Bali hotels tighten security to prevent terror attacks
Bali hotels tighten security to prevent terror attacks
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali
Who on earth doesn't know Bali? For years, it has been a paradise
for international travelers.
Spacious and luxurious hotels with traditional and modern
architecture warmly welcome those who want to spend their
vacation or even live their lives on this resort island, called
the St. Tropez of Indonesia.
Unlike hotels in Jakarta and other big cities in Indonesia,
most hotels and resorts in Bali are built on hectares of land
with wide entrance gates that lead to lush tropical gardens.
They have open, roomy lobbies which allow in fresh air and the
sea breeze. Nobody will deny you from entering the lobby or just
sitting to watch the sea.
Many people enjoy the beauty of the island, its diverse
cultural and natural attractions, the opulent hotels and, most
importantly, the feeling of safety here. Sadly, this feeling of
security has almost become a thing of the past.
Since the bombings on Oct.12 last year, many people no longer
feel safe and secure vacationing on the island.
The blast at the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta last month also
affected the tourist industry in Bali, which is now hosting
trials of the accused perpetrators of the Bali bombings.
According to a recent intelligent report, terrorists are now
likely to focus on soft targets like hotels and entertainment
venues, rather than hard targets like military facilities, police
stations and government offices.
In order to prevent terrorist attacks, the Bali Police have
called on the tourist industry to beef up their security
measures.
Bali Police chief Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika said recently
that police had introduced standardized security procedures at
star-rated hotels across the island.
"We will evaluate and review the implementation of the
security systems at those hotels every month," he said.
The owners and operators of hotels and entertainment centers
have tightened security on their properties in the face of the
terror threat.
At least 48 heads of security and managers of four and five-
star hotels in Bali took part in a security training program
organized by the Bali Police early this month.
Bali has more than 50 four and five-star hotels with
approximately 12,000 rooms.
"We hope all of the four and five-star hotels in Bali will
meet the required security standards to ensure the safety of
their guests," said Pastika, who led the Bali bombings
investigation last year.
An important issue in this new security system is the presence
of security guards. Pastika said the number of guards should not
be less than 10 percent of the number of rooms available at each
hotel.
For example, if a hotel has 400 rooms, it should employ 40
security guards to secure the property and its guests.
Pastika also said that hotels must posses security and safety
equipment such as fire extinguishers, water sprinklers and smoke
detectors.
Hotel managements have welcomed these safety measures.
Deddy Sasmitha, marketing communications manager of the Hard
Rock Hotel in Kuta, said the management of the hotel was doing
everything possible to help make Bali a safe place for visitors.
"We really support the program. We have set up standard safety
procedures and have already informed our guests about them,"
Deddy said.
The Hard Rock Hotel in Kuta, he explained, has employed 55
security guards to watch over its 418 rooms.
"We will also ask for help from the pecalang traditional
security guards and the police," he said.
Pastika said this program was meant to reassure people that
Bali was safe.
Maria Maringka, public relations manager of the Sheraton
Laguna in Nusa Dua, said she was aware of the police program to
standardize hotel security in Bali.
"We have employed 27 security officers to safeguard our guests
and to secure the hotel's 270 rooms," she said recently.
She also said the Sheraton Laguna was already equipped with
the necessary security apparatus and well-trained security
officers.
"We hold monthly security and emergency training sessions for
all staff, including front office people and those who answer our
phones, as they would be the ones likely to receive any terrorist
threats that were phoned in," Maria said.
The five-star diamond hotel has also established an Emergency
Response Team consisting of 10 select members. "Their main duty
is to ensure the safety of our guests, especially during
emergencies, such as the evacuation of the about 600 guests from
the hotel."
Maria said the hotel has allocated at least US$25,000 to
procure additional safety equipment such as metal detectors and
security cameras.
Pastika reiterated his call to hotel managers to remain
serious in securing their properties.
"If the hotel managements ignore these important security
matters, they will likely stop receiving guests," Pastika said.
Linda, a visitor from England, said she did not mind being
thoroughly checked by security guards.
"I think it is a common security process, especially after
Bali experienced the tragic bombings. And the recent Marriott
blast worsened the situation."
David Millard, also from England, agreed that tight security
was important to ensure that hotel guests felt safe.
"In my opinion, guests will feel more secure if hotels apply
tight procedures. We really want to have a safe holiday," said
Millard, who was staying with his wife and two children at a
star-rated hotel in Sanur.
But some Indonesians have had a different response. Ony
Sulardy, a travel agent from Jakarta, complained that visiting
friends and clients at hotels in Bali was time consuming and
complicated.
"Security officials checked everything from my car and my bag,
to my identification card," he said.
Gede Wiratha, chairman of the Bali chapter of the Indonesian
Hotel and Restaurant Association, complained that the safety
procedures were biased.
"All of the security checks are mostly applied to local
visitors," Gede said.
He said many foreigners could pass through the security
checks. "I expect security procedures to be enforced for all
guests, regardless of their nationality."