March 10, 2022
Russian tourists are stranded in Bali without cash as sanctions bite + Bali Airport sees increase in domestic passengers thanks to no tests + Pertamina to keep Pertalite prices unchanged + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Thursday, March 10. In today’s edition, we have coverage of the growing challenges facing Russian tourists stranded in Bali with no access to funds. Bali’s airport is seeing growth of traffic as a result of the revocation of Covid-19 testing requirements. Pertamina has announced they will continue to peg the price of Pertalite despite record rises in the price of oil, citing concerns around economic stability. 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
The Big News
“Russian Tourists Stranded in Indonesia Without Cash as Sanctions Bite” from Reuters: When Russian tourist Konstantin Ivanov tried to draw money from his home bank account at a cash machine on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, the transaction was blocked. Unprecedented sanctions against Russia's banks over its invasion of Ukraine are taking a toll on its citizens overseas, who have been left scrambling to find cash or turn to crypto transactions to get by. "This has created a huge problem for us. We have been left completely stripped of our finances - its like they have been completely frozen and we cannot use them at all over here,” said Ivanov, 27, adding that he might have to look for a job in Indonesia. Bali is a popular holiday destination with Russian tourists, who flocked to the island by the tens of thousands before the pandemic and were among the first to return when borders partially reopened last year.
Context: More personal experiences of stranded Russians in Bali can be read here.
“Bali Airport Projects 20% Increase in Number of Domestic Passengers” from Antara: State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura I of Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport forecasts the average daily passenger count at the airport to increase after COVID-19 testing is no longer necessitated for domestic travelers (PPDN). "With the relaxation of this regulation, we believe we will be able to increase the passenger traffic and aircraft movements at Bali Airport," Stakeholder Relations Manager of AP I at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport Taufan Yudhistira said on Wednesday. With the new regulation in place, the average number of daily passengers at the airport is projected to increase by 20%, he said. "For now, we have not seen the increase in the number of passengers since the new regulation was only implemented yesterday afternoon. We were certain that in the next two to three days, we can see the positive impact of the policy," he said.
“Pertamina to Keep Pertalite Price Unchanged for Economic Stability” from Antara: State oil and gas company PT Pertamina has assured that it will not raise the price of Pertalite gasoline despite an uptick in global crude prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The decision to keep the gasoline price unchanged is aimed at maintaining national economic stability and the purchasing power of the people who mostly use Pertalite, it said. "As a state-owned company that plays a role in managing national energy, Pertamina highly takes into account the social and economic condition of the public in setting the prices of fuel oils," Pertamina Vice President for Corporate Communications Fajriyah Usman said on Wednesday. Thus, despite the global crude price hitting a record high of US$130 per barrel, it is continuing to coordinate with the government to maintain the price of Pertalite gasoline at IDR 7,650 per liter, she informed.
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The Movement of Recovery (Yayasan Pergerakan Pemulihan) is one of the main drivers of mental health services in Bali. Together with BBB Community, they launched LISA (Love Inside Suicide Awareness), a helpline which offers support in Bahasa Indonesian and English. They offer free counselling and support for those in need. For more information, please visit their website here.
Want to share your message with the most engaged members of the foreigner community in Bali? Click here to learn how to place a classified ad.
Other Headline
“Mandalika Circuit Completes Resurfacing Works Ahead of MotoGP Race” from The Jakarta Globe: The Mandalika International Circuit in Lombok completed resurfacing works on Wednesday, less than two weeks before the MotoGP. The repair was needed after riders complained that the asphalt went away at some areas of the 4.3-kilometer circuit during pre-season tests last month. Since the resurfacing works began four days ago, workers have provided new layers from the penultimate turn to turn 6 as requested by the FIM and Dorna, circuit operator Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) said. MotoGP riders will return to the circuit on March 18 for their first free practice of the Indonesian round. ”There is still enough time for the new asphalt layer to cool down and for us to clean dirt and oil spills on the surface,” MGPA director Priandhi Satria said.
Context: Following on from statements earlier in the week that the race was “sold out” today there is news of 6,664 rooms on Lombok still being available. Covid-19 cases in Central Lombok (where the race is located) continue to fall, and while the fully vaccinated rate is now over 77%, less than 2% of the eligible population have had a booster. Some 3,427 personnel will be on hand to secure the event and drones are banned.
