Expatriates organize Bali recovery tour
Damaso Reyes The Jakarta Post Jakarta
While the beaches of Kuta remain almost deserted, the government and private enterprise are trying to bring tourists back to the island paradise in time for the Christmas and New Year holiday season, generally Bali's busiest.
Among the initiatives is a small effort organized by expatriates here in Indonesia dubbed The Bali Recovery Tour. More than just an effort to bring back foreigners, a percentage of each package tour sold will go directly to pay for the education of the Indonesian children orphaned by the bomb attacks.
"I was sitting by the pool thinking `how nice it would be to go back to Bali?' and then I thought why not bring some friends too?" Rob Doddemeade, an Australian expatriate who has been living in Indonesia for seven years told The Jakarta Post.
"Why should we let ourselves be terrorized by these thugs? It could just as easily be the Gold Coast," he added.
Together with friends he approached several tour operators who agreed to donate 5 percent of the money from the special packages they sold to the victims of the attacks.
In addition, many multinational corporations have been approached to sponsor the event in order to both raise additional funds as well as further promote the cause.
Unfortunately according to Doddemeade, most companies have flatly refused to become involved.
"I am pretty disappointed in some of these big companies, I don't think they get the point," said Doddemeade whose own East West Ltd., a film production company, is the first sponsor.
"It isn't a big commercial venture, it is foremost about charity," he added. So far only two additional companies have pledged to become sponsors out of the dozens contacted.
The packages which run between Christmas and New Year are offering accommodation at two star to five star hotels as well as flights to and from Bali.
On Dec. 30 there will be a charity dinner and auction, the proceeds of which will also benefit the orphans. In an interesting turn, local businesses, including some directly affected by the bombing have been quick to become involved. Gado Gado restaurant has given its space for the dinner and Club 66 has offered discounted admission to its New Year's Eve party to those participating in the tour.
"The Balinese have heard about donations but up until now Bali has only received US$10,000 from the Chinese government," said Kadek, owner of both Gado Gado, Club 66 and Paddy's, which was destroyed in the bombing. He saw this as a direct way to assist the Indonesian victims of the bombing who he feels have been largely ignored.
"The victims like me, what have we gotten so far? Nothing," he added.
The bombings, the exodus of tourists and travel advisories issued by dozens of nations have all combined to create a nearly tourist free zone in Bali, once Southeast Asia's most popular vacation destination.
While the government has said that the number of tourists leaving no longer exceeds those coming in and that hotel occupancy rates are approaching 35 percent, evidence on the ground does not seem to bring the casual observer to the same conclusions.
"It doesn't seem to be getting any busier," said Kadek.
"Up until Lebaran I had to close my hotel, do you think I did that for fun? There has been no increase in tourism, I don't care what the government says. You cannot find a hotel anywhere with a 35 percent occupancy rate," he said.
To find out more about the Bali Recovery Tour or sponsorship you can contact (021) 717 91452 or e-mail tvnfilms@cbn.net.id.
To book a package, contact one of the four participating tour operators : Performa Tours (021) 724 7916, 724 7976 Vaya Tour (021) 380 0202, 345 4457 Pan Travel (021) 829 1008 Marintur (021) 830 1242, 830 1244