0 Bali welcomes a hectic year in 2013

With the coming of 2013, Bali is ready to host numerous national and international events throughout the year. Governor Made Mangku Pastika said that 2013 would see Bali in the international spotlight. “It is a year when we have to prove to the world that Bali is able to host large events. The image of Indonesia, especially Bali as a major gateway into Indonesia, will be at stake,” Pastika said. The success of the upcoming events would dramatically affect Bali as an international holiday and conference destination. 

A major political event — the gubernatorial election, will take place in May, deciding whether Pastika or another candidate will take the governor’s seat. Between June and July, the island will host its annual cultural landmark — the Bali Arts Festival at the Arts Center in Denpasar. Also in June, hundreds of Hindu leaders and high priests will be gathering at the World Hindu Summit. In September, for the first time in Indonesia, the island will host the Miss World Pageant, bringing the most beautiful young women to the island. 

In November, dozens of state leaders, hundreds of top diplomats and high-ranking officials from the Asia Pacific region, including American President Barack Obama, are expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Nusa Dua resort complex. Another annual event will be the Bali Democracy Forum, scheduled for December 2013. “There will be many other local, national and international events in between. The APEC Summit will kick off with many preceding meetings, including senior official meetings. 

So Bali will be very busy next year,” Pastika said. Pastika added that the Balinese people should be very proud that so many international organizations trusted the island to host such large events. In 2012, he said, Bali also hosted many international events. “We are really proud that all the events ran so well, especially in terms of security,” he added. To prepare for the international-scale gatherings, many infrastructure projects are being implemented, including the construction of the Benoa-Nusa Dua toll road and the Dewa Ruci underpass. 

The two projects, started at the end of 2011, are part of the resort island’s latest efforts to cope with its severe traffic congestion that often strangles its main tourist routes. The 12-kilometer Benoa-Nusa Dua toll road, predicted to cost Rp 2.49 trillion (US$273.9 million), will largely run over the sea along the island’s southern shoreline. The toll road, which will connect Benoa Harbor, Ngurah Rai International Airport and the Nusa Dua tourism enclave, is being built under a public-private partnership involving seven state-owned enterprises: PT Jasa Marga, PT Pelindo III, PT Angkasa Pura I, PT Pengembangan Pariwisata Bali, PT Wijaya Karya, PT Adhi Karya and PT Hutama Karya. 

Meanwhile, the Dewa Ruci underpass is being built at a busy intersection next to Mall Bali Galeria in Kuta. It is the critical point of convergence for traffic to and from the island’s most important tourism sites, including Ngurah Rai International Airport, Nusa Dua, Kuta, Sanur, Denpasar and Ubud. Prolonged gridlock is a common sight at and around the intersection. The underpass will be 450 meters long and is estimated to cost Rp 136 billion, funded from the state budget. “We really hope that the busy 2013 will also drive the economy for the Balinese people. We hope it will bring prosperity for Bali and its people,” Pastika said. 

Cokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, chairman of the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) admitted that the busy schedule in 2013 would have a positive impact on tourism in Bali, especially for hotels. “Many rooms will be booked for the many international events. Of course, it will benefit tourism,” the leading figure of Puri Ubud said. However, Sukawati also stated that all hotels and restaurants on the island should improve their security standards to anticipate security problems, especially terrorism. PHRI, he added, had already entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bali Police to manage the security standards in all hotels on the island. “The MOU was part of our efforts to improve security standards,” he stated.

source : bali daily