German Travel Ban Down

Bali’s Police Chief Inspector General Budi Setyawan hoped European states would follow the example of the government of Germany in its recent action to withdraw the travel ban to Bali. He spoke to the press on Saturday (14 December 2002) after officiating an exhibition of the German Mercedes-Benz newest automobile at Hartono Motor Raya Company in Kuta.
The police chief also hoped the luxurious car exhibition would be able to set the tone for a favourable atmosphere during the post Kuta tragedy following the example of Germany as shown by its Consulate in Bali. The country’s Honorary Consul to Bali and East Nusa Tenggara, Mr. Reinhold Jantzen on his visit to Bali Police Polda Chief Budi Setiawan, made it clear about the withdrawal of the German Travel Ban.
Budi Setyawan is of the opinion that such a change of course by Germany will have a positive effect on tourism in Bali, while police were ready in continuing to take care of security on this island. Speaking during the Mercedes-Benz Car Exhibition, the Branch Manager of PT Motor Raya Ir. A.A. Rai Suparta stated that this exhibition had no relation to the withdrawal of the travel ban.
Rai Suparta said this exhibition has continued despite the events of October. He is optimistic that business in Bali will soon be restored as it has been projected. Immediately after the opening of this exhibition, five cars were sold for the price of billions of rupiahs. (BP)

BTB Chairman Putu Antara :
Coordination Meeting for Recovery of Tourism in Bali

A national coordination meeting held in Nusa Dua from 22 - 23 October 2002 has decided to install three commissions to execute various programs on the restoration of tourism in Bali following 12 October 2002 bomb tragedy, Bali Tourism Board (BTB) Chairman Mr. Agus Antara said to Bali Travel News recently. The commissions are in charge of Product, Marketing, and Social Affairs towards recovery, rehabilitation and normalization of tourism in Bali.
Bali Tourism Board is heading nine stakeholders who requested Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister of Culture and Tourism to arrange a national coordination meeting for the purpose of tourism restoration in Bali after the bomb blast. Coordinating Minister of Economic, Financial and Industrial Affairs, Dorodjatun Koencorojakti, and Minister of Culture and Tourism, I Gde Ardika, agreed to the BTB proposal, and directly chaired the coordination meeting
The meeting accorded a task to BTB related to marketing in line with its ability to improve Bali market share with financial funds of Rp 76,700,000,000.00 projected for promotion and public relations. Nevertheless, the fund so far has not been realised or authorized by the Central Government of the Republic. All working programs of the coordination meeting relating to BTB responsibilities have not yet been sanctioned. “How it could be possible for BTB and all of its components to execute the programs decided by the coordination meeting without a fund,” he said.
Short, intermediate, and long term programs such as working with foreign journalists, welcome-at-the-airport Program, road show of sympathy project, have all been discussed to fine details. Other projects are filming on Bali, upgrading of security means at Bali entry points and international cooperation programs.
In a press conference held recently at BTB office, Agus Antara clarified many issues concerning Bali’s tourism restoration from the coordination meeting. (Agustinus)