Seven Achievers of ‘’Karyakarana Pariwisata’’ Awards

I Made Wiranatha
Pioneering service of I Made Wiranatha alias Kadek Bounty pertains to his breakthrough to establish the airline company in Bali. In 2002, he founded PT Air Paradise International with brand name Air Paradise. This breakthrough is capable of giving contribution towards the increase of foreign tourist visit to Bali, chiefly on the period when Bali facing crises of tourists, post-Kuta Bomb 12 October 2002. “As a matter of fact, the establishment of this company has nothing to do with Bali Bomb. I just see the fact that at the beginning of 2000s, many international airline companies reduced their flight frequency to Bali,” Kadek said.
In its ‘infant’ age, Air Paradise spread its wings to Asian routes. It means, Air Paradise does not only connect Bali-Australia, but also Korea and Japan with four fleets. “We target some 130,000 Australian visitors per year conveyed to Bali, excluding Korean and Japanese,” Kadek added concerning with the prospect of Air Paradise.
The man of Singaraja-born on 30 January 1959 once spent his adolescent period in Lombok (1969-1975) and studied at Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering at Udayana University (1978-1995) prior to deeply involving in tourism. At last, he gets success and is capable of waving his name through many companies like Bounty Hotel, Barong Hotel, Gado-Gado Restaurant, Kudeta and so forth.

Nicholas James Peter Blackbeard
Nick Blackbeard was presented Karyakarana Pariwisata award due to his meritorious service in introducing the tourism attraction of rafting at Ayung River, Ubud. He came to be the first of its kind in Bali, and probably in Indonesia, who packed river rapids adventure into fascinating tourism activity.
Nick’s endeavour to introduce rafting in Bali inspired other businessmen to open similar business at several rivers across Bali, especially Eastern Bali. The presence of rafting does not only make the tourist object and attraction progressively richer, but also varies. Moreover, rafting tour package appears concurrently with the growth of tourism trend that is back to nature, eco-tourism. “Within the last decade, rafting has become one of best-seller tour packages and enchanted domestic and international tourists,” Nick remarked.
Nick who is now becoming an Indonesian citizen has deeply involved in rafting adventure since he was young at a number of rivers in North Scotland (England). He also once obtained an education at “River Guide Training School” in America by taking advantage the Colorado River as his practice site.
When he was 25 (1984), Nick whose posture is relatively small for the average of westerner has joined the Sobek Expedition Angle’s Camp in California. Along with his Sobek expedition team, Nick wandered and explored vast and gorgeous rivers in several countries.

The Late : Ida Bagus Oka Diwangkara
Ida Bagus Oka Diwangkara initiated the development of hotel business in Bali in 1950s. During 1955-1956, he established Hotel Wisma Pulau Bali in Denpasar. At that time, tourism of Bali has not developed well yet, however, the man who was born at Geriya Telabah, Denpasar on 15 August 1924 has been courageous to work on the business of accommodation service.
When he established his first hotel, he was just 31 years. Even though relatively young, Ida Bagus Oka Diwangkara was mature. He was active in political arena until he was appointed member of Bali House of Representatives (1955).
Decision to open accommodation service in small-scale, only caused by the accommodation facility was still rare. Then, he gradually set up and managed other hotels, starting from Hotel Wisma Pulau Bali in Denpasar (1962-1977) to Hotel Diwangkara Beach & Bungalows (1969) in Sanur Beach.

John Ketut Panca
John Ketut Panca is meritorious to develop the tourism of Bali professionally. The man who was born at Gulingan Village, Mengwi on 26 March 1941 in a peasant family originally aspired to become an aviator, however, the faith flew his life to a successful professional entrepreneur and manager. His pace in tourism industry has been put down in the history of Bali tourism development.
Idea of John K. Panca to become an aviator was achieved when he was accepted to become an aspirant to the Indonesian Air Force. As an aviator, he is good at speaking English that is useful in his profession in tourism sector (tourism consultant). In his career as officer of the Indonesian Air Force, he was once in charge in Makassar (South Celebes) and encountered with Ir. Elisabeth Lallo who now accompanies him coming to be his wife.
After becoming the member of corps of the Air Force Officer (1967), he entered a field of tourism business as freelance tour guide at Pacto Bali travel bureau. When a tour guide for a year, he then applied for the position of branch manager at the same company. As he is so smart and experienced, he was appointed Branch Manager of PT Pacto Tours, Bali for ten years (1968-1978). During the period 1981-1983, he once became a travel consultant in Vanuatu on the request of the United Nations.
As soon as he returned to Bali, he became Business Manager of DHL expedition, then founded Delta Tours (1985-1989) and Tour East (1990). Since then up to these days, John K Panca has become the Managing Director of Tour East. He is also active in tourism organization. In 1970-1978, he was the Chairman of ASITA (Association of the Indonesian Travel Agency) of Bali Chapter.

