New Year in Bali to have Russian flavor

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

New Year's Eve should be a festive event in Bali, with foreign visitors, Russians in particular, set to celebrate the holiday at luxury hotels and villas at the island's top destinations of Kuta, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and Sanur.

Amadeo Zarzoza, general manager of the Bali Intercontinental Resort in Jimbaran, said the resort has had a 100 percent occupancy rate since Dec. 22 and this perfect record was expected to continue at least through Jan. 7.

"We have a strong upscale Russian market occupying 40 percent of the resort's rooms. The remaining 60 percent comprises other European guests, including those coming from countries as far away as Greece, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as Australia," said Zarzoza

Most of these guests are returnees, he said.

"This is very encouraging for the hotel industry in Bali, in general, to have such dependable travelers, mostly well-to-do and mature guests, who are not put off by negative news on Bali or other disturbances," Zarzoza said.

The flood of Russian tourists has provided new hope for the flagging Bali tourist industry following the Oct. 1 bombings. The island's tourist industry has been traditionally dominated by tourists from Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Europe.

"We did not expect this high occupancy rate given the current circumstances, but the coming of the Russian visitors and those from new and alternative markets has been very helpful in filling up hotel rooms in Bali," Zarzoza said.

For the island's hotels and resorts, having Russian guests is beneficial because of the lengths of their stay, usually more than 12 days. They also spend a good deal of money each day on food, beverages and entertainment.

Evi Suryaningsih, public relations manager at the Melia Bali Villas and Spa Resort in Nusa Dua, said the occupancy rate of her resort was almost 100 percent, with 50 percent of the guests coming from Russia.

Hotels and resorts in Nusa Dua such as The Westin Resort and the Grand Hyatt are now serving mostly Russian clientele.

The Kuta, Tuban and Seminyak areas are still the preferred hubs for most Australian and domestic tourists.

Dewi Karmawan, marketing communications manager at the Hard Rock Hotel in Kuta, said she was pleased to have a full booking for the coming New Year's holiday, with lots of domestic tourists from places like Jakarta and Surabaya.

Fransisca Meilia Fiyanti, the public relations manager at the Bali Dynasty in Tuban, was pleased to announce an occupancy rate of between 80 percent and 90 percent.

Wawan Dharmawan, general manager of the Kamadalu Resorts and Spa in Ubud, said the resort had seen an increase in the number of reservations for its 50 luxury villas.

"My major clients are Japanese and domestic clients. I am quite surprised to have so many domestic guests, who usually choose Kuta," added Wawan saying the resort would have a good occupancy rate at least through Jan. 7.

Most of the hotels and resorts in Bali plan to hold relatively quiet New Year's celebrations as compared to last year.

Tightening security remains their top to ensure the safety of guests.

The Hard Rock Hotel, for instance, has a K-9 team consisting of five security dogs that can sniff out explosives and other hazardous materials. The dogs will be stationed at the hotel's entrance, lobby and other access points.

Tourist Police and local security guards, known as pecalang, will also closely monitor numerous strategic spots in Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Seminyak and Sanur, to ensure that visitors feel safe when celebrating the New Year.