TEMPO Interactive, Denpasar: Bali is still a favorite place for tourists to go, especially the Japanese. The total amount of tourists from Japan in 2008 can reach 359,000. The head of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in Bali, Ida Komang Wisnu said that makes it 18 percent of the total Japanese tourists.Â
Komang said that for the past five years, the most visitors coming to Bali were from Japan. “They are interested in the beauty of nature and culture,” he said yesterday. However, he said that in the last four months, the number of visitors in 2008 was reduced due to global crisis.
Australia, that topped 313,000 tourists is the second most popular spot. The figure increased 52.6 percent over last year. Komang said that it is because the Australian government does not give any travel warning to their citizens. While tourists from Korea is in the third position that reached 134,000 tourists, followed by China (131,000), Taiwan (130,000), and Malaysia (129,000).
ROFIQI HASANÂ
Source: www.tempointeractive.com
February 13th, 2009
Failure of Anantara Resort Seminyak to Obey Local Laws Covered by Bali Post and Jakarta Post
The Anantara Resort Seminyak and its reluctance to confirm with local building and zoning rules continues to be in the news with reports appearing over the past week in both The Jakarta Post and Bali Post. Those reports cover the lack of action in removing its roof-top structures, despite repeated promises to do so from the Resort’s management and owners.
As reported previously, the beach side resort stands a full three-meters higher than the stipulated maximum of 15 meters.
The Anantara Resort promised Badung officials on September 28, 2008, that the “Sunset on Six” bar and luxury accommodation on what was to be the building’s roof would be dismantled.
While the bar closed temporarily, it has recently resumed business. The Resort’s General Manager, Ivan Casadevall, told The Jakarta Post, “this rooftop matter is being handled directly by the owner, who is in close consultation with the government to solve the matter.”
Meanwhile, the Bali Post quoted the regional government who insisted that the order for demolition of the top floor would eventually be carried out, no matter what.
Source: www.balidiscovery.com
February 13th, 2009