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Pessimism
and Optimism
Facing Bali’s Tourism in 2004
The
year soon will switch, leaving behind 2003
and entering the New Year of 2004. Penetrating
this year’s exchange, Bali’s tourism
world is still facing many obstacles again,
just like it was before. Uncertain feelings
between pessimism and optimism, meddle in
the entrepreneur’s expression specially,
and the public in general, when they look
at Bali’s tourism business for the
future.
They who pessimistically observed the many
obstacles and problems that are still visible
for Bali’s tourism next year. The plummets
of Bali’s tourism in 2003, considering
the horrifying scale of events, will still
continue into next year. Even though the
bomb issues, Gulf War, and SARS virus has
passed, Bali’s tourism business hasn’t
increased because of the world’s economic
position .
The hotel occupancy in Bali on average is
under 50%. Many hotels merely fill their
rooms at about 30%, with a competitive package
price, alias under standard. They are forced
to do it , if not, they will no longer be
able to survive.
At the year-end, dysentery cases that affected
Taiwanese tourists on their return from
vacation in Bali also had a bad effect on
Bali’s image. Because of this, the
Taiwanese visiting Bali dropped for a while.
Even though Taiwanese tourists are still
coming to Bali, this sensitive news brought
a negative impact to other tourism visit
trends such as Japan and Korea.
Fortunately, it was handled in haste by
the Bali Tourism Authority (BTA) that departed
to Taiwan to explain the situation, and
also invited restaurants to increase their
health safety standards. Now, the Bali Tourism
Authority provides a certificate for a recommended
restaurants.
Another reason for them who pessimistically
deal with next year, Bali’s tourism
is an enormous menace of instability penetrating
the Pemilu (general elections) 2004. The
security apparatus in Bali and LSM, and
other society classes are in the effort
to make the election process run accurately
without any disturbing incidents.
The policy of a free visa withdrawn and
changed with a visa fee is also a wedge
for Bali and Indonesia’s tourism entrepreneurs.
If the visa free policy is applied
according to the plan, which is early next
year, this means the vacation cost to Bali
becomes more expensive and many intending
tourists will cancel their willingness to
come Bali. Tourism components constantly
push the government to delay or cancel that
visa fee policy.
The Reason to be Optimistic
The reasons for those who optimistically
see the year change, is Bali’s condition
and potency. Since the Kuta tragedy on the
12th October 2003, Bali’s tourism components
like Bali Tourism Board (BTB), Bali Tourism
Authority (BAT), Bali Village, and others
have done promotions to several main markets
of Bali’s tourism such as Japan, Australia,
Taiwan, Germany and several European countries.
The acclamation from those market countries
providing Bali’s tourism is positive
indeed. The agent societies of those countries
are also incessantly promoting and selling
Bali holiday packages. The number of international
hotel chains in Bali is also participating
actively to promote Bali in outside countries.
The promotion effects will begin in 2004,
at the time when Bali will receive many
tourists from many nations. Terrorist issues
seem to have subsided in compliance with
the Indonesian government, and world’s
countries persistence to keep restricting
the space for terrorism. The war issue is
also settling down, so the world will bring
peace and a secure feeling for its citizens
to travel everywhere including Bali.
The general election in 2004 (Pemilu 2004)
procession, which optimistically feels that
this country will keep steady because Indonesia
is experienced in democracy reflected on
the previous general election in 1999. So,
there is nothing to worry for the safety
of the coming election.
Another reason for the optimistic public
on forth-coming Bali’s tourism, is
the reality that Bali’s tourism owns
a potency of gorgeous nature and magnificent
culture, and choices of competitive hotels
and restaurants, which will make Bali absorb
large numbers of tourists next year. (BTN/04)
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