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Passenger Ferry Headed For Bali Stranded By Strong Current Hundreds of foreign nationals leave Bali amid coronavirus outbreak Hundreds of foreign nationals leave Bali amid coronavirus outbreak
A car and passenger ferry approaching Gilimanuk Harbour, Bali ran aground on Friday 27th May after the captain misjudged the strength of the current. The ferry was stranded for over 3-hours as rescue crews tried to get the ship afloat once more. Hundreds of foreigners departed Bali over the weekend, some with chartered flights organized by their respective governments, following flight cancelations across the globe amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ngurah Rai Immigration office said in a statement that over 200 foreigners, consisting mostly of German nationals, boarded a chartered Hundreds of foreigners departed Bali over the weekend, some with chartered flights organized by their respective governments, following flight cancelations across the globe amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ngurah Rai Immigration office said in a statement that over 200 foreigners, consisting mostly of German nationals, boarded a chartered German Airlines flight on Saturday headed for Frankfurt, German Airlines flight on Saturday headed for Frankfurt, while over 400 passengers consisting of mostly French while over 400 passengers consisting of mostly French nationals headed to France with Qatar Airways on the same nationals headed to France with Qatar Airways on the same day. In addition, Austrian Airlines also reportedly carried day. In addition, Austrian Airlines also reportedly carried over 200 passengers back to Austria. over 200 passengers back to Austria. Foreign missions in Foreign missions in Indonesia have Indonesia have actively used social actively used social media to assist their media to assist their respective citizens. respective citizens. As fewer flights As fewer flights The ship had left Ketapang Harbour in Banyuwangi, East become available due to global travel become available due to global travel Java, and was heading for Bali’s Gilimanuk Harbour. The restrictions, their restrictions, their ferry was carrying 30-foot passengers, 2 large lorries, 4 efforts include efforts include large trucks, 13 vans, and 3 pickup trucks. assisting those seeking to return home to find available assisting those seeking to return home to find available flights. I Putu Surya Dharma, a spokesperson from the flights. I Putu Surya Dharma, a spokesperson from the The ferry service takes just 34-minutes across the Bali regional office for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, regional office for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Strait in good conditions. It is one of the most affordable told Nusa Bali yesterday that between March 1 and 26, told Nusa Bali yesterday that between March 1 and 26, and efficient ways of accessing Bali from Java. The route nearly 254,000 foreign tourists have left the island. However, nearly 254,000 foreign tourists have left the island. However, is vital for the transportation of goods and is often used by the same period also recorded over 169,000 foreign tourists the same period also recorded over 169,000 foreign tourists domestic tourists heading to Bali from all across Java. arriving in Bali, he added. Travelers from Australia, Russia arriving in Bali, he added. Travelers from Australia, Russia and the United States topped the list of visitors. and the United States topped the list of visitors. The ferry service runs every 20-minute, 24-hours a day. The schedule was disrupted on Friday after the ferry ran Last week, American and Australian citizens in Indonesia were Last week, American and Australian citizens in Indonesia were aground close to the Gilimanuk Jetty. The captain of the ordered to leave the country amid the novel coronavirus ordered to leave the country amid the novel coronavirus ferry, KMP Trisakti Adinda, had executed a smooth crossoutbreak, wherein officials also cited evidence of Indonesia’s outbreak, wherein officials also cited evidence of Indonesia’s ing, despite whether warnings being issued across Bali last current medical capacity, among other things, to urge current medical capacity, among other things, to urge week. immediate action. Some foreigners have decided to extend immediate action. Some foreigners have decided to extend their stay in Indonesia, it seems, as evident by packed their stay in Indonesia, it seems, as evident by packed Adinda had stopped the ship and was waiting for his turn immigration offices across Bali last week. Indonesia’s immigration offices across Bali last week. Indonesia’s to pull up to the dock. While he was waiting for his slot, Directorate General of Immigration has swiftly responded to Directorate General of Immigration has swiftly responded to the