Indonesia to become major destination for Malaysian, Australian, Singapore tourists

A survey conducted by Visa-Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has shown that Indonesia will within the next two years become the most important destination for Singaporean, Malaysian and Australian tourists, a Visa Indonesia official said.
Of the survey`s respodents, 29 percent were Malaysian, 18 percent Australian, and 15 percent Singaporean tourists, said Ellyana Fuad, country manager of Visa Indonesia here Monday.
She said many of the foreign tourists said they believed Indonesia would be the most important destination for tourists from the three countries within the next two years, meaning Indonesian tourism was facing bright propects.
"Indonesia offers unique blends of traditional cultures, popular and delicious food and also the best and most beautiful beaches in the world," she said.
The results of the survey indicated the good performance of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in promoting Indonesia as a unique tourist destination.
"Visa has a commitment to support the Culture and Tourism Ministry in attracting more tourists to come to Indonesia," she added.
According to her, in maintaining the tourism industry, Visa Preferred Merchant was offering discounts for international card holders in merchants operating in Indonesia.
Visa had just launched Visa Luxury Hotel Collection which provided Visa Signature and Visa Infinite card holders with the benefit of star-rated hotel accommodation in Indonesia, like Alila, Aman resorts, Legian and through website, www.visasignaturehotels.com or www.visainfinitehotels.com.
The survey also provided profiles of tourists who have recommended Indonesia as a tourist destination.
The main attraction of foreign tourists were new tourism objects, landscapes and low cost holidays. They tend to make a trip with their spouses and preferred staying at four-star hotels to other accommodations.
Most of them planned to spend more than US$ 1.500 on holidays and they are willing to pay more for delicious cuisine , exotic places and chances to witness new customs.

Gus Dur Honored at Ubud Writers Festival

Former President Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid was honored at the 2010 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival on Wednesday for his leadership in promoting pluralism in the country.

Greg Barton, a professor at Australia’s Monash University, said in a speech that Gus Dur was a unique figure with forward-thinking ideas.

The former president is a much-noted national figure, known for his pluralistic ideas and his leadership of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization with an estimated 40 million members.

“He deserved to be the living symbol of the national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika,” said Barton, who has written a biography on Gus Dur.

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, which means “unity in diversity,” was selected as the theme for this year’s Ubud festival.

Janet de Neefe, the festival director, said the theme was meant to emphasize the never-ending process of searching for harmony in diversity.

“We hope the process can take place in dialogues with the spirit of peace,” she said.

Commenting on the recognition given to Gus Dur, the former president’s youngest daughter, Inayah Wahid, said her father’s pluralistic philosophy was influenced by his teachers.

“I hope there will be more teachers like my father’s teachers, so more Indonesians can learn and be as wise as Gus Dur,” she said.

Gus Dur was born in Jombang, East Java. He was Indonesia’s fourth president and was the first elected head of state after the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998.

Educated in Indonesia, Egypt, Iraq and Canada, Gus Dur had a reputation for religious tolerance and moderate politics.

There have been calls in the country to declare him a national hero. The East Java provincial administration has lodged a formal appeal with the national government to approve its request to name him a hero ahead of National Heroes Day, which falls on Nov. 10.

Wednesday’s dedication night in Ubud also featured dance performances, poetry recitals and musical entertainment by a number of artistsm, including Cok Sawitri and Ayu Laksmi.

The first writers’ festival was held shortly after the 2002 terrorist bombings on the resort island, and was seen as a way to help revitalize tourism in Bali.

Now in its fifth year, the festival attracts hundreds of writers from countries such as Australia, Ireland, Spain, Singapore, the United States and Indonesia

Foreign tourist arrivals expected to exceed target

Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said he was optimistic that the number of foreign tourists who visited Indonesia in 2010 would exceed the target of seven million.

"I am confident that the 7 million foreign tourist arrival target would be achieved or even exceeded," the minister said here on Monday.

He said that his optimism over the foreign tourist arrivals was based on the fact that the average arrivals of foreign tourists per month in the country at present was 12 - 13 percent.

The figure far exceeded the average number of foreign tourists arriving in Indonesia per month in 2009 which stood at 9 percent.

"Until the end of the year, we will at least have an average of 10 percent and this percentage already exceeds that of last year or that would mean that it would be over 7 million tourists," the minister said.

His side predicted that in December or at the end of the year the arrivals of foreign tourists in the country would jump up significantly.

"After all, December is a peak season, so that it could be ascertained that there would be significant increase in the number of foreign tourist arrivals," he said.

The minister said that his side would never stop carrying out promotion in a number of countries which became the focus of Indonesia`s tourism market.

The Central Board of Statistics (BPS) recorded that the number of foreign tourists arriving in Indonesia in August 2010 reached 586,530 or an increase of 3.48 percent if compared with that in the same month last year.

