December 23, 2021
NGO testing shows Bali student grades suffering due to remote learning + Reopening of Surabaya’s airport to international flights planned + Singapore cancels VTL ticket sales till Jan. 20 + more
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The Bali Beat will be taking a break over the Christmas and New Year’s period, the last edition of 2021 will be on Friday, December 24 and we’ll be back in your inbox on Monday, January 3, 2022.
Weather & Tides
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Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“NGO Testing Shows Some Bali Students Fail to Make the Grade” from The Straits Times: A survey of elementary school students conducted by a children's charity in remote parts of Bali and Lombok has raised fresh worries that 20 months of remote learning has wiped out more than a year of schooling, leaving some children all but illiterate despite years of formal schooling. The survey, conducted by education non-profit organisation Bali Children Foundation, covered more than 1,300 pupils entering grades two and three. It found that fewer than half of those entering their third year of elementary school had mastered core concepts from the previous year, including writing a simple sentence in Bahasa Indonesia or basic arithmetic.
“Juanda Airport Will Open for International Flights” from Detik (Indonesian): The government will soon open Juanda Airport as a new entry point for foreign travelers. Juanda Airport Public Relations Manager Yuristo Ardhi Anggoro confirmed that there was indeed a plan for Juanda Airport to reopen to foreign travelers. However, they are still waiting for a circular from the Ministry of Transportation. "In principle, if Juanda Airport is opened as an entry point for international flights. In terms of infrastructure, facilities, and airport operational services, we will carry out according to the policies decided by the Government," Yuristo said.
Context: In related news, international carriers are yet to submit a request for a landing slot at Bali’s airport, despite the airport being officially open since mid-October.
“Singapore Suspends Ticket Sales for VTL Flights Between Dec 23 and Jan 20” from The Straits Times: Airlines will no longer be allowed to sell new vaccinated travel lane flight tickets for travel into Singapore from Thursday until Jan 20, as the country tightens its borders amid a rising number of imported Covid-19 cases. The suspension of sales also applies to those travelling on the Singapore-Malaysia land VTL. But eligible travellers who have earlier bought tickets will still be allowed to travel via the quarantine-free travel scheme. The move comes as the number of imported cases hit a new high since the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Context: This development follows on from Thailand’s decision to cancel their quarantine-free arrival program.
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Other Headlines
“Development and Conservation Clash at Komodo National Park” from AP: Construction within Komodo National Park is part of an initiative that has generated tensions between the government and conservationists. “We are embarking into a new era of tourism in Indonesia based on nature and culture, focusing on sustainability and quality tourism,” Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said. The project worries local environmental activists and residents within park boundaries who say their livelihoods as tour guides, boat drivers and souvenir sellers depend on the draw of the area’s natural beauty. “When we talk about the development in the conservation area, we have to think ... whether this is a wisely considered economic effect for the local people — or the environmental effect,” said Gregorius Afioma, a member of the local non-governmental organization Sun Spirit for Justice and Peace. “The situation now is like collective suicide.”
Vaccination Update
“Gov't Faces Challenges in Persuading Pregnant Women to Get Vaccinated” from Antara: Educating pregnant women about the COVID-19 vaccine and its benefits is still proving a challenge amid efforts to expedite vaccination coverage, spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccinations for the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said. "Some pregnant women refuse to receive vaccination. This is our challenge in administering vaccinations," Tarmizi said on Wednesday. Based on data from the Health Ministry, just 30,000 pregnant women have received the COVID-19 jab so far, she noted. The reason for the low number of vaccinated pregnant women is that many women are rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine and many families are not allowing pregnant women to get vaccinated, she added. This vaccine hesitance has emerged from a lack of information and belief in the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, she said.
More...
Nation: “108 Million Indonesians Already Vaccinated Against Covid-19” from Tempo
Nation: “Health Minister Claims Indonesia's Vaccination Rate Faster Than WHO Target” from Tempo
Badung: “Ngurah Rai Airport Prepares Vaccination Outlets” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: “Vaccinations for 6-11 Years Old in Denpasar Reaches 34%” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Klungkung: “This Is the Reason for Low Vaccination Rates in Nusa Penida” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Council Asks Provincial Government to Tighten Bali Entrance Gates” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Various efforts were made by the Provincial Government of Bali in preventing the entry of the new variant of Covid-19 Omicron. One of the steps is to tighten various entrances to Bali or increase hospital bed capacity in anticipation of a spike in Covid-19 cases at the end of the year. Regarding these various phenomena, Chairman of Commission IV DPRD Bali I Gusti Putu Budiarta said, although the current Covid-19 case in Bali has been dropping, all parties are asked to remain vigilant and not be careless. "We have to be wary of Covid-19, because this is not over yet," said Gung Budiarta, on Wednesday. In order to approach the Nataru Holiday, his party asked the Bali Provincial Government to further tighten the entrance to Bali, be it land, sea and air.
More...
Nation: “Two More Omicron Cases Identified in Indonesia” from Antara
Nation: “Gov't to Add Three Quarantine Sites in Jakarta” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Remains Vigilant of Omicron Threat During Holiday Season” from Antara
Nation: “Minister Prepares Anticipatory Steps Against Public Mobility Surge” from Antara
Economy & Infrastructure
“NTB Government Proposes IDR 700 Billion to Fix Infrastructure for MotoGP” from Suara Bali (Indonesian): In order to fix the supporting infrastructure ahead of the 2022 MotoGP event at the Mandalika Circuit, the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government proposed a budget of IDR 700 billion to the central government. The proposed budget will later be used to build a number of road infrastructures in front of the Mandalika Circuit. "We have proposed the budget proposal to ministries and institutions. We will continue to consolidate it, but we don't know when it will be realized," said the Regional Secretary of NTB Province, HL Gita Ariadi, on Tuesday.
More...
Badung: “Salt Farmers in Kusamba Train to Become Exporters” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian)
Education
“Hundreds of Bangli Elementary School Teachers Train as Child Protectors” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The Department of Education, Youth and Sports of Bangli Regency together with the Bali Children's Project Foundation held training on teachers as protectors of children. The training involved hundreds of representatives of elementary school teachers in Bangli. Child Protection Program Manager, Gusti Ayu Ketut Mahardiyani, on Wednesday said the purpose of this activity is to prepare teachers as protectors of children from violence, especially sexual violence. "The informants provided understanding to teachers on several things. Starting from common violence against children, sexual violence against children, private body parts, safe and unsafe touching, the role of the 'Safety Network' in protecting children from violence, and the role of teachers in protecting children from sexual violence," he said.
Bali Reopening
“Bali Deputy Governor Outlines Tourism Strategy for 2022” from Antara: Bali's 2022 tourism development strategy will seek to increase the province's resilience and competitiveness, Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati has said. He said he expected this year's tourism grant of IDR 3.7 trillion to be realized soon. "Secondly, there is a need for additional relaxation through soft loans," Sukawati said on Wednesday. The second strategy is to upgrade competitiveness by increasing the ratio of demand over supply to compete with other countries, he said. "How do we talk about quality tourism if there are more sellers than the buyers. According to Commercial Law, (it means) our trade prices will fall," he said.
More...
“Hotel Occupancy on Gili Trawangan Expected to be Low Over Holiday Period” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian)
Of Interest
“King of Pemecutan Denpasar, Bali Dies of Complications” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Foreigners Submit Applications to Become Indonesian Citizens” from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
“Man Fined IDR 1.5 Million for Throwing Waste Into the River” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
“Man Suspected of Mental Disorders Annoying Canggu Residents” from Berita 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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