undercurrent swept northwards and dragged the ferry into shallow waters. the spike in visa extension requests, and eligible foreigners unable to return to their home countries due to COVID-19 are being given an automatic extension for their stay the spike in visa extension requests, and eligible foreigners unable to return to their home countries due to COVID-19 are being given an automatic extension for their stay Gilimanuk Harbour offers ferry services to Java for foot permits. (coconuts.com 01/04/2020) permits. (coconuts.com 01/04/2020) passengers and those with a vehicle. The service is mostly used by domestic travellers but is available for international travellers too. For travellers wishing to get the fast boat to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, the best port to set off from is Sanur. For travellers heading to the Gili Islands the most efficient route is from Padang Bai, although there are services available from Sanur. (thebalisun.com)
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No Large-Scale Social Restrictions policy for Bali just Hundreds of Indonesian crew members flying yet, provincial government says in from Italy skip quarantine after testing negative for COVID-19
Elon Musk And Bill Gates To Attend G20 In Bali The Bali provincial government says it has yet to consider imposing Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) policy, which requires approval from the central government, to curb the spread of COVID-19 here, claiming that it has already implemented similar steps to an extent. Over 300 Indonesian crew members from the MSC Splendida cruise ship reportedly did not undergo quarantine upon arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport despite having flown in from Genoa, Italy on Monday night. Officials said all of them tested negative for the novel coronavirus, after rapid tests that were conducted at the airport.
Attracting More Digital Nomads
Bali is in the midst of a year of huge international events. The latest announcement from the Bali G20 Summit committee is that tech pioneers Elon Musk and Bill Gates will attend the B20, the business division of the G20 summit, in Bali in November. This comes as huge news for the island as many locals and ex-pats Speaking to Kumparan yesterday, regional secretary of the Bali administration, Dewa Made Indra, said that the provincial “As soon as they arrived they were checked by officers from the Port Health Authority and followed with rapid tests. The results were negative and [they] didn’t have to be quarantined,” Ida Bagus Ngurah Arda, who heads Bali province’s Manpower Agency, told Kompas yesterday. There were 316 Indonesian crew members in total who boarded a flight with Qatar Airlines from Genoa to Denpasar, via Doha. are getting excited about world leaders, in both government and business, visiting Bali and the impact this will have on their livelihoods. government is open to implementing PSBB, should risks of the novel coronavirus on the island continue to escalate and require a stricter approach. As reported by Kompas, the crew members had also Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on 24th May, the chairman of the B20 committee Shinta Kamdani confirmed that Musk and Gates will be attending the event. Musk hinted at his attendance during the B20 “Here in Bali we are already enforcing strict limitations. Substantially we have preceded this PSBB policy, but formally and according to the [new] government regulation of course we haven’t,” Indra said. undergone a health examination while in Genoa, after which they were Indonesia Business & Investment Forum in Davos Switdeclared healthy zerland, held in January this year. The confirmation of PSBB is designed to limit mobility within a region,essentially and permitted to his attendance will turn even more eyes on Bali during imposing the same social distancing measures that have return to Indonesia. Italy is one of the countries hardest hit by the 2-day summit. already been seen in parts of Indonesia affected by the viral the coronavirus pandemic, with over 105,000 confirmed disease, though this includes additional measures and cases and more than 12,000 deaths. Indonesians coming The G20 will see political and business leaders land in stricter enforcement. from COVID-19 hot zones, which includes Italy, are subject Bali to discuss global economic recovery from Covid-19, to health screening by the Port Health Authority upon climate change, and sustainable development. KamdaThe policy includes shuttering of all businesses and services arrival. Should authorities find that they are exhibiting ni said that the B20 Indonesia Summit will have a speexcept those deemed essential, and also banning appearly symptoms of COVID-19, they will be observed at a cific focus on ‘green transition, equitable distribution of based motorcycle taxis from picking up