This amount declined by 10.93 percent compared with that in July this year.

On the accumulative basis from January to August 2010, the number of foreign tourists visiting in Indonesia was recorded at 4,625,550, or an increase of 12.12 percent compared with the same period a year earlier

International seminar marks national batik day

An international seminar and batik exhibition is held at the Cultural Faculty of the University of Indonesia (UI) campus in Depok from October 4 to 8, 2010, marking National Batik Day of October 2.

UI spokesman Juwono said Monday that the event will be opened by Industry Minister MS Hidayat on Tuesday.

The Indonesian Batik International Seminar will be addressed by Marketing Director General of the Culture and Tourism Ministry Dr. Sapta Nirwandar, Dr. Agus Aris Munandar (UI), Mrs Judi Tjahyadi, and Ibu Asmoro Damais of the Indonesian Clothing and Garment Documentation Center, and Indonesian batik expert Firman Ichsan.

The other speakers included Small and Medium Industry Director General Fauzi Azis, Andang Fatalinadya of the Industry Ministry, and executive chairman of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO Prof. Dr. Arief Rachman.

The National Baik Day will also be enlivened by an "Eco Batik" display, October5-8, and an UI Batik Design Competition on October 4.

The program was made possible under a cooperation with the Archeological Department of UI, along with Kadin foundation, Batik Foundation, Industry Ministrty, Culture and Tourism Ministry, Trade Ministry, and the National Education Ministry.

Banyan Tree Bintan hotel released sea turtle hatchlings to sea

A number of sea turtle hatchlings found their way to the open sea as released by the Banyan Tree Bintan Resort and Hotel of Riau Islands at Lagoi Beach, Bintan witnessed by hundreds of foreign tourists on Sunday evening.

"This campaign was conducted to preserve the ecosystem balance and to save the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) from extinction," the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Banyan Tree Bintan Resort and Hotel, Henry Ali Singer said here Monday.

"There were still 220 sea turtle eggs estimated to hatch in the mid-October 2010 in the hatchery," he said.

The last four months, banyan Tree Bintan had released 364 sea turtle hatchlings originated from eggs collected from Panjang Beach, Lagoi tourism spot in the nesting time in March-September, he said.

The Manager of Banyan Tree Bintan, Herman Puspa released the first hatchling to the sea witnessed by hundreds of enthusiastic foreign tourists, especially children.

The tourists documented the struggle of the hatchlings to reach the open sea from the shoreline.

The crowd was getting louder to encourage the hatchlings to reach the sea creating a blithe atmosphere in the campaign.

"The tourists were pleased to witness this rare moment. It was the first experience for most of the tourists, especially kids, and they will show their documentations of the rare occasion to their relatives and friends back in their countries," Henry said.

Each of the hatchling weigh around 15 gram at the day it born, much lighter than the egg itself that weigh 25 gram, he said, adding that the turtle eggs were buried 50 cm deep in sand until they hatch 50-60 days afterward.

A sea turtle could lay 150 eggs at a time in the nesting time, but it takes around 30 years and even decades for sea turtle to reach sexual maturity, he said.

According to the research, only one percent of the hatchlings could survive in the ocean, he said.

However, the management relocated the sea turtle eggs from the natural nesting ground to secure them from human threat as some people consume the eggs and sell them in the market.

"Some animals such as wild hogs and monitor lizards like to eat sea turtles," he said

Aman Gati Hotel

Situated on the tranquil Hu'u bay, where far enough from hustle bustle of city The Aman Gati Hotel is an excellent choice for you who long for comfort and relaxation, yet has easy to every tourist destinations Lakey Peak and Periscopes. The Aman Gati Hotel is established on white sand beach among swaying coconut palms with clean beach for the travelers to enjoy and challenging waves for adventurous surfers and ideal condition for various water sports such as surfing, kite surfing & wind surfing, kayaking, fishing, diving and snorkeling

The Aman Gati Hotel provides top class facilities and services: Beach Front Bar & Restaurant, Swimming Pool, Postal Service, Internet Service, Telecommunication Services, Wide Parking area, Taxi Service, Pool table, Satellite TV channel, Laundry Service, Ticketing, Gift Shop.

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The Netherlands` Trace in Passer Baroe

Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta which was called Passer Baroe in the VOC era has become the embryo of a busy area in Jakarta. Visiting this place, we are as if taken to the era of colonialism which has left obvious traces.

In 1820, the Netherlands VOC under Governor General Daendels built a new city to replace the old one. Elite buildings such as philately building or post office on Jl Pos Raya, stadtsschowbourg which is now Jakarta Art Building, and hotels along Jl Antara and Jl Pasar Baru Selatan were built to support the center of government.

