April 18, 2022
Cost of 60-day visa tripling to Rp2 million; VOA stays at Rp500k... for now + New shortcut in Canggu opens at Jalan Kayu Tulang + Massive fire destroys 7 vendor stalls at Melasti Beach + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Monday, April 18. In today’s edition: There’s good news & bad news on the visa front: visa-on-arrival fees are not going up (yet), but the 6-month visa fee has tripled. Over in Canggu, a new shortcut at Jalan Kayu Tulang is now open to traffic. And a massive fire has destroyed 7 vendor stalls at Melasti Beach. Scroll down for the full wrap on what has been happening in Bali and Indonesia since you last heard from us.
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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
Note: Last week the 7-day average of new cases slipped below 40 for the first time since January - when reporting was hampered by a long holiday - If you discount January, the number of total cases so far this month, 635, is the fewest seen by the middle of any month since regular reporting began way back in April and May of 2020. Nationally, the total number of cases found each day has been under 1,000 for almost a week.
The Big News
"Immigration Apply New Visa Service Fee" from Bali Post (Indonesian): A significant difference in the new PMK is the change in one-way visit visa rates. As of April 16, 2022, the visit visa is valid for 60 days with the previous rate of $50 US dollars or around IDR 718,000. Now, through the new PMK, it has increased to Rp. 2 million for visit visas other than tourist destinations. Meanwhile, for a tourist visit visa, foreigners must pay Rp. 1.5 million. The tariff includes the visa processing fee, which previously amounted to Rp. 2 million. "The good news is that a visit stay permit from this type of visa can be extended for the next 60 days at a cost of IDR 2 million," said Acting Director General of Immigration Kemenkumham Widodo Ekatjahjana. "As for the limited stay visa, the terms and rates have not changed and still refer to the old rules." The application of other service tariffs is still waiting for related legal products or has not been opened, considering that the COVID-19 pandemic has not been declared over, and Indonesia is still applying for limited visas. (Note: For a complete list of current visas and their fees, click here.)
Context: As we reported in Friday's newsletter, the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association had lodged a formal protest over a letter that had been reportedly sent from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to local travel agents about a potential increase in the cost of a Visa On Arrival to Rp. 1.5 million. On Saturday the head of the Ministry's regional office in Bali issued a statement saying that rumors of a VOA fee hike were a "hoax." It is not clear from media reports whether there was a change made to the VOA fee schedule as a result of widespread opposition, or if it is one of the service tariff changes still being evaluated.
"Residents Donate Private Land to Build New Shortcut in Canggu" from IDN Times (Indonesian): Currently, to reduce congestion and provide shorter access, in Canggu there are several shortcuts- at Jalan Kayu Tulang and Batu Bolong. Who will build this new shortcut? I Gede Arya Wijaya finally had the initiative to build a shortcut on Jalan Kayu Tulang. In realizing this plan, together with his property company, he turned his private land into a shortcut from Jalan Kayu Tulang to Jalan Batu Bolong. This pass is designed to be passed by four-wheeled vehicles passing each other. The road, which was made on the basis of paping, has a width of almost 7 meters. That way, there will be no more traffic jams, let alone the potential for vehicles to fall into the ditch. This road has a length of about 120 meters which is equipped with street lighting and pedestrians with a width of 2 meters. This shortcut is named the Teratai Batu Bolong Shortcut which is taken from the name of the property company owned by Arya Wijaya, namely the Teratai Group.
"Eight Stalls on Melasti Beach Burned, Losing Hundreds of Millions of Rupiah" from Bali Express (Indonesian): A massive fire broke out at Melasti Beach, Ungasan, South Kuta, Badung on Sunday (17/4) morning. The red rooster, precisely, went berserk in a row of stalls located next to the Palmilla Bali restaurant. Until finally the fire can be extinguished around 07.00. Unfortunately, because of the magnitude of the fire, as many as eight stalls and their contents were sold out. The owner is a resident and fisherman of Ungasan Village, namely, I Ketut Mudiana alias Sebet, Ibu Agus. Then, Jul, Priska alias Gatra, Weta, Lecir, I Luh Putu Sumiati, and Dr. Eka Komala Sari. The losses caused are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of rupiah. The South Kuta Police are still investigating the cause of the fire, but a temporary suspicion is an electric short circuit.