passengers, meangovernment facility for two weeks. On the other hand, health services, and inclusive growth’. ing they are only allowed to transport goods and deliver those who do not exhibit early symptoms are advised to food to customers. self-quarantine for the same period. Local excitement around Elon Musk’s visit may have to be put on hold as Bali has two more big International The official implementation requires regional governments Yesterday, Coordinating Human Development and Culture conferences to host before the G20 in November. From to submit relevant data and reports regarding COVID-19 Minister Muhadjir Effendy urged Indonesians overseas to 23-28th May Bali is hosting the 7th Global Platform For spread in their area to the Health Ministry, among other stay in the countries in which they are living. The government Disaster Risk Reduction, another United Nations event. things, which will assess them and decide on whether or not said there are no plans to arrange their repatriation, but that The summit will also be attended by President Joko to grant approval. The process has been criticized for being they will be provided with supplies. Indonesia is currently Widodo and over 2,000 Indonesian military personnel overly bureaucratic. anticipating mass arrivals of Indonesians abroad, particularly have been deployed to increase security across the island as 4,000 international delegates and their families arrive. Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, which has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, is set to become the those seeking to leave Malaysia as it enforces its movement control order (MCO), as well as crew members of international cruise ships looking to return home as some cruise lines halt In June Bali will be hosting the 8th Bali and Beyond Travel Fair which showcases Indonesia’s exceptional tourism industry to the world. The summit will be attended by leaders in the travel and leisure space and is an opportunity for Bali to once again showcase their unique offering to the world. (antaranews.com) country’s first region to officially enforce PSBB. As of this afternoon, the city reports 1,395 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 133 deaths and 69 recoveries. their operations. For the latter, their return will likely be through Ngurah Rai, Muhadjir said, adding that there are about 11,000 Indonesian crew members abroad. As of yesterday afternoon, Bali has recorded 19 positive COVID-19 cases. This includes two deaths of foreign nationals and four recoveries. (coconuts.com 01/04/2020)
JAKARTA - Indonesia will temporarily ban all visits and transits by foreign nationals to the country to curb the further spread of the coronavirus. “President (Joko) sees that our current policy needs to be made stricter. We have decided that all visits and transits by foreign nationals to Indonesia will temporarily be banned,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after a virtual ministers’ meeting with President Joko Widodo on Tuesday (March 31). Exceptions to the ban include those with work permits as well as diplomats, Ms Retno added, stressing that proper health protocols will still apply. President Joko said before the ministers’ meeting that Indonesia is stepping up measures to limit mobility among its citizens within the country, but threats of coronavirus spread also come from overseas. Mr Joko pointed out specifically that the epicentres of the pandemic have shifted to the United States and Europe. In Indonesia, Jakarta is the epicentre of the country’s coronavirus crisis, accounting for nearly half of the 1,414 confirmed cases. There are 122 deaths from Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in Indonesia so far, the highest in South-east Asia. Stay in the know with e-mail alerts. “Practically all nations have put in place limits on the flow of travellers with varying (degree of) strictness depending on the respective situation and condition in each country,” Ms Retno said. Their policies have also impacted Indonesians living overseas, many of whom have recently returned home or are preparing to head home. According to Ms Retno, the two largest groups of homebound Indonesians are Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia as well as Indonesians working as crews on cruise ships. “The inflow traffic from these two groups has been far larger than Indonesia Adds 12 More Countries To Visa On Arrival Program Making It Easier To Visit Bali normal,” Ms Retno said. “In terms of size, the number of Indonesians living and working in Malaysia exceeds 1 million. And there are The Central Government of Indonesia has announced that it will be adding twelve more countries to the visa on arrival program as of the 30th of May 2022. On the 3rd May 2022, the Central Government of Indonesia expanded the visa on arrival program to include sixty countries. This was the biggest shift in Covid-19 reopening at the time. The visa on arrival program was halted during the height of the international lockdowns. Indonesia’s phased reopening plan is nearly complete. According to government ministers, the end of all Covid-19-related restrictions is insight. The news that Indonesia’s immigration has added a further twelve countries to the visa on arrival list is another positive sign that the country is moving ever closer to the end of the pandemic. The official Instagram for the Director-General of Immigration in Indonesia posted an infographic today confirming which countries have been added to the list. Travelers from Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
