March 2, 2022
Governor proposes Bali quarantine-free trial be moved forward to March 7 + Ukrainian-Russian protesters in Denpasar threatened with deportation + Bali Airport closed 3-4 March for Nyepi + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Wednesday, March 2. In today’s edition, Bali’s governor pushes to have Bali’s quarantine-free trial pushed forward to March 7, Ukrainian and Russian protesters in Denpasar are threatened with deportation after it emerges they had no permit for the protest, and Bali Airport will be closed to all flights (except for emergencies) over Nyepi. 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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There will be no Bali Beat this Thursday or Friday due to Nyepi. Please have a great (and silent) Day of Silence. We’ll be back in your mailbox on Monday.
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
“Governor Proposes PPLN Without Quarantine to Bali on March 7” from Antara Bali (Indonesian): Bali Governor Wayan Koster proposed that the implementation of a policy trial for foreign travelers who came to Bali without quarantine to be moved forward from March 14 to March 7. "Then the application of the Visa on Arrival policy to prevent difficulties in obtaining visas and the high cost of visa processing for PPLNs," said Koster on Tuesday. According to him, it is time for the two points proposed to be applied for the restoration of Bali tourism because it has been in a slump for two years. "We also recommend that the airline crew not do the entry test because they already have a negative PCR swab result from the country of departure," said Koster. He also proposed that Benoa Harbor be opened to cruise ships and yachts. In the meeting, the Governor of Bali also conveyed his commitment to accelerate the booster vaccination to a minimum of 30%.
“Ukrainian-Russian Protesters in Bali Threatened With Deportation” from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian): The head of Bali's Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Jamaruli Manihuruk, on Tuesday said he would deport foreign nationals involved in the rejection of the Russo-Ukrainian war. "There will be decisive action in the form of sanctions in accordance with Law No. 6 of 2011 on immigration," Jamaruli said. Based on its data, the number of Ukrainian nationals in Bali was recorded at 464 people [Note: This number appears to be incorrect, most media reports put the total number of Ukrainians in Bali at 3,200 people], while Russian nationals were 2,542 people. Previously, peaceful action against the war in Ukraine was carried out by a number of Indonesian citizens, but the action was disbanded because it did not have permission.
Context: A number of protestors complained about no longer being able to access funds (Indonesian) due to the financial restrictions related to the conflict in Europe. A number of other stories put the total number of Ukrainians in Bali at 3,200 (Indonesian). In related news, Minister Uno stated there were no plans to block Ukrainians or Russians from entering Indonesia (Indonesian).
“I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Closed 3-4 March” from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian): In line with Nyepi Day, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, Bali will close airport operations for a full 24 hours. The information has been confirmed directly by airport spokesperson, Taufan Yudhistira. "Thursday, March 3, 2022 starts from 06.00 WITA until Friday March 4, 2022 at 06.00 WITA, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Bali is operationally closed," Taufan Yudhistira said on Tuesday. He added the closure of the operation will apply to flight operations and airport operations. However, the policy is excluded against emergency flights, including medical evacuation flights. For prospective passengers who have booked tickets on the closing date, it is advisable to follow their respective airline policies.
Context: In related news, electricity consumption is expected to drop by 30% due to Nyepi (Indonesian). More information on internet access during Nyepi can be read here. You can read an overview to Nyepi here.
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Other Headline
“Tourism Waste Management Requires Comprehensive Approach Says Ministry” from Antara: A more comprehensive approach needs to be applied for waste management in tourism areas, especially in the five super-priority destinations, the Tourism Ministry’s director of tourism and creative economy destination management has said. On Tuesday, Indra Ni Tua said that the issue of waste in each regions' tourism destinations is interrelated with other regions, which necessitates the use of multiple approaches. For instance, the waste in Bali region comes from the Bengawan Solo and Brantas rivers, he noted. “When we go upstream, almost all of Java has to be handled in order to resolve the issue,” he said. In addition, each region has a variety of social approaches concerning education on the problem of waste by facilitators that the government collaborates with, he said.
Context: This is the first time we’ve seen a government speaker explicitly tying Bali’s waste problems to Java. A related story noted that in a 2016 survey of waste in eight natural tourism destinations, 150,000 visitors produced 453 tons of waste of which 240 tons were plastic.
