NusaBali reports that Bali's Benoa Port will soon be enlarged to cover an area of 80 hectares by dredging shallow areas of the harbor currently inaccessible to shipping.

Benoa's current useable port area is 40 hectares while experts claim a port of 120 hectares is needed to provide access for international cruises ships.

Heskiel Sasian, the General Manager of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III – Benoa - the management authority for Benoa Harbor, defended the port expansion program saying it was in accordance with the master plan of the provincial government of Bali and the target of the Department of Culture and Tourism to increase the role of cruise tourism.

The development of Benoa would provide a convenient cruise terminal with a location just minutes from Bali's international airport the Island's main tourism areas.

Plans for the development of the Benoa port has reportedly commenced with the signing of a cooperation agreement with a consortium of 6 South Korean companies. Under the terms of that agreement the Korean partners will provide Rp. 3 trillion (US$326 million) for the development of port infrastructure and another Rp. 2 trillion (US$217 million) for the construction of 5-star accommodation and a traffic flyover.

Heskiel told NusaBali that the Department of Culture and Tourism has already provided Rp. 500 million (US$54,500) in funding that have permitted changes in the port basin in order that ship of up to 260 meters can now call on Benoa.

In accordance with an economic cooperation agreement signed between Indonesia and Japan energy-efficient hybrid cars will soon be free of import tax in Indonesia.

Current law covering the importation of completely built up (CBU) vehicles from Japan with an engine size of 3,000 cc or more are subject to an import tax of 10%. According to Bisnis Indonesia, the Economic Partnership Agreement now in place between Japan and Indonesia provides for the phased elimination through 2012 of import duties on cars with engine sizes of more than 3,000 c.c.. The Director of Land Transportation Vehicles and Aircraft from the Indonesian Department of Industry, Syarif Hidayat, said the gradual elimination of the import tax is intended by the government to act as an incentive for the importation of Japanese hybrid vehicles.

Hidayat said the government has yet to specifically stipulate which brands of hybrid vehicles will be exempted from import duties under the Economic Partnership Agreements. In principle, however, the tax-free facility will be applied without prejudicing the status of the domestic automotive industry.

Syarif said: "The hybrid vehicles will be imported under the scheme provided in the free trade agreement, Clearly, there is a timetable for the reduction of import duties for vehicles with engine sizes above 3,000 cc, and perhaps the hybrid vehicles may qualify for free import."

A Contradiction?

A closer examination of the terms of the tax-free agreement should deflate the hopes of anyone expecting to purchase in Indonesia a bargain priced Toyota Prius - the most popular Japanese hybrid vehicle in the world today. With an engine size of 1,500 cc, the Toyota Prius would not qualify for tax exemption under the terms of the joint Japanese-Indonesian agreement. In fact, at an entry level of 3,000 cc, the tourism industry may only benefit from the tax-free facility in the importation of busses operating with hybrid technology.

Syarif said the government is exploring steps to create incentives for the national automotive industry to accelerate the introduction of environmentally friendly energy-efficient vehicles.

Bisnis Indonesia reports that Spanish carrier Gadair European Airlines is seeking to establish air service between Spain and Indonesia.

The Indonesian Ambassador to Spain, Slamet Santoso Mustafa, said Gadair is seeking traffic rights to both Jakarta and Denpasar (Bali) via international flights departing from the Spanish capital of Madrid. According to the Ambassador, Gadair's main attraction in flying to Indonesia is the island of Bali, seen as an easy sell to Spanish holidaymakers.

Meanwhile, Musthofa Taufik Abdul Aziz, the Economic Counselor of the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid, reports that more than 30 Spanish investors in held meetings with the Chairman of the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board, M. Lufti, in Madrid on June 3, 2008. Following that meeting, Gadair wrote the Madrid Embassy on June 7, 2008, formally declaring its interest in opening air service between the two countries. That letter also requested detailed data on Spanish visitors to Indonesia and Bali.