11,838 Indonesian crews working for 80 cruise ships, as per data gathered so far,” Ms Retno added. She said the government is implementing proper health protocols at airports, seaports, border check points on these returning countrymen. Mr Joko on Monday said Indonesia needs stronger measures to limit mobility after receiving reports that thousands of workers in Jakarta and its surrounding areas have returned to their home towns after losing most or all of their income amid the coronavirus outbreak. There have been concerns of a spread of infections as people from Jakarta, the epicentre of the country’s outbreak, return home. The government is preparing regulations that would make it possible for Jakarta and other coronavirus red zones to be put under an “area quarantine”, a term observers see as equivalent to a lockdown, which would stop flows of people going in and out. (straitstimes.com 01/04/2020) Local authorities in Bali are reporting hundreds of workers having lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 outbreak and its subsequent impacts on the tourism industry, while thousands more have been instructed to stay at home without pay. In Denpasar, as many as 2,975 workers were told to stay at home without pay while another 53 workers were laid off, the city’s spokesman Gede Rai told Kompas, adding that the workers were from 37 different companies. “It’s because there is a lack of guests and hotels are not operating,” Gede Rai said. For the time being, authorities in Denpasar are reportedly planning a social protection strategy for these workers, including through Indonesian government’s pre-employment cards, which was launched last month. The cards, which aim to aid job seekers and unemployed workers, grant them access and funding to various trainings. The numbers are even higher in Badung regency, where some of the island’s most popular hotels and restaurants are located. An official from the regency’s Industry and Manpower Agency told Tribun yesterday that 198 workers have been laid off as of April 4, most of whom were employed in the tourism sector.
Bali plans to hold Nyepi-like observance to curb COVID-19 spread
Bali province’s Majelis Desa Adat, or traditional village council, says there are plans to hold a Nyepi-like observance later this month as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 on the island, with the final decision set to be announced tomorrow. The council’s chief, Ida Panglingsir Agung Putra Sukahet, told Tribun yesterday that nothing has been decided for the time being, as authorities would need to hold a meeting first. “We will decide on April 8. If it’s going to happen we will issue an official circular from the traditional village council,” Agung Putra was quoted as saying. The observance, locally referred to as sipeng, will only mandate that people stay at home for three consecutive days and will not follow the exact same rules as the Balinese Day of Silence, according to reports. Ordinarily, Nyepi encourages self-reflection by prohibiting activities such as lighting a fire, working, and traveling or going out, among others. The planned sipeng, however, would only prohibit people from leaving their homes. While official details have not been announced, news of sipeng quickly made its rounds on social media, showcasing divided opinions among local residents. Prompted by concerns over COVID-19, som e are supportive of the initiative, while others question how people are expected to meet their daily needs should the observance take place. “I agree, but it’s
Thousands of workers in Bali on unpaid leave, hundreds more laid off
“Everywhere [in Indonesia] is pretty much facing the same condition. We don’t know when this will end,” Ida Bagus Oka Dirga, who heads the agency, said. He added that in Badung, more than 6,000 workers from 78 companies have been instructed to stay at home and given between 50 to 70 percent of their minimum salary. “Right now, with the hotels empty, of course workers will burden the operational cost. That’s why they have instructed them to stay home. However, we do hope they won’t be laying off [these workers],” I Made Badra, who heads the Tourism Agency in Badung, told Tribun.
