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."