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.