Bali hotels roll out cheap promos or shut to survive coronavirus outbreak
The Bali Hotel Association (BHA), whose members include general managers of over 100 four-star and five-star hotels and resorts in Bali, said that most accommodations and restaurants in Bali have opted to temporarily close for at least one month. “At this time, almost all hotels and restaurants in Bali are closed temporarily for one to two months, as we monitor the most up to date situation,” BHA chairman I Made Ricky Darmika Putra told state news agency Antara yesterday. Ricky also responded to circulating information that many hotels in Bali are up for sale, clarifying that those reports are false. In addition, he explained how hotels that are still open have less than 10 percent occupancy rates, while most restaurants have cut their operational hours short. Meanwhile, some other hotels are still seeking to attract potential customers, and are rolling out cheap promotions on long-term stays. One example is Lv8, a hotel located in Canggu, which offers a one-month stay fee starting from IDR8million (US$481). For perspective, the hotel’s normal daily rate ranges from IDR800K-1 million. (coconuts.com 07/04/2020)
JAKARTA - Indonesia will temporarily ban all visits and transits by foreign nationals to the country to curb the further spread of the coronavirus. “President (Joko) sees that our current policy needs to be made stricter. We have decided that all visits and transits by foreign nationals to Indonesia will temporarily be banned,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after a virtual ministers’ meeting with President Joko Widodo on Tuesday (March 31). Exceptions to the ban include those with work permits as well as diplomats, Ms Retno added, stressing that proper health protocols will still apply. President Joko said before the ministers’ meeting that Indonesia is stepping up measures to limit mobility among its citizens within the country, but threats of coronavirus spread also come from overseas. Mr Joko pointed out specifically that the epicentres of the pandemic have shifted to the United States and Europe. In Indonesia, Jakarta is the epicentre of the country’s coronavirus crisis, accounting for nearly half of the 1,414 confirmed cases. There are 122 deaths from Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in Indonesia so far, the highest in South-east Asia. Stay in the know with e-mail alerts. “Practically all nations have put in place limits on the flow of travellers with varying (degree of) strictness depending on the respective situation and condition in each country,” Ms Retno said. Their policies have also impacted Indonesians living overseas, many of whom have recently returned home or are preparing to head home. According to Ms Retno, the two largest groups of homebound Indonesians are Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia as well as Indonesians working as crews on cruise ships. “The inflow traffic from these two groups has been far larger than normal,” Ms Retno said. “In terms of size, the number of Indonesians living and working in Malaysia exceeds 1 million. And there are 11,838 Indonesian crews working for 80 cruise ships, as per data gathered so far,” Ms Retno added. She said the government is implementing proper health protocols at airports, seaports, border check points on these returning countrymen. Mr Joko on Monday said Indonesia needs stronger measures to limit mobility after receiving reports that thousands of workers in Jakarta and its surrounding areas have returned to their home towns after losing most or all of their income amid the coronavirus outbreak. There have been concerns of a spread of infections as people important to inform the general public way ahead of the actual dates. So it doesn’t seem so abrupt.” “So will there be provision of food from the government?” “Those who have plenty of money from monthly salary have it good as they can simply stock up, but what can we do when we depend on daily income. If it were to happen for four days please think it further wisely.” As of yesterday afternoon, Bali confirmed eight additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the island’s total to 43. This includes 19 recoveries and two deaths of foreign nationals. (Coconuts.com 07/04/2020)
from Jakarta, the epicentre of the country’s outbreak, return home. The government is preparing regulations that would make it possible for Jakarta and other coronavirus red zones to be put under an “area quarantine”, a term observers see as equivalent to a lockdown, which would stop flows of people going in and out. Coordinating maritime affairs and investment minister Luhut Pandjaitan said in a video message on Tuesday that the government would take the decision within this week, stressing however Indonesia would use the term lockdown. Indonesia would also issue a presidential emergency decree that would allow the government to have an annual budget deficit of larger than 3 per cent – currently not allowed by the existing laws – so that it could spend more to deploy cash, especially to the poorest population in the country. This exemption would apply for three years, before a normal threshold of 3 per cent would be reinstalled for 2023 annual budget year. “(Finance Minister) Sri Mulyani is currently making her calculation. What if we give the bottom 40 per cent or 20 per cent direct cash handouts. It is being thoroughly calculated,” Mr Luhut said. President Joko said on Monday that over the past eight days alone, 876 buses had transported about 14,000 people in Greater Jakarta back to their home towns, mostly in West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java provinces. Others had taken the trains and ships home, he added. These are mostly daily-rated workers such as push-cart food sellers, in what is termed the informal sector of the economy. (straitstimes.com 01/04/2020)