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Other Headlines
"Denpasar City Government [to fix] Sanur Beach worth IDR 28 billion" from Antara (Indonesian): The arrangement of the beach area is spread over several points along the 5.8 km and the relocation of the parking lot to make it more neat and orderly. "To support security and comfort, we expect hotel owners along Sanur Beach to participate in installing surveillance cameras (CCTV). At least 2-3 CCTV points for each hotel owner and their network will be connected to the 'Command Center' at the Denpasar City Government," said the Mayor of the City, Arya Wibawa. He further said that the Denpasar City Government also supports the plan to relocate the beach parking area which has been using the road in the Jalan Hangtuah area to land owned by the Sanur Kaja Traditional Village so that it looks more beautiful. neat and tidy. "Hopefully in early May 2022 there will be a winner and it can be done soon with a target completion time of 6 months," said Airawata.
Tourism Update
“[First] Qantas Sydney-Bali Route Flies, Australian Tourists Flood Ngurah Rai Airport" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): Qantas Airlines made its first landing at Ngurah Rai Airport carrying 146 passengers. The airport was flooded with tourists from Australia. "We enthusiastically welcome the response of Qantas Airlines which sequentially opens international flight routes," said General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I Ngurah Rai Airport Herry AY Sikado. With this addition, there are now two airlines serving the Sydney-Bali route and vice versa. Previously, Garuda Indonesia had preceded opening this route last March. Besides Sydney, flights from Australia to Bali that have been opened are Melbourne and Perth. The flight was served by Qantas and Jetstar.
More...
Nation: "Yogyakarta airport to open international flight services on April 29" from Antara
Nation: "Breaking the density, Minister of Transportation urges travelers to also depart on April 25-27" from Detik (Indonesian)
Nation: "Private Air Charters Booming to Bali" from Bali Discovery
Province: "InJourney prepares events calendar to revive Bali tourism" from Antara
Province: "Bali is Targeted as a Cruise Ship Destination from Singapore" from Detik (Indonesian)
Badung: "The occupancy rate at The Nusa Dua Bali grew 182% [in Q1]" from Antara (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Reaching 40%, Hotel and Restaurant Occupancy in Ubud Starts to Increase" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Regent Returns Nusa Penida Retribution Collection Post to Port" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "The crossing to Nusa Penida is crowded during the Easter holidays" from Antara (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "The Rate of Foreign Tourist Visits to Bedugul Ulundanu Temple Increases" from Repiblika (Indonesian)
"Very Low Supply of New Hotels in Bali During the Covid-19 Pandemic" from Suara Bali (Indonesian): In the first quarter of 2022, the number of 3-star hotels in Bali has remained consistent since the end of last year, while the second most is 4-star hotels, new 5-star hotels. Data shows that until Q1 2022, the total available hotel rooms in Bali reached 60,536 rooms out of a total of 543 registered hotels. There is no change in hotel supply in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the end of 2021. However, Colliers predicts that by the end of 2022 there will be additional room supply.
Vaccination Update
"The Highest Bali Booster Vaccination Rate in Indonesia" from Bali Express (Indonesian): In dealing with the surge in Covid -19 in the Province of Bali, the implementation of the third stage of vaccination, or booster, has been boosted. Besides being carried out based on traditional villages, it is also carried out in mutual cooperation involving community organizations. So that the booster vaccination rate in Bali is the highest in Indonesia. "Astungkara Bali is safe, the development of Covid cases in Bali continues to decline and Booster Vaccinations in Bali have reached 59 percent. The highest vaccination rate in Indonesia," said the governor from Buleleng. He conveyed that the development of Covid-19 in Bali with its new variant reached its peak in February 2022, with 2,250 cases per day. However, since March 7, 2022 until now, it has continued to slop. The movement of positive numbers is currently still stable at 2 digits, namely at numbers 30 to 50. The movement of numbers is never below 30. Meanwhile, the number of patients who die daily in hospitals is nil.