Vaccination Update
“Indonesia Extends Astrazeneca Vaccine Shelf Life as 6 Million Doses Near Expiry” from Reuters: Indonesia has extended the shelf life of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to nine months, as nearly six million doses it received in donations were in danger of expiring, a health ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, a health ministry spokesperson, said it had six million doses of vaccines set to expire at the end of February, but only 200,000 of them had expired after it extended the shelf life of the AstraZeneca shot to nine months from six. "The food and drugs agency extended the expiry date ... based on new available data about its efficacy," she said.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Ogoh-ogoh Participants Must Have a Complete Swab and Vaccine Test” from iNews Bali (Indonesian): The Provincial Government of Bali allowed the Ogoh-Ogoh march on Nyepi Day, but there are conditions that must be met for those who will parade ogoh-ogoh. Ogoh-ogoh paraders are limited to 25 people. Then they are required to take a swab test and have received the Covid-19 vaccine until the second dose. Dozens of youths from each banjar in Klungkung Regency came to the village office and underwent antigen swab tests that were covered by the district government. One of the young men who will parade ogoh-ogoh, I Wayan Ardita Utama said, many young men initially refused swab tests because they were worried about positive Covid-19, but after a personal approach, they were finally willing to take a swab test. Previously, Bali Governor Wayan Koster had banned ogoh-ogoh marches because of the Covid-19 case that was rising, but Koster later allowed the march to be held, on the condition of strict health protocols.
More...
Nation: “Govt Must Remain Vigilant Despite Covid-19 Downtrend Says Speaker” from Antara
Bangli: “Celebrate Nyepi, Council Asks Citizens to Remain Disciplined Apply Prokes” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Jembrana: “Passing the Peak, Covid-19 Cases in Jembrana Began to Decline Dramatically” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“New Tax Amnesty Rule Directs Funds to Renewables, Processing Industries” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The Finance Ministry has issued a new regulation to steer the proceeds of the second tax amnesty toward renewable energy development and certain processing industries. Finance Ministerial Decree No. 52/2022 states that 332 such industries may receive more of the proceeds than others. These include geothermal power production, power generator manufacture, meat processing, furniture making, crude palm oil processing and ceramic manufacture. “Right now, [funds] from the tax amnesty are very valuable as a new source of investment for national economic development,” said Finance Ministry spokesperson Neilmaldrin Noor on Tuesday.
Context: In related news the government is encouraging a shift to renewables in Labuan Bajo using a solar plant on Gili Messah as an example.
More...
Nation: “Ministry, INKA to Build Electric Buses for G20 Summit” from Antara
Nation: “Inflation Eases in February as Cooking Oil Price Cools” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Green Energy Is One of Indonesia's Huge Potentials Says President” from Antara
Nation: “Garuda Indonesia Negotiating Terms of Airbus, Boeing Orders” from Reuters
Nation: “Mandalika MotoGP: Only 21,530 Tickets Sold So Far” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“Tourist Visits Jump 13.42% Yoy in Jan: BPS” from Antara: The number of foreign tourist visits increased by 13.62% in January 2022 compared to the year-ago period to reach 143,740, Statistics Indonesia reported. "However, the number declined by 12.15% compared to the number of foreign tourist visits in December 2021," deputy for distribution and service statistics at BPS, Setianto, said on Tuesday. In January 2022, 14,560 foreign visitors arrived by aircraft, 34,800 by ship, and 94,390 by land, he said. The number of foreign tourist visitors using air routes surged by 740.84% YoY in January this year, he said. Based on the nationality, the number of visitors from Africa and Europe in January 2022 experienced a significant increase of 305.97% and 239.70% YoY, respectively, he added. Meanwhile, the number of travelers from Southeast Asian countries fell by 4.22% YoY. Visits were dominated by East Timorese tourists (76,500 visits), Malaysian tourists (42,000), Chinese tourists (3,400 visits), Papua New Guinean tourists (3,000 visits), and American tourists (1,800 visits), he said.
Of Interest
“Separated From Family, Ukrainians in Indonesia Feel Helpless and Hopeless” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“Elderly Woman Found Dead After Missing for 4 Days” from Coconuts Bali
“Deadly Beach Ritual in East Java Exposes Dark Side of Spiritual Groups in Indonesia” from CNA
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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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