Bali’s The Nusa Dua improves safety measures amid pandemic
State-owned enterprise Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is implementing safety measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 at tourist destination The Nusa Dua in Bali. I Gusti Ngurah Ardita, managing director of The Nusa Dua, told Antara news agency that a letter had been sent to tenants, urging them to provide hand sanitizers and regularly spray disinfectant in public areas, including toilets, pray rooms, ATM booths and shuttle buses. “This is in accordance with a circular letter from Bali’s provincial administration on improving hygiene and sanitation to combat the virus,” he said. Tenants at The Nusa Dua are also required to check the temperature of all staff and visitors and to routinely clean their sites. A crisis center has been set up for guests, with services that include delivery to the nearest hospital and routine check-ups with health agencies. Ardita added that The Nusa Dua’s employees have been working from home from March 16, except for security and cleaning staff, who have been equipped with protective gear and follow physical distancing measures while on duty. As of March 26, the occupancy rate at The Nusa Dua had dropped 30.45 percent since February. “We hope the pandemic will end soon and tourism in Bali can improve,” said Ardita. On Tuesday, Bali declared a state of emergency by imposing stricter measures on visitors in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 as cases continue to climb with local transmission detected. With the status, the resort island will tighten checks at entrance gates and enforce a 14-day self-quarantine for all people entering the island. (thejakartapost.com 01/04/2020)
Denpasar mayor urges city residents to stay at home amid coronavirus outbreak
The Mayor of Denpasar yesterday urged the city’s residents to refrain from returning to their hometowns and stay at home instead, as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Bali. “I am asking all residents living in Denpasar for the time being do not go anywhere, including to go to your hometown, stay at your respective homes [instead] to break the chain on COVID-19 spread,” , as quoted by state news agency Antara. Many of those who live in Denpasar hail from different parts of the island and even the country. With the social and physical distancing advisory in place and the option to return to their family homes might make sense financially, officials fear it might contribute to further spread of COVID-19. According to Denpasar government’s, there are currently 96 people under monitoring in the city, along with two patients under observation and two more who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Across Bali, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases stand at 10 as of yesterday afternoon, including two deaths of foreign nationals, while a total of 141 patients have been placed under observation, as per data from the provincial government.
Ministry urges tourism actors to enhance disaster mitigation efforts
The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy urged tourism actors to commit to disaster mitigation efforts in tourism destinations, an official stated. The ministry’s special staff for crisis management, Fadjar Hutomo, affirmed that those efforts could be made by preparing safety installations, conducting emergency response when disaster strikes, or through other measures. “What tourism destinations must prepare now is safety equipment that would be necessary for emergency response when disaster strikes,” Hutomo noted in his statement here on Sunday. The ministry is committed to encouraging tourism actors nationwide to ready proper disaster mitigation responses to achieve a sustainable tourism industry, he stated. Collaboration with relevant stakeholders in disaster mitigation and responses would be necessary to achieve an integrated disaster response management plan, he noted, adding that data and information provided by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) can be used for crisis management to anticipate possible disasters that might harm the sector. Hutomo confirmed that the ministry has conceived a framework for crisis management in the tourism and cre“Our success in breaking the chain of coronavirus spread requires discipline and cooperation from everyone, not only the government, but also the public in heeding the instructions and suggestions from officials,” Rai Mantra said. Last week, a nurse who tested positive for COVID-19 reportedly went home to Tabanan regency, prompting officials to trace her close contacts immediately.
