Bali takes the Lion’s Share of International Tourist Visitors, Outpacing Jakarta.

Bali by the Numbers: Arrivals Through April 2011 Setting New Records Despite Collapse of Japanese Market.

(6/6/2011)

Arrival figures show 221,014 foreign tourists came to Bali in April 2011 – an increase of 23.78% over April 2010. On a year-to-date basis for the first four months of 2011, there were 826,827 foreign visitors, a figure 13.30% ahead of the same period in 2010.

If growth figures are sustained until the end of 2011, Bali will welcome a record number of more than 2.8 million visitors for the entire year.

Performance by Main Markets

·Japan – the effects of the devastating March 11th earthquake and tsunami was driven home by Japanese arrival figures for April that dropped 29.9% to 12,182 visitors. On a cumulative basis for January – April 2011 the results are even more disheartening, dropping 35.06%. Another measure of the shifting fortunes of Japan in terms of Bali tourism arrivals is the fact that Japan has slipped from first to third place in the rankings after Australia and the People’s Republic of China. Moreover, Japanese arrivals are now almost half of what they were in 2008.

· Australia – At 66,429 Australian visitors in April, arrivals month on month increased 55.32%. Year-on-year Australian arrivals are up an impressive 35.06%. If Australian growth figures are sustained through year’s end, Bali will end the year with 875,000 Australia visitors.

· Taiwan – Taiwan’s is staging a modest recovery. Despite being down year-on-year by 12.28%, April arrivals at 10,893 improved 5.13% over the same month in 2010.

· People’s Republic of China – Surigng ahead to become the third largest source of foreign visitors to Bali, mainland Chinese totaled 14,215 visitors in April 2011, improving 10.82% over April 2010. Year-on-year arrivals for 2011 are virtually even with the first four months of 2010.

· Malaysia – remains a strong source of short-term visitors to Bali. April arrivals ex Malaysia improved 3.7% with 12,389 visitors. Year-on-year for the first four months of 2011, Malaysian arrivals hit 52,510 – an improvement of 27.63% over the first four months of 2010.

· Russia -Russian travels are destined to keep climbing in the ranks of top foreign visitors to Bali. April Russian visitors totaled 5,056 – increasing 35.9% over April 2010. Year-on-year Russian arrivals are up 25.79%.

· Netherlands – The Dutch market continues to soften. Month-on-month Dutch arrivals for April 2011 increased a modest 3.8% to 5,369. Year-on-year Dutch arrivals have declined an overall 14.01% over the first four months of 2011.

·France – Good news from France as April arrivals month-on-month increased 23.9% with 10,212 French visitors. Year-on-year French visitors have increased 7.62% during the first four months of 2011.

· U.S.A. – U.S. arrivals continue to improve. April arrivals at 7,485 represents a 16.24% improvement over April 2010. Year-on-year U.S. arrivals are up 7.6%.

· Germany – Year-on-year German arrivals are largely flat, April arrivals may herald a modest recovery underway ex Germany improving 17.9% in April with 7,290 visitors from that market.

· United Kingdom – In the words of Paul Revere: “The English are coming!” April arrivals from the U.K. at 11,604 were up 48.82% over April 2010. Year-on-year U.K. arrivals are up 15.40% through the end of April 2011.

Growth by Geographical Area

All areas of the world are showing traffic growth. Through the end of April 2011, the ASEAN market has grown 32.66%, followed by the Americas (up 23.57%), Asia-Pacific (up 10.95%) and Europe (up 8.41%).

Article Source: www.balidiscovery.com

The Indonesian Hotels and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali head Perry Markus has predicted that during the long holiday period (which began yesterday) the island would see a sharp rise in domestic tourism.

Hoping for a repeat of last years numbers, Perry cited the four areas of Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Ubud to become busy with Indonesian tourists. “At the moment, hotel occupancy rates are 60%, and we expect to see a further rise on Friday,” he said yesterday.

Meanwhile Candy Juliani, Public Relations for Hotel Sanur Beach revealed that the occupancy has increased since last week. “Our hotel is at maximum occupancy until Sunday. Guests who booked come from many cities in Indonesia like Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Bandung. There are also many foreign tourists.”

Anticipating this long holiday, Garuda Airways have put on extra flights, particularly along the Denpasar-Jakarta route. “This coming Sunday we’ve added three more flights,” explained Garuda spokesperson Jubi Prasetyo yesterday.

