April 21, 2022
All concrete factories in Gianyar tourism zone declared illegal, still no plan to close them + Police in Kuta & Ubud arrest beggars + Cooking oil completely gone in many Karangasem markets + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Thursday, April 21. In today’s edition: Gianyar's regent has declared all of the concrete factories in a tourism zone to be illegal and has suggested disqualifying them from government contracts instead of ordering them closed. Police in Kuta and Ubud took action to clear the streets of panhandlers as tourists return; all of those arrested near Kuta Beach were children. And bulk cooking oil is becoming more scarce, as several markets in Karangasem have completely run out. 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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The Big News
"Entering Tourism Area, Regent Doesn't Issue Concrete Factory Permit" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The concrete factories that were established in southern Gianyar, namely Jalan IB Mantra and Jalan Pantai Siyut were standing without a permit. The regent of Gianyar, Made Mahayastra, did not issue any more permits because the area is a tourism area. "We [the government] no longer issue permits. We no longer give the permit," said Mahayastra when asked about the whereabouts of the concrete factory. Not only the concrete factory in Pantai Siyut, the regent emphasized that all concrete factories in the southern Gianyar area that lined Jalan IB Mantra were no longer licensed. "All the concrete factories that are there [along Jalan By Pass IB Mantra], we do not give permission," he explained. According to the regent, the factory should no longer be allowed to submit a tender. The regent continued, there was no permit because the southern Gianyar area, especially near the coast, is a tourism area. Many villas and hotels line the area. "Because it's a tourism area," he said. Sinar Bali has not yet provided information to journalists.
"Tourists Complain About [Panhandling] Under the Guise of Selling Tissue In Kuta" from Bali Post (Indonesian): The Secretary of the Kuta District (Sekcam), I Made Agus Suantara, admitted that he had followed up on reports of the existence of [panhandling] under the guise of selling tissue in the Kuta Beach area, which disturbed tourists. According to him, this must receive serious attention because in Kuta tourism has just started to stretch after two years of slumping due to the Covid-19 pandemic... Agus Suantara further emphasized that his party will continue to work with the Satpol PP BKO Kuta, Linmas and coordinate with the Social Service to follow up on this issue because it is closely related to the image of tourism. He said most of them were children. "This is very detrimental to tourists visiting Kuta. Regarding whether anyone has organized this, I can't confirm it yet. Currently, what can be done is providing guidance and returning to their original areas," he said.
Context: A later report on this noted that the police had gotten involved and “secured” 10 children who’d been panhandling in the area. They all claimed to be from the same area in eastern Bali and to be residents of the same boarding house near Kuta Beach. See below for news of a similar police action against panhandlers in Ubud.
"Rare Bulk Cooking Oil In Traditional Markets In Karangasem" from Bali Post (Indonesian): The supply of bulk cooking oil in several traditional and modern markets in Karangasem is decreasing. This condition makes bulk cooking oil stocks scarce and difficult to obtain by the public. A trader from Subagan Village, Ni Nengah Wati, revealed that bulk cooking oil has been scarce since two weeks ago. There is no supply on the market. "Because there are none, many residents complain about this condition. Buyers prefer bulk cooking oil because the price is slightly cheaper, if they buy the packaged ones, they are more expensive," he said... The head of the Karangasem Cooperative, MSME, Industry and Trade (Diskop and Perindag) Agency, Gede Loka Santika, revealed that the supply of bulk cooking oil is indeed scarce. There is absolutely no supply in the market. The officer has checked it, and indeed there is no stock. "I don't know the cause of the scarcity of bulk cooking oil in Karangasem. This scarcity has been around for a long time. To this day, I am still looking for the cause of the scarcity of bulk cooking oil in the traditional market,” he said.
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Other Headlines
"Squatters in Ubud are brought back in order, some bring Android cellphones" from Bali Express (Indonesian): Satpol PP Gianyar again brought in order dozens of homeless people and beggars (sprawl) who hang out in the tourist area of Ubud every day, Wednesday (20/4). They were then taken to the Gianyar Regency Social Service for further guidance and repatriation to their area of origin. The existence of dozens of sprawl is considered to have disturbed public order. Moreover, the Ubud area is a tourism area that is visited by local and foreign tourists every day... Secretary of the Gianyar Regency Social Service, Nurwidyaswanto, said that the Gianyar Satpol PP had secured 22 flat people who were then taken to the Gianyar Social Service for further repatriation. “After we got the data, they came from Munti Village, Karangasem Regency. And all of these are old faces," he said. Of the total 22 people, consisting of 15 children and 7 adults.
"Mayor Accused of 'Gabeng,' Denpasar City Government [Defends] Efforts to Deal with Garbage" from Bali Post (Indonesian): The Head of Protocol and Communications for the Denpasar City Secretariat, I Dewa Gede Rai, said he Denpasar City Government's commitment to unraveling the waste problem was very clear. In fact, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Denpasar City Government has succeeded in building five TPS3Rs and renovating 4 TPS3Rs. "This is proof that the mayor is very concerned about dealing with the waste problem. So it is not appropriate if the mayor is judged to be ignorant in handling waste in Denpasar." Related to the problem of transporting waste at the TPS some time ago, it was not just a matter of the fleet. Obstacles also often occur at the Suwung TPA. Because when the equipment is damaged at the TPA, the queue of incoming vehicles carrying garbage is quite a lot, so transportation is also hampered. "We cannot anticipate the problems at the Suwung TPA, because the manager is not in the municipal government," said Dewa Rai.
