A Thousand steps to revive Bali tourism

A Thousand steps to revive Bali tourism

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali

A mantra from the holy Hindu scripture Wedha to praise
Almighty God was chanted by members of the Hindu Waisnawa
Sampradaya sect in a solemn "A Thousand Steps to Bali" procession
on Saturday afternoon, a campaign to revive tourism on Bali after
the bombing carnage three weeks ago.

Hundreds of procession participants consisting of foreign and
domestic tourists and local people walked slowly from Kuta Beach
to Jl. Legian where bomb blasts ripped through Paddy's and the
Sari Club, killing nearly 200 people, mostly foreigners.

Winfried Hutabarat, the head of committee for A Thousand Steps
to Bali, said the campaign was aimed at luring more domestic
tourists to Bali and to revive tourism on the island. Several
noted figures were in attendance, including Tempo magazine chief
editor Fikri Jufri, Adilah Suwarmo of the Lontar Foundation and
Laksmi Pamuntjak.

The organizing committee worked with the Tourism Development
Board (BP Budpar), national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and
hotels and travel agencies to offer low-budget tour packages to
Bali for domestic tourists.

BP Budpar head Setyanto P. Santoso said it is hoped that the
packages, which will be available from November to December 2002,
will become a stimulus to spur tourism on the island. He added
that he hoped more hotels, airlines and travel agencies would
join the campaign.

The campaign kicked off on Saturday with a ceremony at Kuta
Beach at around 4 p.m. local time. Several prominent people
attended at the ceremony, such as Theo Sambuaga of the Golkar
Party, business magnate Sofyan Wanandi, Minister of Tourism and
Culture I Gede Ardika and Minister of Communications and
Information Syamsul Mu'arif.

The ceremony was opened by a prayer led by a Hindu priest
followed by a solidarity statement read by Indonesian artists
Nugie and Dian Sastrowardoyo, local Hindu youth Harya, Balinese
artist Warih Wicaksana, Fikri Jufri and Rayya Makarim.

The ceremony was closed by popular Islamic preacher Aa
Gymnastiar.

M. Kastini, a 62-year-old psychologist, said she participated
in the event because she was concerned about the effect the bomb
blasts had on the country.

"It's a national tragedy. I cannot express how sad I am. I
just wanted to do something, even though it is just little
thing," Kastini said. Kastini broke into tears as she walked
through the rubble of the Sari Club.