Expatriates organize Bali recovery tour
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