Vaccination Update
Nation: “148.98 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Indonesia Sees Decline in COVID-19 Cases Yet Hike in Deaths” from Tempo: Indonesia recorded a downward trend in COVID-19 cases by up to 50% in the past week, said the spokesman for the COVID-19 Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito. “In the previous weeks, the number of cases was recorded at 400,000 cases a week. It has now decreased by half to 200,000. We are still trying to suppress it to a thousand cases per week,” said Wiku on Tuesday. He added that the recovery rate had also started to increase to almost 90% from 86%. “The hospital bed occupancy rate at the national referral hospitals has started to decline over the last ten days from 38.79% to 28.2%.” Though the condition started improving, Wiku said the death toll still increased. The task force noted that on February 21-27, there were 1,708 deaths and in the following week, the figure rose to 2,099.
More...
Nation: “Indonesia Mulls Pandemic to Endemic Shift” from Antara
Nation: “Ministry Prescribes Regular Health Screening From Age of 15” from Antara
Economy & Infrastructure
“Airport Passengers Exceed 6 Million People through February” from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian): PT Angkasa Pura I recorded passenger traffic at 15 managed airports during the first two months of 2022 as many as 6,090,015 passengers. When compared to the same period a year earlier, traffic was up 59% from 3,837,358 passengers. In addition to passengers, the number of aircraft movements also rose. Their record in that period of aircraft movement reached 67,173 for the period January-February 2022. This figure is up 8.3% when compared to the same period in 2021, which was only 62,040 aircraft movements. "This shows the return of the trust of citizens to travel with air transportation modes," said Angkasa Pura I President Director Faik Fahmi on Wednesday. For the largest number of aircraft movements are at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport Makassar with 5,421, Juanda Airport Surabaya with 4,786, and I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Bali with 3,676 movements.
More...
Nation: “Oil Price Rise to Impact Plastic Industry” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Ministry Raises Cooking Oil's Domestic Market Obligation to 30%” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Seeks Collaboration With Japan to Improve Waste Management” from Antara
Education
“Bangli Re-Implements Limited PTM” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): After previously being stopped due to soaring cases of Covid-19, limited face-to-face learning (PTM) in Bangli Regency will be held again from Thursday. Learning activities will be carried out with reference to the health protocol (Prokes) of the spread of Covid-19. Head of Education, Youth and Sports Office (Disdikpora) Bangli Komang Pariartha confirmed this on Wednesday. "Yes right. Bangli Regency can carry out limited face-to-face learning (PTM) category D for Paud to junior high school levels," said Komang Pariartha.
Context: Jembrana likewise is ready to re-start PTM (Indonesian).
More...
Nation: “Indonesia to Push Community-based Vocational Training at G20” from Antara
Bali Reopening
“Quarantine-Free, 411 Tourists Come to Bali” from Sindonews (Indonesian): Foreign tourists continue to arrive in Bali since the enactment of quarantine-free entry. 411 tourists have now come to Bali, 38 of them using Visa on Arrival. "Until the second day of quarantine-free implementation, 38 foreign nationals applied for VoA," said Head of Bali Law and Human Rights Office Jamaruli Manihuruk, on Wednesday. He explained, on the second day as many as 31 people applied for VoA. That number increased compared to the first day of seven people. The VoA holder consists of US citizens 6 people, British 5 people, Malaysia 5 people, Australia 4 people, Singapore 3 people, France 3 people, Germany 3 people and Canada 2 people. Jamaruli predicts that VoA applicants will continue to increase along with the elimination of quarantine. "We are optimistic that Bali will recover faster with this policy," he said.
More...
“Tanah Lot Starts Crowded, Usually Hundreds Now Thousands of Visitors” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Yeh Gangga Beach Is Still Quiet” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Of Interest
“Interfaith Marriages Not Recognised by Local Religious Affairs Offices” from Antara
“Uprooting Child Marriage in Indonesia” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“178 Balinese Migrant Workers Are Still in Russia” from Coconuts Bali
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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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