Those buildings built around 1820s to 1920s preserve their old European style. In the southern Pasar Baru, on Jl Antara, we can see Foto Antara building which was moved to the west side. Old hotels stand still on the crossroads of Jl Antara and Jl Pintu Air.

The same thing is seen on Jl KH Samanhudi. Some old buildings stand still, such as a protestant church or PNIEL or having known as “Ayam” Church, Vihara Dharma Jaya, and herb store Nyonya Meneer.

Old time legacies can also be seen on the main access to Pasar Baru. There are narrow high alleys that have characterized the roads in Europe.

“This narrow alley is as it was in the old time. But since many buildings have been renovated, the condition changes,” said Teng Oek (69), a figure in Pasar Baru, pointing a narrow alley heading to Vihara Dharma Jaya, Saturday (10/2).

Thus grandfather of nine grandchildren said that his families of three generations before him lived in Pasar Baru since 1898. But now, it is different from the condition in the Netherlands era. This old man called as Kong Ook said that besides the Netherlands, Chinese people lived and had business in Pasar Baru.

“The difference is that now many Indonesian people visit Pasar Baru, instead of foreign people,” said Kong Ook.

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Visit Indonesia where the tradition says that when butterflies come...it is sign that a special one will arrive. It is time to visit Indonesia. Video broadcast by Best Destination Travel TV channel (www.BestDestination.com), travel guides and travel directory by Travelindex Network (www.travelindex.com).

AUSTRALIA REMAINS BIGGEST SOURCE OF TOURISTS TO BALI

Australia remained the biggest source of foreign tourists visiting Bali in the first eight months of 2010, an official said. A total of 399,988 Australians visited the resort island in the year to August 2010, up 47.25 percent from a year earlier, head of the Bali provincial statistics office Ida Komang Wisnu said here on Sunday.

Overview: Sumbawa

Situated in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain with Alas Strait and Lombok to the west , Flores to the east, and Sumba further to the southeast, Sumbawa is a part of the province of West Nusa Tenggara. Sumbawa is also surrounded by smaller islands, most notably Moyo Island, Sangeang Island and Komodo Islands to the east.

Sumbawa is 15,448 km2 or 5,965 sq mi with a population of around 1.5 million. The kingdoms located in Sumbawa Besar and Bima were the two focal points of Sumbawa. This division of the island into two parts remains today; Sumbawa Besar and Bima are the two largest towns on the island, and are the centers of distinct cultural groups that share the island.

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Garuda to stage travel fair 2010 in Jakarta

PT Garuda Indonesia plans to give the country`s tourism a boost by holding a Garuda Travel Fair 2010 showcasing inexpensive but attractive travel packages from Oct 8 to 10 at the Jakarta Convention Center, a company executive said.

"Garuda Travel Fair (GATF) 2010 will mark the second time we are holding a tourism promotion event. The first time was in 2009," Garuda`s commercial director Agus Priyanto said here Friday.

GATF, the largest tourism promotion event Garuda Indonesia was staging regularly, would be participated in by wholesale and retail travel agencies, hotels,resorts and other tourism industry institutions that can offer all sorts of holiday packages for domestic and foreign tourists.

He said GATF 2010 was one of the ways in which Garuda Indonesia was supporting Indonesian tourism and designed to increase people`s interest in travel, and thus helping the national tourism industry to develop.

"For GATF this year, we have also asked Bank Mandiri to cooperate with Garuda Indonesia in providing tourists or travelers with easier or more convenient facilities to make banking transactions," he said.

Handayani, Bank Mandiri senior vice president for card business affairs, welcomed the cooporation with Garuda Indonesia.

She said the cooperation was expected to enable Mandiri Bank credit card holders to realize their dream of travelling around the world.

"Mandiri Visa and Master Card holders who visit this fair will get interesting offers such as `No Surchrage` and `0 Percent Instalment Program" facilities, she said.

Meanwhile, Agus said GATF 2010 was expected to generate Rp20 trillion worth of sales and to attract 35.000 visitors. Last year`s GATF drew 21,000 visitors who made transactions worth a total of Rp14 trillion

Chinese Tourist Dies While Snorkeling at Nusa Penida

Chinese Doctor's Body Found Floating at Off-Shore Bali Island After Snorkeling Expedition.

A 71-year-old Chinese tourist, Guuxia Ling, died on Sunday, September 26, 2010, while snorkeling off the Quicksilver Pontoon off Toya Pakeh Beach at Nusa Penida island near Bali.

The dead woman was a physician who came to the popular beach location in a group of 100 tourist on a day cruise program.

The woman reportedly left the rest of the group shortly after her arrival at the island to snorkel the local reef. When she did not rejoin the group, a search was mounted that soon discovered the woman's body floating in the ocean.

Local police are treating the death of the woman as due to natural causes and advancing age.

The body of the Chinese tourist was brought to the Sanglah General Hospital for forensic examination.

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