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Six
Danish Newsmen Invited to Bali
Danish
journalists have arrived by Singapore Airlines
to see the post-bombing conditions. Soon
after their arrival on 25 June 2003, the
Danish group of six journalists plunged
into action to see how far Bali has been
successful in restoring public life, especially
tourism, for the sake of promoting this
Island of Gods to the world of tourism.
The four-day visit would certainly revive
former experiences of group leader, Jens
Baehman, who came to Bali frequently before
the bombing.
According
to Mr. Allan Hoffery, who heads the sponsorship
of the journalists’ trip, the tour
is to promote Bali tourism to the international
public, especially those of Denmark. At
present, forty to fifty Danes are visiting
this island weekly. Jens Baehman said that
he has made several visits to Bali, visiting
Sanur, Seminyak, Lovina and Kuta. During
his stay in Kuta, he certainly made time
to go to Sari Club. “If I had been
in Sari Club on the night of the bomb blast,
maybe I too would have been of the victims
of Bali’s Tragedy,” mused Baehman,
adding he would be never afraid to come
to Bali.
The newsmen also went to PT Pacific Nusantara,
located at Danau Poso Street No. 51, Sanur,
on Friday 27 June 2003, to see a video recording
of the process of the trial of the defendants
in the bombing case. Present were also Chief
Public Relations Officer at Polda Bali Regional
Police, Mrs. Pengasihan Gaut, Marketing
Department Chief of Diparda Bali’s
Tourism Office, I Wayan Suamba and Managing
Director of PT Pacific World Nusantara,
Ida Bagus Surakusuma, known as Mr. Lolec.
Following the video broadcast, the foreign
journalists enjoyed snacks and drinks with
dance entertainment such as Balinese Legong
Kraton, Baris and Topeng Tua.
Allan Hoffery, representing Singapore Airlines,
made it clear that in sponsoring the trip
to Bali, the airline had spent a total of
US$ 20,000, while promotion and advertising
Bali had cost US$ 50,000. Mr. Ida Bagus
Lolec stressed that the visit by overseas
journalists seemed to be advantageous to
tourism in Indonesia, specifically to Bali,
for the sake of restoration and promotion
worldwide. However, such opportunities have
been scarce, even the Indonesian government
itself has made few moves top promote Bali.
“I have great sympathy for the way
Singapore Airlines has promoted Bali due
to Singapore’s geographically central
position in Southeast Asia, favorable for
Bali’s promotion,” Lolec claimed.
(BTN015)
Australian
Airlines Touches Down in Bali
 Within
the validation of the travel warning by
the Australian government for its citizen
who visit Bali (Indonesia), Australia Airline
touched down on the night of 27 June at
Ngurah Rai Airport. Australian Airlines
will continue its 24-year tradition of flying
holidaymakers to Bali from Australia’s
eastern states with the start of four weekly
services to Denpasar. The airline will also
bring the “red center” to the
island of Bali with its signature ochre
coloring recognized internationally as the
color of the heart of Australia.
Australian Airlines Manager of Marketing
and Sales Development Luisa Pastrello said
the inaugural Australian Airlines flight
from Melbourne to Ngurah Rai International
Airport landed with a full load of 271 passengers.
“The popularity of Bali as a destination
has not diminished among Australians,”
Ms Pastrello said. “Seats on last night’s
flight as well as next week’s were
sold out well in advance and subsequent
services are filling fast”, she added.
Pastrello claims, “There is a real
affinity between the people of Australia
and Indonesia, with Bali in particular renowned
for the warmth and charm of its people,
its beach resorts and being a place for
fun in the sun. In addition, we are confident
our flights will make a valuable contribution
to the recovery of the tourism industry
in Bali, with the ability to bring in more
than 1,000 visitors each week from next
month when all four services are operating.”
She also said, “Bali is our eleventh
destination since we began flying on 27
October 2002 and we will become a familiar
sight in the skies over Bali in coming months.”
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