More...
Buleleng: "The Task Force is Ready to Hold Vaccines In Place For Homecomers, If It Has Been Affixed A Sticker" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
"Gov’t Delivers Rebuke to US for Suspecting Covid App of Rights Abuse" from The Jakarta Globe: A senior Indonesian minister on Saturday lashed a recent US government report alleging that the Peduli Lindungi application, which is designed for smartphone users to curb the spread of Covid-19 and restrict people's movement during the pandemic, could amount to misuse of personal data by the government. Chief Security Minister Mahfud MD said the app was invented to deal with the pandemic in “the best way possible” and that in some aspects Indonesia’s handling of the health crisis is way much better than the US. "If people get upset because they must scan [QR code] before entering a shopping mall or because their movement is restricted, that’s part of the consequences," Mahfud said. At the global level, Indonesia’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic is considered as good, even better than America,” he added.
More...
Klungkung: "Sat Polairud Klungkung Police Intensive Patrol" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "Prokes and Cooking Oil Continue to Be Strictly Supervised" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Business, Economy & Infrastructure
"Kuta Beach Merchants Relocation Plan Postponed" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The arrangement of Kuta Beach which was scheduled to start this April has been canceled. The reason is that there is no tender winner from the structuring project that has been designed. Because the structuring project has not yet started, the relocation of traders both in the coastal area and the Kuta Art Market has not been carried out. The related agency is said to have added more time to the tender process. If there are no problems, the winner of the tender will be determined at the end of April and the work schedule will start in May. "So now the traders are still selling. It is possible that we will start relocating in May," said Bendesa Adat Kuta I Wayan Wasista. So far, continued Wasista, around 600 traders in the Kuta Beach area and 240 traders at the Kuta Art Market have also stated their readiness to be relocated, once the project is underway.
More...
Nation: "Pertamina to distribute fuel 24 hours during Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr" from Antara
Nation: "2,278 Indonesian companies registered in China" from Antara (Indonesian)
Nation: "Fajrin Rasyid appointed to compile digital transformation roadmap" from Antara
Province: "Electricity Consumption Grows 9.53% at End of March 2022" from Nusa bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Fish Famine Season, Fishers Decide Not to Go to Sea" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Commemorating Kartini Day, Dozens of Women Surf in Kebaya" from Bali Express (Indonesian): Welcoming Kartini Day, the Putri Ombak Community held a surfing activity on Saturday (16/4). This activity is a little different, because this go surf kartini requires the participants to wear a kebaya complete with kamen. This activity was not only attended by adult women but there were also participants from the age of children. The participants of this activity are women from various regions, including foreign tourists. “We want to bring back the existence of the Putri Ombak community. In addition to commemorating Kartini Day, this is also an effort to generate surfing potential among women. We also want to raise the spirit of Kartini's struggle, as well as promote tourism," said The head of the Putri Ombak Stella Community.
Of Interest
"Don't have a motorbike, students are desperate to steal motorbikes to go to school" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Activists call for swift implementation of sexual violence law" from The Jakarta Post
"Earthquake in West Nusa Tenggara M 4.8 No Tsunami Potential" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
"Unud Dormitory Construction Continues" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Members of Parliament Ask Illegal Migrant Workers from Bali to Return to Indonesia" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
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How You Can Help Bali
Due to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali, tens of thousands of families have found themselves with a greatly reduced income—if any. If you’d like to support organizations working to help those in need, you can see a list of some here.
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