Travel Warning

UBUD—Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Indonesia, Mr. Noer Hasan Wirajuda, on his visit to Ubud explained about the travel warning that remains to be expedited by several countries, chiefly Australia. According to him, he could not do a lot to appeal those countries to withdraw it, though other ministers and he have attempted at many occasions to lobby the pulling back of these warnings by those countries. "It is their right to issue travel warnings. We are confident that such an act is merely intended to protect their citizens. However, still a large number of tourists visit Indonesia or Bali, like many Australians, don’t they?" he told journalists at the Maya Ubud, Gianyar, Thursday (BTN/kmps)

BTDC Received an Award

NUSA DUA— Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC), Thursday (23/11) received an award from the Indonesia Quality Award Foundation in Jakarta. The award was delivered based on the criteria of Malcom Baldridge assessing the Corporation Excellent Performance that nowadays grows rapidly all over the world. Criteria of the assessment encompass the leadership having vision, strategic plan, customer-driven superiority, knowledge-management, focus on human resources, management process and final proceeding gained by the company. This award represents an outstanding achievement and at the same time a challenge for BTDC to become a world class corporation. The certificate and medal were presented by the Minister of State Owned Enterprises to Managing Director of PT BTDC, Ir. I Made Mandra. (BTN/*)

Lembongan Ecotourism

LEMBONGAN – A dissemination of the potentials and the concept of ecotourism development for Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan Islands, Klungkung regency, was carried out in Lembongan on November 23, 2006. Besides the Village leader, I Nyoman Murta, the presentation was also attended by the head of Culture and Tourism Office of Klungkung, Nengah Wijana, Dewa Ardhana and Putu Suastika from Bali Government Tourism Office and some of their staffs, tourism stakeholders of Nusa Lembongan-Nusa Ceningan as well as local communities. Dewa Ardhana on his opening speech said that his institution was working together with Udayana University in carrying out ecotourism research in Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan Islands. The team as a partner consists of A. A. Gde Raka Dalem, as chairman, and some members, namely Agung Suryawan Wiranatha, Made Heny Urmila Dewi, A. A. Putri Sri, G. A. K. Ekayani, and I Ketut Ginantra, who is also the local scientist. A. A. Gde Raka Dalem, as the head of research team who presented his research output, said that the tourism operations in the area need to focus on the development of marine ecotourism as well as ecotourism based on sea-weeds, as their main ecotourism products. In addition he recommended the locals to set up a research and information centre on sea weeds, as well as to build a seaweed museum in the long term. Gerard Nass, a Dutchman journalist who also attended the presentation, said that he understood that the presentation had provided some recommendations for the development of ecotourism in Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan and expected these things to be working well for the welfare of the local communities. (BTN/028)

Painting Competition of National Figures

DENPASAR – In conjunction with the 8th anniversary of the Tokoh newspaper a painting exhibition of national figures was held at the Press Bali Ketut Nadha Building, Monday (3/12). The competition was participated by 32 participants from children of Elementary schools all around Bali. This newspaper also held another events: a photogenic competition which was participated by 455 people and a women chess competition in cooperation with Percasi Bali. (BTN/015)

THK Presentation at Bulgari Hotels & Resorts

PECATU – A THK team, lead by its deputy chairperson, A. A. Gde Raka Dalem, accompanied by Wayan Windia from Pawongan (Community) section, as well as Ketut Wiana from Parhyangan (Spiritual) section, were invited by Bulgary Hotel & Resort in Pecatu, to provide a presentation on the Tri Hita Karana (THK) philosophy and its implementation for tourism sectors especially in the hotel industry. More than 25 management and staff members of this hotel attended this presentation. Raka Dalem on his presentation spelled out the meaning of philosophy of THK and which steps should be taken in THK certification and accreditation programs, while Wayan Windia and Ketut Wiana provided an overview of implementations of THK in pawongan and parhyangan aspects. After the presentation, I Wayan Sucitra, Employee Relations Manager of this hotel said that his hotel has the commitment to implement the THK philosophy at its operations. (BTN/028)