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CANGGU WEEKLY Weekly Magazine For Canggu & Surroundings
No. 282 / 17 Jun - 24 Jun 2022
Let’s add more countries to VOA list, Bali’s tourism association says that tourism businesses are expecting an immediate return to the island’s heyday. “The more [countries on the VOA list,] the merrier. And we hope that it can go back like in the beginning, with 168 nationalities [eligible for VOA],” said Suryawijaya.
Bali’s PHRI said the island is seeing an increase of up to 50 percent in the number As more and more sun-seekers are flocking of tourist arrivals this year compared to the to the Island of Gods in the past few months, same period in 2019 – before the pandemic. Bali’s hotels and restaurants’ association has suggested the government to expand Currently, 72 nationalities are eligible for the visa on arrival (VOA) eligibility list, which VOA entry to Indonesia. The VOA program now stands at 72 nationalities, back to its was suspended since the onset of the pre-pandemic number. pandemic, but it had been reactivated since Bali reopened to international tourism late The Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and last year. The list of eligible nationalities is Restaurant Association (PHRI) via its deputy sporadically updated. I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya said today
Separately, Bali Governor Wayan Koster said the island’s tourist spike has not negatively influenced COVID-19 management on the island. Citing official data, he said that as of Monday, the average reported cases per day remained between 15 to 30 people. Koster added that in May alone, 539 international flights operated by 19 different airlines arrived in Bali, carrying 129,920 passengers. That averaged to 4,191 international arrivals per day. From June 1 to June 13, that average has risen to 5,905 people. “If we look at the average per day of international visitors from May to the middle of June, the increase is 41 percent,” he said. (Coconuts.co)
The Weekly Magazine For Canggu & Surroundings
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17 Jun - 24 Jun 2022
The Weekly Magazine For Canggu & Surroundings
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17 Jun - 24 Jun 2022
The Weekly Magazine For Canggu & Surroundings
17 Jun - 24 Jun 2022
Citilink 2X Weekly Flights Denpasar – Dili For June through 12 June 2022, Bali’s Airport served 126,356 international passengers at an average of 10,529 passengers per day. For the previous month of May, Bali handled 109,118 international passengers. Ngurah Rai International Airport recorded a post-pandemic record of 1,006,662 domestic and international passengers for May 2022. Continuing, Handy commented: “The number of international air passengers at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport continues to increase, in keeping with the (increasing) number of (international) routes being resumed. As the airport operator, we are very enthusiastic about this development.”
The State News Agency Antara reports that Citilink Indonesia – the low-cost subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, has recommenced flights connecting Bali and Dili, Timor Leste. The General Manager of Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, Handy Heryudhitiawan, said: “The return of the Denpasar-Dili route will positively affect both Indonesia and Timor-Leste, accelerating the revivals of the tourism sector in both countries.”
Initially, the Bali-Dili flights by Citilink will operate every Monday and Friday, departing Denpasar at 9:25 am and landing in Dili at 12:20 pm local times. The return leg using Airbus A320 aircraft will depart Dili at 1:20 pm. The resumption of the Bali-Dili service by Citilink brings to 20 destinations served on direct flights from Bali in 11 countries, flown by 19 airlines.
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The CEO of Citilink Indonesia, Dewa Kadek Rai, welcomes the restart of the Bali to Dili air service that will support business and tourism travel. Adding: “We hope that the new service will become a new beginning for the recommencement of Citilink’s international flight network, contributing to the recovery of the general economy and international tourism.”I (balidiscovery.com.)
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17 Jun - 24 Jun 2022
The Weekly Magazine For Canggu & Surroundings
17 Jun - 24 Jun 2022
Quietly Proud: LGBTQIA+ Indonesians in Bali celebrate Pride Month solemnly amid rising backlash for celebration – and it was an intimate one. The event began with attendees joining together to wave a huge rainbow flag to symbolize their proud hopes for the future.
June is Pride Month. While it began in the US, LGBT Pride Month celebrations are now held around the world, including in Asia. In nearby Thailand, there are two major events at the nation’s capital scheduled for this month. The country is also discussing a bill that would legalize same-sex unions, which would make it the first Southeast Asia nation to do so (fingers crossed!).
That was then followed by performances by drag queens lip-syncing anthems such as Todrick Hall’s Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, and This Is Me, by Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble. LGBTQIA+ singersongwriter Kai Mata also performed at the event.
event in the country since the onset of the pandemic. Among the attendees of the three-hour event were members of fellow NGOs from across Bali including Yayasan Gaya Dewata, Yayasan Gaya Nusantara, QLC Bali, GSHR Udayana, Kwiir, Kabar Sejuk, Komunitas Teman Baik, Queer Archive, Lokahita Yogyakarta, LBH Apik, and Persatuan Waria (Trans Women Union).