ative economy sectors. The framework includes guidelines on the mitigation, disaster response, recovery, and normalisation phases, he revealed. He also highlighted that the recently concluded 7th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Bali on May 23-28, 2022, presented a good opportunity to discuss developments in disaster risk mitigation. “The GPDRR in Bali must motivate us to promptly enhance our (disaster mitigation) readiness from the predisaster until the post-disaster phases,” he remarked. (antaranews.com) Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Peru, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, and Jordan are now able to get a visa on arrival at the nine international airports across Indonesia, including Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport. The visa on arrival costs IDR 500,000 and can be paid on a credit or debit card. Cash is accepted in EUR, GBP, AUD, USD, SGD, and IDR. Bali is hosting some major international conferences this year, including the G20 summit. In the last week, the island has hosted the Global Platform For Disaster Risk Reduction with the United Nations. As Bali opens its conference centers and event spaces for these major events, the government will be keen to remove any potential sticking points for visitors, delegates, and support teams. Opening the visa on arrival program to as many nations as possible reflects the openness and welcoming atmosphere that Bali is so well known for. While some countries have made it harder for citizens from Russia to travel, Indonesia has just made it a step easier. Both Russia and Ukraine have been added to the visa on arrival program and online commentary about this choice is bubbling up. The President of Indonesia has kept President Putin’s invitation to the G20 in place. Jokowi has also invited the Ukrainian President Volodymyr despite Ukraine not being in the G20. The invites have been causing raised eyebrows. The US has made it clear that they want Putin and Russia to not attend. Jokowi was quoted to say that he wants Indonesia to be able to unite the G20 and promote peace and stability. (thebalisun. com)
Traveler Alert: Bali Visa Agent Scams Tourists
Travelers from Australia and Canada have been scammed out of millions of Indonesian rupiah by a phony visa agent in Bali. As visitor numbers in Bali return to pre-pandemic levels, travelers are reminded to do their research before moving forward with visa agents. The process of extending a tourist visa on arrival is straightforward but time-consuming. A visa on arrival for travelers from sixty countries enables visitors to remain in Indonesia for up to days. The standard visa on arrival can be extended one time for an additional 30-days. Since the process of extending a visa on arrival requires three separate visits to a Bali immigration office, many visitors choose to have a local visa agent manage the process for them. This means that the traveler must only attend immigration once rather than three times. While there are hundreds of legitimate and trustworthy visa agents in Bali, there are a number of scam artists claiming to be visa agents who take the money of unsuspecting travelers and disappear into the sunset. This is what happened to Australian Dalie El Beanini, 35, and Canadians Patrick Bonniel, 27, and Juan Carlos Peralta, 28. They had been travelling all throughout Bali for a few weeks and wanted to extend their stay in Indonesia. Local reports suggest that the three men were very close to overstaying their original visas. The processing time for a visa
extension is around two weeks. They gave a man by the name of Mang Dana IDR 8.4 million (USD 578) to renew their visa. Dana was operating as a visa agent for a more senior agent by the name Komang Puspa Dana from Jinengdalem, Buleleng. According to reports from local news outlet Radar Bali, Mang Dana met the young men at their accommodation in Seminyak late in April. It was there that they handed over the IDR 8.4 million for what they were told was for three visa extensions and the visa agent’s fee. Shortly after the exchange of funds, Mr. Dana disappeared and neither Beaini, Bonniel, nor Peralta have been able to contact him. He has disappeared with the funds and the three travelers were not closer to having their visas extended and were at risk of overstaying their original visas. Visa agents in Bali can help with extensions of the visa on arrival, social visa, and the rigorous process of obtaining a KITAS (work or business permit). Bali’s visa on arrival program was extended to include sixty countries in early May. Travelers from these sixty countries can pay the set 500,000 IDR on arrival at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport. It is possible to pay with a credit/debit card or with cash in the accepted currencies (EUR, GBP, AUD, USD, SGD, IDR). The police have not issued a statement regarding Beaini, Bonniel, or Perelta’s ordeal. It is thought that they have cut their losses since there is little hope for them getting their money back. (thebalisun.com)
