There is no violence in Bali
<p>There is no violence in Bali</p><p> The violent takeover of power in Fiji by George Speight and a
band or armed thugs on May 19, 2000 has opened a window of
opportunity for Bali to cash in on what will be millions of
dollars worth of cancellations when travel agents in Australia
and New Zealand open their doors this week.</p><p>Unfortunately, Bali still suffers from a negative image as a
result of past and current unrest in areas of this vast
archipelago far distant from Bali itself.</p><p>As a concerned expatriate ad man I've taken the liberty to
draft up a press ad I feel would deliberately target the customer
into bowling into his travel agent and demanding to be pulled out
of Fiji and put into Bali. I would propose the ad be run in News
Ltd. tabloids across Australia, predominantly on the east coast
and especially in New Zealand where the greatest damage was done
to Bali's image by Jose Ramos-Horta in September 1999.</p><p>There is no violence in Bali. There was violence in East
Timor, 1,000 kilometers east of Bali, and it's over. There is
violence in Ambon, 2,000 km north of Bali, and it's diminishing.
There is violence in Aceh, 3,000 km west of Bali, and it's on the
mend. There has been no violence in Bali since our war of
independence was won in 1949 ... A record not all paradise
islands can legitimately lay claim to.</p><p>There is the essence, now it needs to be polished by a
distinguished wordsmith such as my old Pommy mate Pete from
Admanta. Any interest out here? Incidentally, I don't feel it is
necessary to name Fiji in the ad. The western press will be
making a meal out of Fiji's demise for weeks, even months.
Besides, it could be libelous. There is sufficient insinuation in
the final sentence to leave the reader in no doubt as to which
paradise island we are referring.</p><p>It may be argued that to use the word violence, instead of
less sensationalist terms such as civil unrest, social disorder
etc. is not particularly wise. However, as the world press and
television has already instilled in the minds of its readers and
viewers that events in Ambon and Aceh are violent, it would be
pointless to try and tone them down.</p><p>The exercise after all is only meant to distance Bali from
these events and establish the destination as a viable
alternative to the currently more fancied destinations in
Malaysia and Thailand. Strike while the iron is hot.</p><p> G.N. BROWN</p><p>Sanur, Bali</p>
band or armed thugs on May 19, 2000 has opened a window of
opportunity for Bali to cash in on what will be millions of
dollars worth of cancellations when travel agents in Australia
and New Zealand open their doors this week.</p><p>Unfortunately, Bali still suffers from a negative image as a
result of past and current unrest in areas of this vast
archipelago far distant from Bali itself.</p><p>As a concerned expatriate ad man I've taken the liberty to
draft up a press ad I feel would deliberately target the customer
into bowling into his travel agent and demanding to be pulled out
of Fiji and put into Bali. I would propose the ad be run in News
Ltd. tabloids across Australia, predominantly on the east coast
and especially in New Zealand where the greatest damage was done
to Bali's image by Jose Ramos-Horta in September 1999.</p><p>There is no violence in Bali. There was violence in East
Timor, 1,000 kilometers east of Bali, and it's over. There is
violence in Ambon, 2,000 km north of Bali, and it's diminishing.
There is violence in Aceh, 3,000 km west of Bali, and it's on the
mend. There has been no violence in Bali since our war of
independence was won in 1949 ... A record not all paradise
islands can legitimately lay claim to.</p><p>There is the essence, now it needs to be polished by a
distinguished wordsmith such as my old Pommy mate Pete from
Admanta. Any interest out here? Incidentally, I don't feel it is
necessary to name Fiji in the ad. The western press will be
making a meal out of Fiji's demise for weeks, even months.
Besides, it could be libelous. There is sufficient insinuation in
the final sentence to leave the reader in no doubt as to which
paradise island we are referring.</p><p>It may be argued that to use the word violence, instead of
less sensationalist terms such as civil unrest, social disorder
etc. is not particularly wise. However, as the world press and
television has already instilled in the minds of its readers and
viewers that events in Ambon and Aceh are violent, it would be
pointless to try and tone them down.</p><p>The exercise after all is only meant to distance Bali from
these events and establish the destination as a viable
alternative to the currently more fancied destinations in
Malaysia and Thailand. Strike while the iron is hot.</p><p> G.N. BROWN</p><p>Sanur, Bali</p>