The weekend gathering also includes a screening of Balada Srikandi (Srikandi’s Tale), a short documentary by QLC Bali that highlights the struggles and hopes of the trans women community in Bali – especially during the pandemic. Venon Sa’id Ali, 28, one of QLC Bali’s coordinators who also produced the documentary, said that they hoped it could shine a light on the plight of trans women and how they are in dire need of help.
In Indonesia?
“Despite the recent news on the persecution and criminalization of LGBTQ individuals, Pelangi Being able to celebrate Pride Nusantara believes that Month is, understandably, not a Indonesia is not run by bigotry. priority for LGBTQIA+ There is no place for Indonesians – not when their basic freedoms continue to be at discrimination and persecution based on religious beliefs. Love stake. The country, which has is love,” Pelangi Nusantara the world’s largest Muslim founder Ketut told Coconuts Bali. population, has seen a rising backlash against and persecution of queer citizens, Fresh on their minds were particularly in recent years. several recent that had sparked renewed hatred towards their community in Indonesia. In the past few weeks alone, a married gay couple appearing in a The idea of celebrating Pride popular podcast sparked Month in Indonesia is, perhaps, renewed calls for criminalization a tall order. Openly, at least. of same-sex relations in Indonesia, as well as giving rise Not wanting to let the rising tide to homophobic sentiments of homophobia and transphobia among the general public. Then, bring them down further, some there was a harmless video of two dozen LGBTQIA+ gay men being affectionate with Indonesians who reside in Bali each other at a coffee shop in went ahead and solemnly Jakarta that went viral, which celebrated Pride Month, but in a prompted their arrest and the careful way so as not to attract temporary closure of the any negative attention towards establishment. themselves at the same time. Together in Bali A get-together event took place on June 5 in Bali organized by Pelangi Nusantara, an NGO focusing on LGBTQIA+ rights.
Ketut said, “Because, coincidentally, we are living in Bali. If we lived in Jakarta, we would have held it in Jakarta.” Venon, on the other hand, expressed that they personally felt Bali was “a little bit safer” as there are more open-minded people who choose to appreciate the LGBTQIA+ community rather than discriminate against them. “Bali also has many venues where the owners accept anybody so making any event is safer,” Venon said. Alena agreed, chiming in, “While not all Balinese people accept [us], the majority welcome the rainbow community around them.” While Bali’s locals have a reputation for being more nonchalant about minority groups (including LGBTQIA+ people), members of that community are understandably careful about putting any labels on the island.
In January 2021, an American woman was deported from the country following a series of “Many trans women in Indonesia tweets that included her citing do not have access to education Bali as “queer-friendly.” or jobs since a lot of them left Indonesian queers quickly took their families at such a young to Twitter to express their age due to stigma and concerns that the controversy discrimination,” they said. would incite more repercussions towards them – even in Bali. Venon said that the June 5 event was a limited get-together that was only known to those who were invited – thus ensuring their safety. “We made it as safe and comfortable as possible,” they added. Alena Perez, 31, a trans woman who was featured in the documentary and also performed at Pelangi Nusantara’s Pride event, hoped that many people would see LGBTQIA+ Indonesians as equals.
Indonesians’ homophobia has even escalated beyond borders. Last year, a gay couple in Thailand was harassed online by “We’re all humans,” she said. Indonesian netizens just because they put their wedding Why Bali? photos on Facebook.
When asked about the reason why they held the event in Bali,
It was the first-ever Pride-related But the get-together was a day 6
Taking lessons from that controversy, it’s understandable that LGBTQIA+ citizens in Bali are reluctant to commit to making the island the bastion of positive representation for the maligned community. When we asked organizers whether they’re hopeful that they can stage Pride Month celebration in Bali for years to come, Ketut simply answered, “We hope so.” Venon was more upbeat. “Of course [we’re hopeful]. I’m certain we can hold even bigger [Pride Month] celebrations in the future.”
(coconuts.co)
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17 Jun - 24 Jun 2022
The Weekly Magazine For Canggu & Surroundings
17 Jun - 24 Jun 2022
Hit-and-run driver in Denpasar leaves license plate behind The Denpasar Police is looking for a hit-andrun driver responsible for a crash yesterday that left two young women on a motorbike with minor injuries. It’s safe to say that it won’t take long before the suspect is found, as the car’s license plate was found at the scene. The Denpasar Police spokesman I Ketut Sukadi confirmed that the accident occurred yesterday at around 12:30am between Puputan Street and Letda Tantular Street. “The perpetrator left the crime scene. The police are conducting an investigation,” Sukadi added. 8
There was a lot of social media chatter about the incident after a video went viral showing a Jakarta license plate – believed to belong to the hit-and-run driver – left behind at the scene of the crash. The video also showed both victims, AA, 18, and PAA, 17, sporting some fresh wounds while sitting on the sidewalk after the crash. Police blamed the crash on the car driver, who was allegedly careless when making a turn at the intersection. (Coconuts.co.)
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The Weekly Magazine For Canggu & Surroundings
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