Context: The Mayor's office was responding to comments made on a news program by a local commentator who had said that the government had "no clear solution" to the trash problem and that the mayor was "reluctant to go into the field" to see the problem for himself.
Tourism Update
"Australian Tourists Flood Bali, Visa on Arrival Users 5,888 People" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): Tourists from Australia continue to come to Bali. This tourist from the land of kangaroos ranks the highest number of users of visa on arrival (VoA) when they come to Bali, namely 5,888 people. "For Australian tourists, it has been recorded that 5,888 people have applied," said Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office I Nyoman Surya Mataram. He explained, since the VoA took effect on March 7, 2022, up to now 23,820 foreign tourists (tourists) have applied for a VoA when they arrived in Bali. After Australia, tourists from the UK are in second place with 2,649 VoA users. While the third position of tourists from Germany as many as 2,358 people.
More...
Province: "Growing Int’l Air Arrival Numbers in Bali" from bali Discovery
Province: "Luxury hotels in Jakarta, Bali recovering from pandemic: JLL" from The Jakarta Post (Paywall)
Province: "By the end of 2022, Bali will have three new 5-star hotels" from Kompas (Indonesian)
Badung: "Hotel Occupancy Rate Naturally Increase" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Covid Developments
"The Highest Bali Booster Vaccination Achievement, Donated by Prospective Homecomers" from IDN Times (Indonesian): Booster vaccinations in Bali Province until Tuesday (19/4/2022) had reached 58.45%. The highest achievement was in Denpasar City, which was 78.31% and the lowest was in Buleleng Regency, only 41.13%. The Head of the Bali Provincial Health Office, Dr dr I Nyoman Gede Anom, confirmed that the booster vaccination achievement in Bali until Tuesday (19/4/2022) reached 58.45%, or an estimated 1.8 million people. He admits that this achievement is the highest in Indonesia today. "Hopefully. The target is to start before Eid until Eid, at least we can reach 65%. In Indonesia, Bali is the highest at 58.45 percent," he said. Even so, Bali still has to pursue the booster vaccination target of up to 70% before the implementation of the G20 Presidency activities later.
More...
NTB: "NTB Hospital Opens 24-hour Booster Vaccine Service Ahead of Eid" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Business, Economy & Infrastructure
"Now, you can order flight, hotel and bus tickets via BRImo" from Suara Bali (Indonesian): The launch of the Travel feature in the BRImo application allows BRI customers to buy airline tickets, hotels, buses & shuttles from various partners owned by Traveloka. The presence of the Travel feature further strengthens BRImo as a Financial Super Apps that can serve various customer needs in one application. Customers can order various travel accommodation tickets ranging from planes, hotels, buses & shuttles quickly, safely and comfortably through BRImo. This feature also helps BRI customers with a practical ordering process, from selecting and ordering transportation and accommodation tickets, filling in travel destinations and identification according to booking needs, making payments, to receiving e-ticket confirmation.
More...
Nation: "State revenue at Rp501 trillion as of March: finance minister [up 32.1%]" from Antara
Nation: "March 2022 State Revenue Budget maintained Rp10.3-trillion surplus" from Antara
Province: "First Quarter 2022, Tax Revenue in Bali Reaches 26.31% [of Rp. 7.2 trillion Target]" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Province: "Soybean Needs for Tofu and Tempe Producers in 4 Bali Regencies Touches 1,500 Tons Per Month" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Bangli: "In Recent Years, Coffee Prices in Kintamani Experience the Highest Increase" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Bangli: "The Council Expects the Tegalalang-Tambahan Road to Be Completed This Year" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Bangli: "Budgeting Billions of Rupiah, Bangli Square Pedestrian Route Will Be Arranged Like In Jogja" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Number of Poverty in Karangasem Increases" from Bali Puspsa News (Indonesian)
"HPV Cervical Cancer Vaccination in Bali Targets Elementary School Students Grades 5 and 6" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Free Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination activities to prevent cervical cancer will take place again in Bali. For the target, the girls themselves are elementary school grades V and VI. This activity is planned to take place in August 2022. "So for the HPV vaccination service to prevent cervical cancer , it is free and specifically for class V and class VI girls. We will carry it out in August," explained the Head of the Bali Provincial Health Office, dr. I Nyoman Gede Anom. this vaccination activity will run in two stages, namely in the first stage for grade 5 elementary school and the second stage for grade 6 elementary school. "Technically for the HPV vaccine , the first dose is given in grade 5 and grade 6 SD and next year the second dose," he explained.
"Anticipating Dengue Fever and Chikungunya, Denpasar Health Office Intensive Fogging" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian): Fogging or fogging activities in Denpasar are intensively carried out to prevent the spread of various viral diseases, such as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Chikungunya, especially in the rainy season. As was done, Wednesday 20 April 2022 in the Renon sub-district, in collaboration with the Denpasar City Health Office. The Head of Renon Village, Gede Suweca, said the fogging activity was focused on the Banjar Peken area, Jalan Tukad Yeh Aya, east of the Renon Traditional Village Market.
Context: This activity comes as health officials have warned about the rising number of cases of Dengue Fever in the area, including a report earlier this week that total cases in Badung are up 35% so far this year compared to the first three months of 2021.
Of Interest
"[For Skimming] ATMs, Ukrainian Girl [On Trial] for 4 years; Defendant Successfully Pocketed IDR 325.6 Million" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Fallen Tree Closes Amlapura-Singaraja [Highway], Overlaps Residents’ Roofs" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Traces of Islam on the Island of Bali, There is an Ancient Al Quran Covered in Camel Skin" from iNews 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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