Ida Bagus Tjethana Putra
Ida Bagus Tjethana Putra, B.Sc. received Karyakarana Pariwisata awards on his extended achievement in establishing the tourism of Sanur and Bali in general. This man of Sanur-entered the field of tourism since the inauguration of Hotel Bali Beach in 1965 in several positions. He was then managed to develop and build his own tourism business by founding Santrian Beach Cottage. It has now expanded its business to Santrian Beach Resort in South Sanur. By this development, the business of Santrian Group operates 278 rooms with the classification of three-star rating. Whoever has the opportunity to visit or become a guest of Hotel Santrian (Griya Santrian or Puri Santrian) will feel the distinctiveness of this hotel in terms of its extensive garden, green blooming and beachfront location.

The Late : Ida Bagus Ketut Beratha
Ida Bagus Beratha, the administrative head of Sanur from 1959 until his untimely death in 1986, had been one of prime movers behind the village development plan. So was written by Australian anthropologist Carol Warren in her book. It means, as Village Administrative Head of Sanur since 1950 up to the end of his life (1986), he was one of the leading initiators behind the development plan of Sanur Village.
Sanur Village is one tourist destination in Bali that develops harmoniously because it involves most part of Sanur community. Dedication of Ida Bagus Ketut Beratha to develop Sanur that caused the government of Bali Province to present him (the late) Karyakarana Pariwisata award.
Development of Sanur as tourist destination is often exemplified as community-based tourism development model. His community has been involved since the very beginning in tourism development and they also enjoyed the result of tourism itself, took part in controlling and maintaining the identity of Bali tourism as cultural tourism. This matter is executed by founding the Assistance Fund for Development of Sanur Village Foundation in 1960s. This foundation keeps on developing with several ranges of business that prosper the community of Sanur.

The Late : I Gusti Bagus Astawa Raka
His original name is I Gusti Bagus Astawa Raka, however, he was more popular with his nickname Tommy Raka. Karyakarana Pariwisata awards of the ‘official’ category was rewarded to him on his dedication in the organization of the Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association (IHRA) of Bali Chapter.
Tommy Raka was active in the organization for 14 years, in 1982-1985 as the Secretary General and in 1988-1996 as the Chairman. Position of Chairman was occupied for two terms. Other than in IHRA, the late Tommy Raka also once devoted himself in Bali Chapter of the Association of Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs as Department Head of Tourism.
One of his substantial programs on occupying the position of Chairman of IHRA Bali Chapter was to motivate and take the three-star hotels and under to make intensive promotion abroad.
Tommy Raka studied in Australia (1971), at William Angliss College, Melbourne. Having graduated from his education in Australia, he went home and held the position as Assistant Chief Executive at Kuta Beach Club Hotel. He also managed a travel agent, Carefree Bali Holidays Tours and Travel with branches in Singapore and Gold Coast, Australia. (BTN/*)

Maya Arsanti
Promotion and Road show

The nice-looking girl who was born in Semarang, Central Java joined the PT Saka Dwi Dewata at the end of 2003, was appointed General Manager of Kuta Center. Many breakthroughs have been carried out to introduce this shopping centre, for instance, promotion and road show to domestic and foreign tourist pockets. “Our property nearly disappeared in post-Kuta bomb, October 2002,” she said apprehensively.

At that time, almost a half of businessmen that leased the house-shop property renounced because they were not capable of running their business. Ultimately, consignment system was specified in order that they were willing to hold out there. Similarly, the management party marketed Kuta Center more intensively to all directions.
This fact made the alumna of STP (Tourism College) Nusa Dua (1996) roam the world. Promotion and road show was executed to convince investors that Bali is safe, not only for travelling but also for doing investment. “Its result, a great number of investors are now running business in Bali and selected Kuta Center as their business location,” said Maya in gleaming face.
Considering the high demand of hotel rooms in Kuta area, the management party of Kuta Center renovated and converted 60% of its house-shop (block A-D) to hotel. According to the woman that once became the ‘opening team’ of The Ritz-Carlton Bali (1996), this hotel would be in operation at the beginning of December 2005 under the name ‘DJ’ hotel. “Later, Kuta Center will not only become a shopping & entertainment centre but also a safe, convenient and pleasant accommodation for tourists,” Maya added. (BTN/poll)