In 2007, a total 17,427 Spanish citizens arrived through Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport.

According to Musthofa, Gadair is seeking to acquire Spain's second largest airline Spainair.

Mustofa's comments predate the recent tragic crash of a Spainair aircraft in Madrid on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 that claimed 153 lives.

PT Mountbatten Resorts Indonesia will soon assume management of the 133-room Contiki Resort Bali located in the Seminyak area of Bali's famed Kuta Beach.

The new managers of the property have declared their intention to renovate and rebrand the Resort, currently operated as an 18-35 year only 4-star resort. Quoted in Bisnis Indonesia, the Assistant General Manager of the Contiki Resort, Martinelly said that while the Contiki concept has worked in a number of countries, it is apparently not appropriate for Bali. The newspaper also reports that while hotels throughout Bali are running at 90% plus occupancy levels the Contiki Resort is only averaging 60% occupancy.

David Hosking, Director of PT Mountbatten Resorts Indonesia said the new resort would offer a new range of services and operated under the brand Breezes Resort and Spa. The target market for the new hotel would be family oriented and aimed on the mid to high market segments. Certain to go, as well, is the current age restriction of 18-35 years.

While saying the Resort would be renovated before the new launch, Hoskings refused to divulge the total amount of additional investment.

The new management contract for the property was recently signed between Mountbatten Resorts Indonesia and the hotel's owner, Made "Kadek" Wiranatha.

Plans are for the hotel to be re-launched under its new brand by November of 2008.

BisnisBali reports that PT Garuda Indonesia plans to recruit 200 new pilots needed to fly their fleet of new Boeing 737-800 aircraft now on order.

"We need 200 pilots, hundreds of technicians and stewardesses to staff the new aircraft on order by Garuda," said the Head of Communications for the Airline, Pujobroto.

Pujobroto told the press that new pilots recruited by Garuda will be placed on various aircrafts operated by the airline depending on their experience and aircraft-type certification. All new pilots, once accepted for employment, are required to follow special training courses conducted by Garuda lasting from one to three months.

The national carrier's recruitment of new pilots will also include a "special" uptake from the recent mass lay-off of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

Over the course of ten days from October 21-30, 2008, the Bali International Film Festival 2008 (BALINALE 2008) will showcase new independent movies made by Indonesian film makers and award-winning international artists. Organizers plan to screen more than 50 feature films, documentaries, short and classic movies before a general audience and a select cast of international jurists.

Now in its second year, the BALINALE 2008 will again feature workshops for young film makers.

How You Can Help Support BALINALE 2008

In an effort to raise funds in support of the BALINALE 2008, the Ritz-Carlton Bali Resort & Spa is hosting a sumptuous seven-course gala dinner prepared by Chef Andreas Krampl using quality gourmet ingredients from New Zealand.

Adopting a "Roaring 20" theme for the evening - those attending the dinner will encounter jazzy flappers, Keystone Cops, clips from rare footage shot by Charlie Chaplin in Bali and a special "Charlie in Bali" dance number presented by the Nyoman Sura Dance Troupe.

Tickets for the evening cost Rp. 1,200,000 (US$130.50) per person which include a welcome martini, a bottle of "boot-leg" wine, complimentary spirits and Heineken draft beer, and the seven-course gourmet dinner. The fun starts at 7:00 p.m. with pre-dinner cocktails and will run until the party gets raided.

Proceeds from the evening will go to the Bali Taksu Indonesian Foundation in support of the BALINALE 2008.

Seating is limited and advance bookings for tickets are a must!

For tickets call ++62-(0)818355544.

[WWW.BALINALE.COM]

Bipal Kapur, the recently-arrived General Manager of The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali demonstrated to the Island's travel community that he's a man who knows how to host a party following a most lavish and creative "appreciation night" held for hundreds of clients in the Bali International Convention Centre’s Nusa Indah Ballroom on Friday, August 22, 2008.

