Aussies not happy with RI visa policy

Bali Hotels Association (BHA) hosted a marketing seminar for its members at Conrad Bali Resort and Spa last weekend.

The one-day seminar focused on distribution channels for travel purchases, increased competitive markets between Bali and Australia. The meeting also touched on pricing and value-added strategies.

The seminar concluded that the number of Australians coming to Bali is sharply increasing but many of them are uncomfortable with Indonesia's visa-on-arrival process. This, the seminar emphasized will likely encourage travel destination choices beyond Bali, especially in the highly competitive travel environment.

The association currently has 63 members comprising general managers of star hotels, resorts in Bali. A number of directors of sales and marketing as well as public relations managers also attended the event.

The seminar presented a number of prominent speakers including Ian Norris, owner of San Michele Travel in Australia, Craig Sinclair, publisher and Partner in Travel Talk Media Group in Australia and other noted presenters.

According to Norris, 99 percent of Australian departures to Indonesia (or around 265,000), in 2004, were destined to Bali. He said that Indonesia was the second-most visited destination for Australians after New Zealand.

He added that the number of Australians visiting Indonesia reached 17 percent of the country's international departures. In 2002, the number of Australians holidaying in Bali sharply declined because of the Oct.12.bombing tragedy.

Norris suggested a jointly driven marketing campaign between Australia and Bali to further boost and secure business opportunities. For consistency and recognition, he recommended "branding" Bali with a new moniker which could be used by wholesalers, retailers and products themselves, in marketing and promotions.

Craig Sinclair of Travel Talk Media Group explained about the posititioning products in the Australian market and how Australians view Bali. He noted that pre 2002 stereotypes of Bali changed post-Bali bomb with the destination ripe for rediscovery.

He said Australians thought of Bali as a safe destination and now view it as a leading gateway and a part of Asia.

Sinclair suggested there is more opportunity to promote varied products and higher-end accommodation, as Bali isdestination" providing the "equivalent quality of what you can buy in Sydney." Bali is not just cheap T-Shirts and cheap beer anymore, he said.

The Association's chairman Robert Kelsall commented," This was a high level information exchange on trends, perceptions, opportunities and developments in tourism businesses between Australia and Bali." Kelsall added that as an information exchange, it provided valuable feedback for participating partners. -- JP