Source: The Beat Mag

According to a local official, United States President Barrack Hussein Obama plans to attend the regional East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bali this November.

Bali provincial government spokesman Ketut Teneng claims that US Ambassador Scot Marciel has advised regional authorities of Obama’s intended visit.”On Wednesday afternoon, the Bali governor met with the US ambassador. He was informed that President Obama would visit Bali this November to attend the East Asia Summit,” Teneng said.

“Security will be coordinated by the central government, the National Police and related institutions,” Governor Pastika said.

The summit will be held on November 19, and will also be attended by China and Russia as well as all other member states. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to be at a forum for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in July.

The US embassy has yet to officially confirm both visits.     (Source: The Beat Mag)

]]> http://balipropertylink.com/news-article/obama-to-visit-bali-this-year/feed/ 0 http://balipropertylink.com/news-article/about-bali/ http://balipropertylink.com/news-article/about-bali/#comments Fri, 27 May 2011 04:55:58 +0000 Bali Property Link http://balipropertylink.com/?p=3336

Bali is a land that seems to have a magnet at its very heart. It is a feeling that is difficult to understand unless experienced but once visited you are surely compelled to come back and you may even want to stay forever, such is its pull. Maybe its Bali’s beauty, maybe the friendly people, or maybe even the influence from spirits that certainly abide in this place.

Bali goes under many names. Some call it the ‘island of the gods’, others Shangri-La. The ‘last paradise’, the ‘dawning of the world’ and the ‘centre of the universe’ are yet more names for this truly beautiful tropical island inhabited by a remarkably artistic people who have created a dynamic society with unique arts and ceremonies.

Bali is small, just 140 Km by 80 Km and lies between Java, the most highly populated and influential of all the islands, and Lombok, one of the quieter and moderately slower paced islands. Like many islands, Bali has developed a world of its own. It not only captures what is special about Indonesia but also has a uniqueness of its own.

Daily life on Bali is culturally linked to satisfying and appeasing the gods, spirits and demons in the midst of breathtaking panoramas of cultivated rice terraces, impressive volcanoes and pristine beaches. Bali’s main volcano, Gunung Agung, is still active and sometimes explosive and is considered sacred among local people as it is believed to be the centre of the universe.

Lying just 8o south of the Equator, Bali can boast a tropical climate with just two seasons a year and an average temperature of around 28o Celsius. It has a whole range of different environments and activities for the tourist, many of which are covered in these homepages.

Economically and culturally, Bali is one of the most important islands of Indonesia. Rice is grown on irrigated, terraced hillsides; other crops include sugar cane, coffee, copra, tobacco, fruits and vegetables. Cattle and hogs are also raised. The Balinese are skilled artisans, particularly in woodcarving and in fashioning objects of tortoiseshell and of gold, silver and other metals. The Balinese are noted for their traditional dance, the distinctive music of the gamelan and for their skills in weaving cloth of gold and silver threads, Songket, as well as for embroidering silk and cotton clothing.

Bali of today is one of the twenty six provinces of the Republic of Indonesia, divided administratively between eight districts that take their names and boundaries from the island’s old Hindu kingdoms.

Source: Indo.com

Q : May foreigner owns a land in Indonesia individually?

A : The Land Code states that any individual foreigner can own a land in Indonesia with status of Hak Pakai (Rights of Usage) or through leasehold. The Hak Pakai can be applied to either government land or Hak Milik (Title to) land. Only Indonesia citizen may own land with the title of Hak Milik.

Q : Is Hak Pakai similar with leasehold?

A : Leasehold is a purchasing directly between purchaser and the land owner by the lease agreement validated by the notary but it is not registered in land affairs. Hak Pakai is a right obtained from releasing of a certain right on the government or Hak Milik land. Therefore Hak Pakai can be registered in the land affairs then a certificate will be under the purchaser’s name.

Q : How long does the application of Hak Pakai over the land?

A : The government regulation states that the Hak Pakai over government land may be applied for 25 years and can be extended. However, after the time period is over you should renew (not extend) it by the notary. You may ask in advance renewal before purchasing the land by our company and the staffs will be pleased to assist you.

Q : What should I do if I want to secure the land by a company?

A : The Land Code states any local company that is established comply with the Indonesia law and/or foreign one that has representative in Indonesia region may own land and has a right to land in the form of Hak Guna Bangunan (right to erect a building) over government land or Hak Milik land. Therefore, you need to set up a foreign direct investment company in Indonesia (Penanaman Modal Asing /PMA) first to obtain and secure the land.

