UK Top Agents Joint Educational Trip

Supported by the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa and Pacific World Nusantara, Garuda Indonesia (GA) and Malaysia Airlines (MH) has invited 24 of its top agents from United Kingdom to Bali. This initiative is taken by the 2 major airlines, to provide the agents with a first hand experience of the current situation in Bali, 2 years after the Bali bombing in terms of security, new facilities and services. The agents who are coming to Bali are: Tailormade Travel; STA Travel; Asia World; Travel House; Emerald Global; Travel 2; Air Travel Guide; Eton Travel; Unijet; Kuoni Travel; Flight Directors; Journey the World; Gold Medal; Tradewinds; Cresta Holidays-Altrincham; Expedia; Gazelle Travel; Sta Travel; Gold Medal; Travelcare Co Op; Cresta Holidays-Manchester I and Cresta Holidays-Manchester II. The agents are accompanied by Miss Dawn L Ranson of GA UK and Mr John Tranmer of MH UK.

The idea of the familiarization trip is in conjunction with the changes of the ‘travel advisory’ by the United Kingdom (UK) Government that is no longer recommending non-essential travel to Indonesia and Bali. This familiarization trip is the first one GA Europe has organized since the September 11th, 2001 tragedy as well as in conjunction with the development of code share program between the 2 airlines.
As quoted from Joseph A. Saul, General Manager of GA in UK/Ireland: “This GA-MH joint Trip is one of the GA efforts to boost the tourism industry in Bali that has significantly dropped in the past.”
The travel advisory had a grater impact on UK travelers to Bali than other countries as travel insurances restrictions further discouraging travel. The UK market has ranked fourth in terms of local international arrivals to Bali behind Australia, Japan and Taiwan, and due to continued negative travel advisories, UK arrivals dropped to 48 percent in 2003.
Therefore, the changes of the travel advisory by the UK Government that is no longer recommending against non-essential travel to Indonesia and Bali are met with relief in Bali.
As the highlight of the visit, GA is hosting the agents on the last evening in a farewell dinner party at the Pacific World Nusantara’s private villa in Ketewel, Gianyar. The guests who are attending the dinner are the Vice President Network GA, Mr Palungan, Vice Chief of Bali Police, Dr Teguh Sudarsono, Honorary Consul of UK in Bali, Mr Mark Wilson, General Manager of GA Bali, Mr Kriston Rasmanto, Country Director of MH Indonesia, Mr Nasri Karim, General Manager of MH in Bali, Mr Kemal Mustafa, Bali Tourism Authority, a number of GM’s and Director of Sales of 5 stars hotels and tour operators in Bali as well local print and electronic media.
During the dinner, the agents will obtain valuable information on the current situation of security in Bali as well as the current facilities and services in Bali from authentic resources. (BTN/*)

Sculpture Exhibition at Griya Santrian Gallery

SANUR—Located at Griya Santrian Gallery, Sanur the sculpturer I Wayan Jana exhibited a number of his works taking place between the 16 October-3 December 2004. I Wayan Jana who is the son of celebrated Balinese sculptor I Ketut Muja presented his quivering surrealistic works made of wooden materials. His artistry at sculpturing has deeply involved him since his childhood improving his skill by learning at the Fine Arts High School in Denpasar. Later, he continued his study at the Indonesian Institute of Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta, Central Java. Throughout his life, he enjoys sculpturing very much and his sense of art continues with great force. (BTN/Yan Beryas)