The Bali climate change meeting was a success because it provided the world with a guide for future negotiations on binding emissions targets, the Federal Government said. “What we have come together and agreed (on) is a road map to help us on our way,” Climate Change Minister Penny Wong told ABC radio on Monday (17/12).
Senator Wong led the last-minute negotiations between the US and European nations in Bali three weeks after being sworn in as the minister following Labor’s November 24 election win.
“We have always had the situation where developed countries had various commitments under the Kyoto protocol and developing countries sat outside that. “What we now have is a process where we have synchronised, parallel negotiations in relation to both developed and developing countries and their contribution to climate change.
“This is a global challenge that will not be met unless all the countries of the globe do their bit.” Senator Wong admitted there continues to be “divergent views” between the US and Europe.
“Obviously this was a very hard-won consensus. “This is a good agreement, it is a strong agreement. It lays the groundwork for the next two years of negotiations so that we can find a way through to a comprehensive agreement in 2009.” (BTN/AAP)
Source: http://www.bali-travelnews.com/
January 18th, 2008
Denpasar, 17 Jan. (AKI) - Australian tourists are returning to the Indonesian island of Bali after the fatal bomb attacks on the island in 2002 and 2005 and several drug cases apparently drove them away.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Indonesia jumped to fourth place on the list of the most popular overseas destinations for Australians in 2007.
The ABS said the total number of Australian travellers increased by nearly 65 percent to a total of roughly half a million.
In 2006, Indonesia was the ninth choice for Australian travellers. Other top destinations for Australian tourists are New Zealand, the United States, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Competitive international airfares are said to be one reason for Australians taking more overseas holidays.
The number of international arrivals to the archipelago’s main tourist location, Bali, fell dramatically after the October 2002 and October 2005 Bali bombings, as travellers feared further attacks.
The highly publicised drug trial of Australian Schapelle Corby also deterred tourists. Corby is currently serving a 20-year sentence for drug smuggling in Bali but many Australians still believe she is innocent.
The so-called “Bali nine” case involving a nine members of a drug ring caught trying to smuggle 8.2 kg of heroin from Bali into Australia in April 2005 has also created fierce debate. Six of them are currently awaiting execution in Bali.
The Indonesian government has a goal to attract seven million tourist arrivals during this year’s Visit Indonesia programme and expects to make some 6.7 billion dollars in foreign exchange revenue from tourism this year.
Last year, Indonesia received around 5.5 million international visitors, which was half a million short of official targets, but still generated around 5.3 billion dollars in foreign exchange income.
Source: http://www.adnkronos.com/
January 18th, 2008