Adopting the theme of a ”journey to the renewal” outstanding cuisine – mostly presented on a ala minute basis, fine wines and cocktails, door prizes, live music provided by Aswin’s jazz band and vocalist Michelle Rounds and a show-stopping dance performance by the Bali's world renowned Nyoman Sura Dance Troupe all combined to create a memorable evening certain to be the talk of the local hotel industry over the weeks to come.

For those who were unable to attend, balidiscovery.com includes some snapshots from the "journey to renewal."

Journey to Renewal Pictures

click image to enlarge

An early morning blaze on Monday, August 18, 2008, destroyed the Kuta landmark Hulu Café on Jalan Sahadewa.

Hulu Café is well known to Bali visitors as a bar featuring musical programs featuring transvestite and drag show cabaret performances offered on almost a nightly basis.

Local authorities report that the fire began at 10:30 am was responded to by 10 fire trucks who worked ferociously to successfully contain the blaze to a single building in an area of tightly packed business structures.

The Denpost quoted local firefighters as complaining bitterly that their efforts to put out the fire were frustrated by non-functioning fire hydrants located at the Rama Garden and Casa Padma hotels. Despite these problems, firemen were able to bring the fire under control one hour after their arrival at the location.

Police and fire authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

The Bali International Medical Centre Hospital (BIMC) have recently installed a sophisticated new CT Scanner (Computed Tomography) that can provide doctors with highly detailed 3-D images of the brain, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, which cannot be seen in the same detail by standard x-ray examinations.

The Siemen's state-of-the-art diagnostic CT scanner provides a 6-slice scan of the human body providing a wide range of clinical applications from 3D to perfusion imaging to CT fluoroscopy.

Providing medical professionals with a detailed view of a disease or injury site within the body, Doctors at BIMC are extremely excited about the time-critical non-invasive diagnostic ability this new piece of medical equipment provides doctors, particularly in accident and trauma cases.

As with the BIMC's existing advanced x-ray technology, the results of the new CT-scanner can be transmitted electronically allowing diagnostic and treatment conferences with leading hospitals around the world.

Another advantage of the new CT scan now in operation at BIMC is the reduced level of radiation exposure for the patient. Through the use of an "Ultra Fast Ceramic Detector" the smallest possible dose of radiation results in exceptional image quality. The equipment's highly efficient detector and the automated dose management system analyzes the smallest possible dose of radiation to result the best image quality based on the patient's size, weight and anatomy. This system has been proven to reduce the radiation dose to up 68% compared to a conventional CT scan.

Craig Beveridge, Managing Director of the BIMC said, "the new 6-slice CT-Scan machine at BIMC is represents the most advanced diagnostic equipment of its kind now in operation in Bali. Our team of medical specialists is convinced that the round-the-clock availability of advanced CT imagery will serve to enhance our shared vision of enhancing health and saving lives by providing a truly international standard of medical care in Bali."

The August 2008 edition of Travel + Leisure magazine has published the results of the latest survey of their sophisticated readers rating the worlds best cities, islands, hotels, tour companies, airlines and rental car companies.

While Indonesian tourism circles boast with justifiable bravado of the accolades bestowed by Travel + Leisure on Bali and its travel industry, the latest results should be sounding some alarms in official circles and provide additional fodder for those who claim mismanagement of the island's assets is causing a downturn in the destination's luster and appeal.

No Longer the Top Island

Through 2007, despite 2 terrorist attacks, Bali monopolized for six consecutive years the number one spot in the survey as the worlds favorite holiday island. However, the 2008 results has seen Bali slip to the #2 spot behind Galapagos which is now ranked as "the world's best island."

Bali Hotels, Conspicuous by the Absence

A declining popularity of Bali hotels in the eyes of the Travel + Leisure survey was highlighted last year by balidiscovery.com [See: Bali: We're the Tops!], a worrying trend that has become painfully manifest in the 2008 results.

