism activities in these other areas,” said Sandiaga.

Sandiaga also said that plans focus on persuading foreign visitors to undertake sustainable quality tourism activities. “So let’s not just pursue numbers, but also quality and how to ensure they have a positive effect on the local community,” said Sandiaga. (Article: Bali Tourism Development)

Komodo Park to Charge US$260 Per Visitor

Effective 01 August 2022, the Provincial Government of East Nusa Tenggara and the Komodo National Conservation Park (TNK) will charge Rp. 3.75 million per person (approximately U$260) to enter the Park. The ticket will reportedly allow repeated visits to the Park over one year.

It is not clear if a lower tariff will be available to domestic visitors to the Park.

Carolina Noge, the Coordinator of the Task Force to Strengthen the function of The Komodo National Park, speaking in Jakarta on Monday, 27 June 2022, said an entrance ticket will cost Rp. 3.75 million per person with a validity of one year within a yearly maximum quota of only 200,000 visitors for the Park.

As reported by Kompas.com, groups of four visiting the Park will be required to pay Rp. 15 million for a pass valid for one year.

The decision for the enormous increase in the admission fee and quota limitations is defended based on the high cost of conservation efforts and the need to prevent degradation to the ecosystem caused by the growing number of visitors to Komodo National Park. Every Park visitor, according to the task force, brings a harmful impact on the wildlife, the biological diversity, and the overall ecosystem of the Park. Bali Tourism Development

Earlier, during discussions on the proper price levels for admission tickets, experts put the cost of conservation incurred by every Park visitor between Rp. 2,943,739 and Rp. 5,887,459.

In addition to limiting the maximum number of annual visitors to 200,000 – every visitor must register their visit online via a dedicated website. The 200,000 annual limit on visitors to the Park results from a review on carrying capacity done by a team of experts. No mention has been made of any maximum daily quota on Park visitors.

Future visitors to the Komodo National Park will also be required to present a health certificate from a recognized medical facility.

The head of the Komodo National Park, Likita Awang, said the new regulations are being implemented following six significant incidents occurring over the three years 2019-2022. Awang also emphasized that travel agencies bringing people to the Komodo National Park need to take responsibility for the physical condition of their clients while visiting the Park.

Bali Tourism Development – Russian Facing 7 Years for Motorcycle Theft

A Russian tourist in Bali, Georgii Razhim (31), has been arrested after stealing a Honda Vario Motorcycle at the Ila Kitchen and Villa on Jalan Raya Katik Lantang in Singakerta, Ubud in the early hours of Friday, 17 June 2022.

As reported by NusaBali.com, Razhin jumped a metal fence at 2:23 a.m. in the Villa parking area, where he was apprehended by security guards (Satpam) when he tried to open a chain barrier to leave the parking area.

Razhim saw a parked motorcycle with the key left in the ignition, causing him to drive the bike away from the scene. Quickly captured, the Russian was turned over to police in the Regency of Gianyar. Bali Tourism Development

The Russian tourist was transferred from the lockdown at the Gianyar Police Station to the Prison in the Regency of Gianyar because of the disruption he was causing at the police precinct lock-up. Officer AKBP Bayu Sutha Sartana told NusaBali.com that Razhim destroyed furniture, screamed, and urinated indiscriminately at the police station. The man was sent to the Mental Asylum in Bangli for examination, after which he was determined to be sane.

The police are charging the man with theft under Section 363, paragraphs 1 and 3 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) with grand theft with extenuating circumstances. The maximum penalty under this section of the law is seven years.

Bali Tourism Development – The Russians are Coming to Bali

During his weekly online press briefing, the Indonesian Minister of Tourism and the Creative Economy on Monday, 04 July 2022, announced plans to open soon direct flights connecting Moscow, Russia, and Denpasar Bali.

Quoted by Kompas.com, Sandiaga said: “We are coordinating directly with the Russian Embassy to confirm the opening of direct flights from Moscow to Denpasar. We hope this can concretely manifest President Jokowi’s visit to Russia.”

Continuing at his weekly briefing, Sandiaga said Bali remains a favorite destination for Russian tourists, with many travelers selecting high-quality luxury accommodations with an extended stay. “In this way, quality (of the tourist) is maintained, length of stay is quite long, and their spending is of high level. On average, they visit with their families,” commented the Tourism Minister (Bali Tourism Development).