Q : Now, What is a Hak Guna Bangunan?

A : Hak Guna Bangunan is a right to erect building on a particular land. It can be applied on government or Hak Milik land. It also can be registered to the Land Affairs, and they will issue the certificate on a name of the company.

Q : How long does the application of Hak Guna Bangunan over the land?

A : The Hak Guna Bangunan over government land may be applied for 30 years and can be extended. It is also over Hak Milik land with the same time period and renewable. The advance one may be obtained before purchasing by our company.

Q : Can individual foreigner get the Hak Guna Bangunan?

A : Individual foreigner may not own land with Hak Guna Bangunan status, but the one with Hak Pakai. The Land Code states it is only for Indonesia citizen or company that complies with Indonesia law and established in this region.

Q : Let me know which status is safe for foreigner to own land

A : It depends on the needs. When the purchasers are two people or more the Hak Guna Bangunan is the best but setting up a PMA company is a must, without this one the status only Hak Pakai. But it will be useful when the land is wide enough to be sub-divided. It is also the best status if the purchaser is a single person. However both statuses are safe for foreigner.

Q : It means that the Hak Pakai or Hak Guna Bangunan may only be applied to the land of the Indonesia citizen with Hak Milik status.

A : Yes it is, since the Hak Milik is a title given only to Indonesia citizen. The best way to secure your property is by Hak Pakai or Hak Guna Bangunan, because with those Haks the land owner has released his/her title to the one.

Q : Should the land owner provide specific document to secure my property?

A : Yes. You yourself purchase the land in reality. Since the foreigner has no title to the land in Indonesia then the owner’s Hak Milik should be transfer into Hak Pakai or Hak Guna Bangunan by several legal mechanisms.

Q : Does the bank accept both rights if I will mortgage the land?

A : Most banks in Indonesia accept both rights, although there may be some different policy between one and the other.

Article Source:  www.huntinglandforesale.com

Dubai based Emirates airlines say that they are considering expanding routes and services to Indonesia.

The potential increase in flights to the archipelago is due to Indonesia’s growth in the tourist market and Bali’s fame as an international tourist destination.

“Bali is definitely on our radar and it’s just a matter of time before we will have our flights stop at its airport,” he told The Jakarta Post.

Emirates confirmed that a new route between Jakarta and Geneva would be available starting June 1 and would be serviced by Boeing 777 wide body airliners.

“The new flight service will provide convenient and smooth connections between the two countries in the years to come, which will enhance their business relations and tourism industries,” he said.

Walker-Nederkoorn said that it was estimated that around 35,000 Swiss tourists visited the archipelago in 2010. Al-Nahari said that he was pleased about the prospect of a growing Indonesian market

Source: The Beat Magazine

Anda yang masih awam dengan dunia properti, namun tertarik mencobanya, jangan ragu untuk memulai karena tahun 2011 ini perekonomian tengah bangkit. Tahun 2014 nanti, bisnis properti akan “booming”.

Panangian Simanungkalit, Direktur Pusat Studi Properti Indonesia (PSPI) membeberkan alasan mengapa tahun 2014, bisnis properti akan booming. Alasannya, pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia terus naik, daya beli konsumen terus meningkat, pembangunan infrastruktur meningkat, suku bunga KPR rendah dan stabil, suku bunga konstruksi rendah dan stabil, dan pasar perumahan apartemen dan perkantoran (pada 2011) tumbuh 10 – 15 persen.

Uniknya, bisnis properti di Indonesia berbeda dengan negara-negara lainnya. Disini, harga properti tidak turun atau stabil meski inflasi tinggi dan suku bunga naik. “Investasi properti di Indonesia itu high return, low risk. Sebagai investasi, saat ini orang-orang yang memiliki uang lebih percaya aset properti daripada aset finansial seperti saham dan reksadana,” kata Panangian.

Nah, untuk rahasia berinvestasi di properti, Panangian menyebutkan ada empat jurus; yakni waktu yang tepat, lokasi yang tepat, pengembang yang tepat, dan pembiayaan yang cerdas.

Waktu yang tepat artinya, anda membeli produk yang baru dibangun di lokasi tepat, dan belilah saat acara peluncuran produk. Biasanya ketika properti terbangun, harganya pun semakin meroket.