In the latest Travel + Leisure survey not a single Bali hotel was listed in the top 100 hotels worldwide. This compares to 2007 when the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay held the #71 ranking (down from #5 in 2006). Meanwhile, just two years before, the 2006 results saw 3 Bali properties ranked in the top 100 hotels worldwide.

Similarly, Travel + Leisure's latest listing of the top 50 Asian Hotels re-echoes the fear that the reputation of the Island's hotels may be sailing on a slippery slope to mediocrity. In 2007, the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay ranked #12 in the "Top 50" among Asia's best hotels followed by the Ritz-Carlton Bali Resort at #39. Just a year earlier, in 2006, 4 Bali hotels formed the single largest block for any single destination among Travel + Leisure's top 50 hotels in Asia.

The latest listing for 2008 of the top 50 hotels in Asia fails to find a single Bali (or Indonesian) hotel among that hallowed ranking.

One Bali Hotel to Watch

The only Bali hotel to gain mention in the latest Travel + Leisure survey was the [Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa Bali] which was included in the magazine’s list of "15 to Watch." Travel + Leisure praised the new hotel, saying: "Fifty-nine Balinese-inspired sea-view suites with spacious balconies, silk daybeds, and oversize terrazzo tubs – on exclusive Seminyak beach."

Related Link[Travel + Leisure World Best Results for 2008]

Antara News Agency estimates that 24 foreign nationals are now housed as prisoners in Denpasar's main Kerobokan prison.

The prison’s warden, Yon Suharyono, said, "of the number, 18 are convicted prisoners and six detainees." Detainees are traditionally held at the prison while awaiting trial.

The group of "imported" inmates hail for 10 different countries, with the majority serving time for narcotics-related offenses. Antara's head count of foreign prisoners tallies 11 Australians, 4 Japanese, 2 Swiss nationals, 1 Nepalese, 1 Algerian, 1 American, 1 South African, 1 Briton, 1 Hungarian and 1 Korean.

Included in the 11 Australians are members of the "Bali 9" drug smuggling group, 3 of whom are under sentence of death for trying to carry 8.2 kilograms of heroin through Bali's airport. Shapelle Corby is another Australian prisoner serving a 20 year sentence after being convicted of carrying 4.2 kilograms of marijuana from Australia to Bali.

Prison Badly Over-Crowded

According to Surharyono, the Kerobokan prison presently houses 897 inmates, exceeding by 150% the facilities design capacity of 360 prisoners.

The roll call at the Kerobokan prison:

● 600 convicted criminals and 297 detainees awaiting trials.

● 403 (44.9%) of the prisoners behind bar on drug-related charges (303 convicted, 100 detainees)

● Of the 403 convicted drug offenders, 268 are men and 35 women.

● Of the 100 drug-related detainees, 85 are men and 15 women.

Christopher Leonard Green – a well known member of Indonesia's travel fraternity passed away in Melbourne on August 17, 2008, after a heroic battle with cancer.

More popularly known as "Chris," Green held a number of hotel positions in Jakarta and Bali, including stints with the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel and The Villas. Beginning his travel career by working with international airlines for 10 years in London, Chris later moved to Canada where he embarked on his life-long vocation as a hotelier. He left Canada in 1988 and spent 20 years in Asia, running hotels in Palau, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand.

Chris, who had been living in Melbourne, left behind his daughter, Julanar Green, his wife of 35 years, Najwa Green, and his siblings, Dudley Green, Jenny Green and Pam Green.

Chris Green is remembered by family and friends as generous, supportive, and full of laughter, even in the darkest of times. He faced cancer with courage, dignity and his signature sense of humor.

His daughter said, "He loved a challenge – whether it was opening a new hotel, writing books, climbing Mt Kilimanjaro or surviving natural disasters and civil unrest."

His family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations are made in his memory to his favorite charity, UNICEF.