Based on data compiled before the COVID-19 pandemic, Russian ranked as the fourth largest source of international tourists to Bali, achieving between 300,000 to 400,000 annually. Russian travelers also ranked among the “top-ten” source of foreign tourists to Bali during the COVID-19 pandemic period from 01 January until 31 May 2022.

Data from the World Travel Organization (UNWTO), the invasion of Ukraine by Russia has had a significant impact on global travel, mainly impacting the cost of aviation fuel which is increasing the price of air travel.

We will capitalize on the momentum to draw Russian travelers to Indonesia. We will also be pushing for accelerating the commencement of direct flights from Moscow to Denpasar. These flights have also received a ‘green light’ from the Ministry of Transportation,” said Sandiaga.

Sandiaga said he hoped the Russian carrier Rossiya Airlines would operate direct flights between Moscow and Denpasar with an initial frequency of three times weekly. Adding: “There is certainly a great deal of coordination and communication that we will undertake on government and business-to-business levels. This includes preparing regulations that will push the tourism industry to focus on the Russian market by promoting non-mainstream destinations that are new, exciting, unique, and authentic.”

Bali Tourism Development – Aviation Operators Seek Pricing Review

Finance.detik.com reports that Indonesia’s largest aviation operator, Lion Air Group, is calling on the Indonesian government to revise the current regulations stipulating the minimum and maximum domestic airfare levels that airlines can charge the public.

Lion Air complains that current market conditions, including the increased price of aviation fuel and the strength of the U.S. dollar, have made it increasingly expensive to operate commercial aircraft. The President Director of Lion Air Group, Daniel Putut Kuncoro Adi, reports that many vendors supplying material to the airline have closed while those remaining in operation are increasing prices. The weak Indonesian Rupiah has also increased the cost of operating any commercial airline fleet.

Speaking before Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR-RI), Daniel said on Tuesday, 28 June 2022: “The materials, spare parts, transportation, logistics, and components are now costly because we must purchase these items in U.S. dollars. Bali Tourism Development

The Lion Air CEO said he hoped the Ministry of Transportation Regulation Number 20 of 2019 would be revised, relaxing the minimum and maximum air tariff for airline tickets as the stipulated ticket prices no longer reflect current business conditions.

Daniel explained: “Regulation Number 20 of 2019 was issued before the COVID-19 pandemic and now needs to be reviewed because operational costs cannot be reduced.” Continuing, he said that increased air traffic and changes in flight times result in higher costs. To make his point, Daniel points to changes in the air route between Jakarta and Tanjung Karang in Lampung, South Sumatra.

“Cengkareng (Jakarta) to Tanjung Karang that could once be flown in only 35 minutes now, due to increased traffic, can require 50 minutes or one hour,” said Daniel. This is also the case on the Bali-Lombok route, which also takes longer to fly, resulting in a higher cost. Using the current maximum tariffs set by the government, the Lion Air CEO says many air routes are no longer profitable to operate.

Daniel commented, “Bali-Lombok is also under threat because the flight time required is now longer. If airfares are not revised, air operators will not fly these routes because even with passenger loads of 100% profitable operations are not possible.” Bali Tourism Development

He also said that the diminishing armada of domestic aircraft is increasing the cost of air tickets. Bali Tourism Development

The Chairman of Commission V of the DPR-RI, Lasarus, says that increased airline ticket prices are also attributable to the national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia operating several planes that are not appropriate to the traveling public demands. Adding: “The high price of air tickets is also due to Garuda Indonesia’s lack of available aircraft seats with passenger demand exceeding available seats.”

Garuda’s current fleet of aircraft is down to 33 aircraft. This compares to Lion Air, which operates 255 aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Director of Human Capital for Garuda Indonesia, Arya Perwira Adileksana, told DPR-RI Commission V that his airline is working to escape the threat of bankruptcy and hopes to increase its armada to 70 aircraft by the end of 2023. The Garuda Indonesia subsidiary Citilink Indonesia is operating 34 aircraft, a number they plan to increase to 49 by the end of 2023.

 

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