Lokasi yang tepat, artinya anda harus memperhatikan jumlah orang yang masuk ke area tersebut lebih besar daripada orang yang keluar. Juga memperhatikan aksesibilitas yang baik menuju pusat kota. Pilih lokasi dekat dengan pusat pertumbuhan bisnis dan strategis.

Pengembang yang tepat, artinya anda harus cerdik memilih pengembang yang berpengalaman, yang memiliki reputasi baik, dan memiliki karakter yang baik.

Lalu mengenai pembiayaan yang cerdas, anda perlu memikirkan pembiayaan secara tunai atau kredit, memikirkan pula pembiayaan dengan jangka pendek atau jangka panjang, dan memperhatikan bunga fixed atau floating.

Untuk investasi properti yang terbaik dari sisi Return on Investment, Anda dapat melirik properti rumah sewa, ruko atau rukan, ruang perkantoran, dan apartemen atau kondominium.

Sumber Artikel: www.kompas.com

Bored to be stuck inside the house? Want to be closer to Air and Wind when tiredness struck you, try making a Gazebo.

Gazebo is an open space facility which could be an alternative place to gather and doing relaxing activities with family members. As it is for a relaxing place, the key is “Comfortableness”. That is why Gazebo is made open style, semi permanent, light-weight, and not massive construction.

Gazebo is usually placed outdoors, usually at the garden, backyards, or pool side. Usually paths are made towards the Gazebo by using stepping stones combined with small plants and flowers.

To make a Gazebo, you need to calculate how many persons would occupy it. For example a 4 person Gazebo, would be enough on a 2 meter by 2 meter land. Choose a place with the best view. Then, match the theme of Gazebo with the style of your house, so that your Gazebo and main house will combine well.

To be proportional, the land size for a Gazebo could be 1/5 of the total land size. Gazebo would be better far from a fruit tree. Fruits falling from a tree might spoil the roof of the Gazebo, and fruit trees are usually nest for insects like ants.

To beautify a Gazebo, you might consider using natural materials such as “Ijuk” or palm fiber from sugar palm trees, for the roof. Or using parquets with soil color, use curtains on the poles as an ornament, and cushions with soft colors. If you prefer, you might want to add some lightings too.

Article Source: www.kompas.com

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Bosan terkungkung dalam rumah? Ingin berdekatan dengan udara dan angin saat penat melanda, cobalah membuat gazebo.

Gazebo merupakan satu fasilitas dengan ruang-ruang terbuka sebagai alternatif tempat berkumpul dan melakukan kegiatan santai bersama anggota keluarga lainnya. Karena sebagai tempat santai, kuncinya adalah kenyamanan. Untuk itu bangunan gazebo dibuat terbuka, semi permanen, dibuat ringan, dan konstruksi tidak masif.

Peletakan Gazebo biasanya ditempatkan di luar rumah, biasanya di taman, teras belakang rumah, atau di tepi kolam renang. Biasanya untuk menuju gazebo dibuat jalan setapak dari batu-batu alam diselingi tumbuhan dan bunga-bunga.

Cara membuatnya, anda harus memperhitungkan gazebo akan menampung berapa orang. Misalnya untuk empat orang, ukuran lahan 2 meter x 2 meter sudah cukup. Pilihlah tempat gazebo dengan view terbaik. Lalu sesuaikan tema gazebo dengan gaya rumah anda, agar tampilannya baik gazebo dan rumah utama tetap senada.

Agar proporsional, luas halaman gazebo bisa satu per lima dari total luas halaman. Penempatan gazebo sebaiknya jauh dari pohon buah. Buah yang jatuh akan merusak atap gazebo, dan biasanya pohon buah adalah sarang serangga seperti semut.

Mempercantik gazebo bisa anda lakukan dengan penambahan unsur alam seperti pemakaian serat alam dari ijuk pada atap. Atau memakai parquette dengan warna tanah, bisa juga memasang tirai di tiang sebagai ornamen, juga bantal-bantal berwarna lembut. Jika ingin, anda dapat menambahkan pencahayaan dengan lampu.

Sumber Artikel: www.kompas.com

Stunning volcanic beauty, a landscape dotted with temples, undulating terraced paddy fields, beaches and a rich artistic culture.

All these and more combine to make Bali a popular tourist hotspot and backdrop for the new Julia Robert movie Eat, Pray, Love, adapted from Elizabeth Gilbert’s best selling book about the recently divorced author’s search for self-discovery.

