Bali resorts, still a tropical paradise

Bali resorts, still a tropical paradise

DENPASAR (JP): Despite the social and political upheavals
plaguing many parts of the country, the holiday island of Bali's
tourist industry is still going strong.

Renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, white sands and
myriad cultural and traditional attractions, Bali has become one
of the world's most popular destinations.

In the last few years, foreign and domestic tourists have
combined leisure and business while on the island, increasing the
demand for quality resorts.

Bali fortunately has an ample choice of international-standard
resorts, which offer multifarious services compounding business
and pleasure activities for their opulent clientele.

Visitors can choose resort facilities which suit their
personal needs.

Bali's first resort areas Kuta and Legian, which are 12
kilometers southwest of Denpasar, have a number of good hotels
and resorts ready to serve holidaymakers as well as businessmen.

Although the areas have become too commercialized and crowded,
there are still some places to hide out. Among the best resorts
here are the Oberoi (covers 15 acres of land) which offers
tranquility and privacy, Kul Kul Beach resort and Bali Dynasty.

Sanur, Bali's second resort area boasts numerous restaurants,
shops and hotels such as Hotel Sanur Beach, Bali Hyatt and
Tandjung Sari. The wide beach, framed by shallow coral reefs and
white sands, is a perfect site for snorkeling, boating and wind
surfing.

To the south, Nusa Dua is Bali's first integrated and well-
planned resort area, which consist of two tiny islands linked to
the mainland by a reinforced sand spit. There are several good
resorts in the area including Amanusa, Sheraton Laguna (next to
Sheraton Nusa Indah Convention Center), Bali Hilton International
and the Grand Hyatt.

Ubud, which was renowned as an art colony in the l930s and has
since grown into the island's main cultural center, is an
excellent base from which to explore Bali's interior.

There are many excellent resorts in this art village such as
Amandari, a modern resort which blends traditional and modern
architectural elements. Other resorts include Four Season Resort
at Sayan (near Ayung River), Ibah Luxury Villas, Pita Maha and
Kokokan Hotel.

Once an almost barren fishing village, Jimbaran Bay, 20 km
southwest of Denpasar, has been transformed into an elegant
resort area with diamond-star facilities like Ritz Carlton, Bali
Cliff Resort, Four Seasons Resorts and Hotel Inter-Continental
Bali.

Bali has also expanded its resort areas as far as Canggu
(Hotel Tugu), Tabanan (Le Meridien and Bali Nirwana Resort) and
Candi Dasa area in Klungkung, East Bali, as well as Lovina in
Buleleng regency and Menjangan Jungle and Beach resort in West
Bali.

Potential clients

With such a large number of beautiful and world-class resort
facilities, people may wonder whether the island's tourist
industry has been affected by Indonesia's burgeoning economic
problems.

I Gde Wiratha, chairman of the Bali branch of the Indonesian
Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) said Bali's tourist
industry was beginning to recover after the l998 riot, but the
unstable political and social conditions might still haunt the
industry.

"The present situation has certainly influenced the growth of
tourist-related businesses on the island and we are uncertain of
what is going to happen in the coming months," Wiratha explained.

There has been visit cancellations as travel advisories issued
by several foreign countries discouraged their citizens from
traveling to Indonesia, including Bali.

But Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gde Ardhika is convinced
that Bali is still the favorite destination of local and foreign
tourists.

Bali has become the "in" destination among single Japanese
females in their 20s and 30s who enjoy relaxing at expensive
hotels on the tropical island.

According to the Japan Tourist Bureau (JTB), Indonesia, Bali
in particular, will see an influx of 15,000 Japanese tourists
during the holiday seasons, a 166.7 percent increase from the
year before.

The latest data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
revealed that the number of tourist arrivals in January this year
was 330,094, a 12.3 percent increase from the same period in
l999.

In 2000, the country received 5.06 million foreign visitors,
slightly less than its target of 5.1 million visitors.

In January, the number of tourist arrivals at Ngurah Rai
Airport in Bali increased by 14.94 percent compared to the same
period in 2000.

The increase in the number of tourist arrivals may boost the
island's economy.

A recent survey conducted by local tourism authorities showed
that a foreign tourist visiting Bali spent an average of US$77.35
per day and stayed 11 days on average last year.

The survey conducted on 3,884 tourists also showed that
foreign tourists in Bali spend $3.3 million in total, adding that
Japanese tourists spent the most ($589,400), followed by British
tourists ($322,200) and Australians ($238,300).

Mark Griffith, general manager of Le Meridien Hotel at Bali
Nirwana Resort in Tabanan, confirmed that the resort business was
still flourishing.

He said Bali still had a good reputation among foreigners.

"It's lucky that many tourists rarely associate Bali with
Indonesia," the general manager said.

Currently, Australia, Japan and Europe remain strong markets
for the Bali tourist industry.

Griffith added that the current multidimensional crisis had
influenced tourist-related industries. "But, we should not just
sit and do nothing," he said.

To promote his hotel and Bali in general, Griffith said the
management had optimized its strong international chains in
various tourist markets worldwide.

"Bali has so many good features as a tourist destination, such
as good hotels and resorts in addition to its rich culture and
tradition," he said.

He said his company was now penetrating new markets including
Russia, France, Middle East and China.

Presently, the hotel's clients come from Europe (35 percent),
Indonesia (17 percent), the United States (8 percent) and Japan
(8 percent).

"Many of our guests come from Tokyo, London or New York. For
them, Bali's resorts are amazingly peaceful and beautiful," he
said.

A number of hotel and resort operators shared his optimism.

An official of Sheraton Laguna in Nusa Dua said recently that
in December 2000, the occupancy rate of the hotel reached about
84 percent.

Bali governor Dewa Beratha admitted that although hotel
and tourist industries were still strong, new investments in the
industries were substantially decreasing.

Last year, authorities in Bali approved foreign investment
plans worth $141.5 million, compared to $426 million a year
earlier.

Foreign investors in Bali were engaged in tourism consulting
services and operation of water recreation facilities with an
investment of $119.5 million. The hotel industry came in second
with a total investment of $13.9 million, followed by the trade
sector with $3.6 million.

Foreign investments in the hotel industry plunged to $112
million in l999 and to $13.9 million in 2000 compared to $255.5
million in l998.

He said the province would need Rp 2.4 trillion in investment
to achieve a 3.8 percent growth.

Bali is too crowded now and no longer needs new hotels or
resorts. The island already has a lot of resorts where visitors
can enjoy the beauty of Bali while doing business. (raw)