Bali, an island that promises a vacation that dreams are made of
WITH 80% OF THE POPULATION IN SOME WAY CONNECTED TO THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, BALI IS NATURALLY KEEN TO ENSURE THAT VISITOR NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW

AN IDYLLIC LANDSCAPE and a perfect climate ensure that Bali remains a favorite international tourism destination.

Bali has long been luring travelers the world over to its breathtaking natural delights. Terraced rice fields, waterfalls, mountain villages, and volcanoes that soar through the clouds all contribute to the island’s picturesque landscapes, not to mention the palm-shaded beaches and endless stretch of Indian Ocean. The
island also possesses a stunning variety of flora and fauna in its lush forests, and is world-renowned for its exotic and vibrant art and culture, and legendary smiling people.

Bali’s tourism infrastructure is well developed. Exclusive boutique hotels offer an alternative to the island’s famed five-star accommodation facilities, and resorts often offer traditional Indonesian spa and massage. There is also ample opportunity for shopping, nightlife, and wining and dining. The island has a world-class reputation for its thriving restaurant, café and bar scenes and Balinese local cuisine, which includes dishes like lewar (fresh vegetables with coconut), bebek betutu and ayam betutu (steamed duck and chicken) and the famous suckling pig, all which have long fascinated the island’s visitors.

In addition to Bali’s cultural and natural attractions, there is also a wide range of choices available to the sports enthusiast, including some of the best surfing in the world. Reef diving, sailing, trekking, and water sports are other activities available to the adventure seeker. Honeymooners are also well suited to take advantage of the island’s special packages, which include secluded villas with individual plunge pools. Couples may arrive to find a mosquito net-draped bed under an open gazebo, brushed by soft sea breezes and covered in rose petals that someone has thoughtfully prepared for their first night.

Bali is an island province within the Republic of Indonesia and has a population of three and a half million people. Tourism represents the island’s main economic sector (80% of the population are in some way connected to the tourism industry), followed by agriculture and small businesses–mostly local artisans who sell their crafts and artwork within the tourism sector. Tourism accounts for 80% of the island’s revenue and there are 4.5 million visitors to Bali each year. Due to the recent changes in autonomy laws, Bali now has ample local authority over its own development, and regencies (local governments) are now able to determine their major tourist attractions and markets, directly issue operation licenses, and monitor and enforce regulations. For the investor, this means a more rapid transit through the red tape involved in setting up shop in the country.

DEWA BERATHA Governor of Bali

Some coordination with the central government still remains as Dewa Beratha, Bali’s governor, explains. “In the investment and tourism sectors we can make our own autonomous decisions now. However, in some cases, we also coordinate with the central government.” One such case being the central government’s recent pilot project in Bali designed to enhance community-based tourism, a key component in the Ministry of Tourism’s current strategy. Minister of Tourism I. Gede Ardika elaborates, “the tourism that we are developing here in Indonesia is called community-based tourism, with an emphasis on small and medium businesses (SMEs). This is focused at the village level, in order to bring economic benefits to villagers and also to encourage villagers to preserve their traditions and environment. We have already had some success in our small pilot projects located in various Balinese villages. One of these is in a fishing village where the locals used to catch fish by using explosives. We developed a small resort there, in which the local people have been involved since the beginning, from construction to employment in the resort. Now visitors come for the fish and coral, and the locals, of their own initiative, have developed a diving center and an organization to protect the coral.”

Following the events of last September in the U.S., local authorities in Bali were quick to express their support for Americans, step up local policing in an effort to guard against any possible aggression towards U.S. visitors, and to issue strong public statements that harassment of American citizens would not be tolerated. In addition, as a predominantly Hindu culture (95% of the island’s population adhere to the religion and Hindu temples and shrines dot the island), as well as one that is dependent upon tourism revenue, Bali represents little threat to the safety of its visitors. Governor Beratha states, “safety and security is an important priority for us. We cannot live without tourism and that is why there is a strong commitment between the government and the people to keep Bali safe.”