The number of visitors to Bali plummeted after the 2002 nightclub bombings but the Indonesian island is now a recovery story with tourist arrivals leaping by 60 percent since 2005 and expect to near 2.5 million in 2010.

East of the main Indonesian island of Java, Bali is home to a majority of the country’s Hindu minority.

Here how to get the most out of a 48-hour visit:

Friday

3pm – “There is no love sincerer than the love of food” (George Bernard Shaw)… and there is nothing like a good meal. La Lucciola at Seminyak is the place to be, with its good food, great service and a beautiful view of the sea. The thatched roof restaurant split into a two-level dining space is set amid a well manicured green patch that merges into the sandy beach.

You can hire a car for some 450,000 rupiah ($A50.31) per day. This will help you squeeze the most out of your trip.

5pm – About an hour away from La Lucciola is Uluwatu. This southern tip of the island is famous for its cliff-hanging temple that perches on the edge, high above the sea. The “Kecak”, or fire dance, is performed here daily at sunset. Artists perform to music made by a group of chanting men.

8pm – To finish off the evening head to Jimbaran Bay where restaurants dot the beach offering alfresco settings, candles, local dances, a moving band of boys singing songs on request. Kick off your shoes, feel the sand, and tuck into the catch of the day or grilled lobster with spicy sambal sauce.

Midnight – If you are a party animal, see in the morning at Kuta or Seminyak where the night is always young.

Saturday

9:30am – Start the day with a another dose of Balinese culture by heading for a “barong and keris” dance performance. There are many places where this performance is held. One is the Catur Eka Budi on Jalan Waribang in the Kesiman district of Denpasar, capital of Bali. The barong dance, or lion dance, depicts the fight between good and evil and is performed to gamelan music.

12pm – About 50 kms from Denpasar is Kintamani, a favourite with tourists for the panoramic view of active volcano Mt. Batur and adjoining crater lake. It’s a good idea to reach Kintamani early as it tends to get cloudy after 3pm. Have lunch at a local restaurant with a view of Mt. Batur and the lake. Tourists can trek up to the Mt. Batur peak to catch the sunrise. The two-hour trek starts off at 4 a.m.

2:30pm - Head back to Ubud, the seat of Bali’s fine arts, dance and music, and spend the rest of your afternoon strolling through its streets. Stop by the Ubud Palace, or the Puri Saren Palace, the seat of the local ruler till the 1940s, rummage around in the nearby art shops and visit the Neka Art Museum.

The beautiful Cafe Lotus calls for a snack stop. You can sit on bamboo mats overlooking flowering lotuses while enjoying Balinese music wafting down from the Puri Saraswati, one of Ubud’s temple complexes. You can also catch a Balinese dance performance or a temple ceremony.

Much of Ubud’s charm is scattered in the surrounding handicraft villages. There are factories making batik, which is a kind of textile dying, silver/gold jewellery at Celuk, painting gallery in Gianyar and wood carvings in Mas village.

Then there are the terraced paddy fields which are a must.

6:30pm – Spa time! Spa Hati, in Ubud, is a good place. If you are staying in Kuta, then AlamKulKul’s Jamu spa is a good option. Book ahead.

8:30pm – Depending on where you go for a spa, your dinner options could be Ibu Oka, opposite Ubud Palace, famous for its suckling pig. (Eaters beware, though; the pig sometimes runs out before dinner). There is also Made’s Warung in Kuta, which serves international as well as local food.

SUNDAY

6am – It’s time for a dip in the sea — and don’t forget the camera. Some stunning shots are assured.

10:30am – Brace for another half day trip to two of the most famous temples in Bali. Drive down to the Taman Ayun temple at Mengwi. This royal temple boasts intricately designed wooden doors and a beautifully laid out garden that leads to the temple, which is surrounded by an artificial moat with lotuses.

12pm – Next up is the Tanah Lot temple, perhaps the most famous of them all. Built on a rock that gets cut off from the main land during high tide, the temple is best seen in the afternoon when it is silhouetted against the sun or at sunset.

1pm – Round off your trip with another dash of taste. Stop over at Poppies in Kuta. Set in the centre of the madding crowd, Poppies offers a spot of solace and is a great hit with tourists.

Time permitting, you can indulge in some retail therapy or another short spa before taking the flight out. Bon voyage!

Article Source: www.brisbanetimes.com.au