Bali hotels fully booked, Garuda adds on extra flights

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali

The holiday season has brought new hope to Bali's ailing tourist industry, as thousands of domestic and foreign visitors have again booked flights, hotels and bungalows to celebrate the coming year-end festivities.

General manager of Garuda Indonesia's Bali office Kriston Rasmanto shared his joy at flight bookings, saying, "We have increased the number of flights on the Jakarta to Denpasar and Surabaya to Denpasar routes."

Between Christmas and New Year, Garuda will have six to seven regular daily flights, plus one or two extra from Jakarta to Denpasar.

"On several flights we have upgraded a DC-10 airplane to a Boeing 747 in order to accommodate more passengers," he said. The DC-10 has 247 seats, while the Boeing 747 is able to accommodate 405 passengers, he added.

Garuda's international flights on the routes London (UK) to Denpasar, Nagoya (Japan) to Denpasar, Osaka (Japan) to Denpasar and Seoul (South Korea) to Denpasar have experienced significant increases in demand during the winter holiday. "At least 70 percent of our seat capacity is occupied," Kriston said buoyantly.

After the Bali bombing, which occurred at the heart of the tourist center of Legian, Kuta, on Oct. 12 this year, the island's tourist industry experienced a drastic downturn.

A number of countries, including the U.S., Australia and several European countries, issued travel advisories for citizens planning to travel to Indonesia in general and Bali in particular. Bali was deserted as thousands of visitors fled following the bombing. Hotel occupancy rates reached their lowest ebb, plunging to single digits.

Chairman of the Bali Chapter of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (Asita) I Putu Bagus Yudhara added that the arrival of both local and foreign tourists had provided a boost to Bali's tourism.

"Previously, we felt so downhearted about the state of tourism in Bali, but this is a good sign. Tourists are returning, as a number of countries, such as Germany and South Korea, have rescinded their travel advisories on Bali and Indonesia," Yudhara said.

Meanwhile, large and small hotels alike have also experienced a holiday windfall.

Anastasia Lijadi, public relations manager of Gran Melia hotel at Nusa Dua, explained that since Oct.14, almost all hotels had been badly hit by the aftermath of the bombing.

"At present, we are enjoying 70 percent to 80 percent occupancy rates, which is very good for this time of year," noted Anastasia. Many hotel guests are from Asian countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Taiwan, plus guests from Indonesia. Around 50 percent of guests are also coming from European countries, including Spain and France, which have not issued warnings against travel to Indonesia.

In Jimbaran, some five kilometers from Kuta, occupancy rates at luxury hotels like Bali Inter-Continental Resort and the exclusive Four Seasons hotel are encouraging.

Business development manager of Bali Inter-Continental Wayan Suka sounded happy that his hotel's 425 rooms were fully booked, especially for the last four days of 2002. "I hope that business will improve in the coming year," he said.

Public relations manager of Four Seasons Putu Indrawati added the hotel would have a New Year occupancy rate of 60 percent, which, for an exclusive property like that, was quite amazing. "I thought that nobody would again come to Bali," she said.

Even at a luxury resort in a relatively remote area, like Le Meridien Bali Nirwana resort, Tanah Lot, Tabanan, some 25 kilometers from Kuta, business has begun to grow again. "We hosted a number of New Year programs, such as Bali for the World television program," said public relations manager of Le Meriden Ari Widaningsih.

A number of non-star-rated hotels, such as Bakung Beach hotel in Jl. Bakungsari, Kuta, are also enjoying robust business. "Until Jan. 7, our rooms, rated at Rp 275,000 (US$30) per day, will be occupied," said a member of the reception staff.

At present, a previously quiet Bali is again beaming in anticipation. Hundreds of people crowded the once-deserted Jl. Legian. Some are busy buying souvenirs, while others are eager to visit the bombsites, formerly occupied by Sari Club and Paddy's.