BALI – Latest Updates...Om Swastiastu ...

In the week after Easter, the lead news stories in Bali include: Bali Police have established a special division to deal with any latent threat of ISIS in Bali. Bali Prosecutors are seeking sentences of 15 and 18 years for a young American couple in the murder of Chicago socialite Sheila von Weise Mack in a South Bali Hotel. Five members of the Jehovah Witnesses sect have been apprehended and deported after they were caught performing a door-to-door ministry in South Bali. And, the body of a Sumba man who fell into the ocean near the Tanah Lot Temple has been recovered seven days after his disappearance.

An academic from Udayana University warns of rapidly increasing environmental degradation in Bali, while IDEP warns the Island is at heightened risk of natural disaster.

Chinese tourists are much in evidence in Bali. The Island has set a target of one million Chinese tourists in 2015. Bali’s Governor seeks direct flight connections with Yunnan and Hainan. And, Bali Tour Guides protest plans by the Minister of Tourism to allow Chinese tour guides to work in Bali.

Hotel News: GHM has ended its management contract with the Sakala Resort in Tanjung Benoa. Ana Dewi Permana has joined L Hotel Resorts as general manager. Harper Kuta has named Adiman Herlambang to head its sales & marketing. And, following protests from many hotel owners, the Minister for Reform of the Bureaucracy says government meetings in hotels are allowed under certain conditions.

Aviation News: Indonesian AirAsia X increases flight schedules from Bali to Taipei and Melbourne. Qatar Airways to begin flying from Doha to Bali twice daily on July 16, 2015. Batik Air – the full-service variant of Lion Air - has commenced flights from a second Jakarta base at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

Bali’s desire to build more highways and toll roads remains thwarted by the high cost of land acquisition.

This week Bali hosts the 4th PDI-P Congress with some 2,000-3,000 party members attending meetings at the Inna Grand Bali Beach.

Read also how Indian Travel agents attending the TAAI conference in Bali were treated to the spectacular Devdan Show at the Nusa Dua Theatre.

Due to religious observances, Bali’s Mount Agung is closed to climber and trekkers until April 28, 2015.

Read our editorial on why a moratorium on new hotels in Bali is long overdue and a special invitation to join a 16-day cruise surrounding Komodo in May.

News just in: The Jakarta Court has rejected the last ditch procedural appeal of Bali 9 ringleaders Sukumaran and Chan.

Looking Ahead:

• Conrad Bali Living Lobby Art Exhibition features wayang puppets through June 30, 2015.
• Entrepreneurship Exhibition in Bali, April 9-13, 2015.
• Mother’s Day Brunch at Bridges in Ubud to Help Fund Bumi Sehat Natural Birthing Program for Bali’s Women, May 10, 2015.
• Sail the Seven Seas to Komodo for 16 Days, May 12-28, 2015.
• InterContinental Bali Resorts Welcome Michelin Star Japanese Chef Hal Yamashita for dinners, cooking classes & Sake-Whisky tastings, May 13-17, 2015.
• “Interior Journey” – a Painting Exhibition by I Made Mangku Mahendra at The Pullman Legian Nirwana through May 17, 2015.
• “Women in Love” Painting Exhibition by Teguh Ritma Iman at Ganesha Gallery through May 14, 2015.
• Exhibition of Paintings by Nyoman Sujana Kenyam in North Bali through March 29, 2015.
• Rotary Club of Bali Seminyak ‘Bali will Rock like Broadway’ on Friday, April 10, 2015.
• Bali and Beyond Travel Fair, June 10-14, 2015.
• Balinale – Bali International Film Festival – the 9th Edition, September 24-30, 2015.
• 4th BII Maybank Bali International Marathon, on Sunday, August 30, 2015.
• Seven Star Global Luxury Awards on September 19, 2015 in Bali. Be sure to vote!
• International (ICEVI) Conference on Education for the Visually Impaired in Bali, September 28-October 1, 2015.
• World Congress of Consuls in Bali, October 15-18, 2015.
• 2015 Herbalife Bali International Triathlon on October 25, 2015.

 

 

Om Çanti Çanti Çanti Om ...

J.M. Daniels,
Editor Bali Update
Bali Discovery Tours