March 28, 2022
Berawa beach bars to be demolished in early April + No Ukrainians or Russians complain about difficulties says Ministry + Qatar Airways makes first Bali landing with 222 passengers + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Monday, March 28. In today’s edition, we have news that Berawa’s many beach bars are to be demolished in the first two weeks of April. Counter to the many news stories on hardship, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Bali office) says they have received no complaints of difficulties from Ukrainians or Russians. In other news, Qatar Airways joined the ranks of airlines once again flying to Bali, touching down on Sunday afternoon. 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: Bali’s daily cases continue to track downwards, with both new cases and the number of patients in treatment maintaining their steady decrease. Deaths have been in single figures for over two weeks, including three days with no deaths at all.
The Big News
“Berawa Beach Bars to be Demolished in Early April” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): After reporting on alleged violations of spatial planning and land tenure in the Melasti Beach area, the Badung Satpol PP have continued to monitoring, reminding entrepreneurs not to violate the rules. The Head of the Badung Civil Service Police Unit, I Gusti Ketut Suryanegara, revealed that from the data collection there were as many as 30 stalls, cafes and the like along the Berawa beach. All these semi-permanent buildings are located on the coast and are certainly not licensed. From the results of the socialization that was carried out at the Tibubeneng Village Perbekel Office on Friday, it was agreed that the building owners will dismantle buildings themselves. "The building owners are willing to carry out the demolition themselves from April 1 to May 15. This has been stated in the official report," he said.
“No Ukrainians or Russians Complain About Difficulties During Their Stay in Bali Says Ministry” from Antara: The Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights has not received a report of Ukrainians and Russians complaining about difficulties during their stay in Bali. "So far we have not received a report from Russian and Ukrainian citizens that they have other difficulties than immigration rules, such as residence permit issues as they do not have money," the head of the office, Jamaruli Manihuruk, said on Sunday. Manihyryk said the number of Ukrainians visiting Bali had not increased significantly and was still normal. The total number of Russian citizens in Indonesia is 32,342, with 29,756 holding visit stay permits, 2,539 holding limited stay permits, and 47 holding permanent stay permits. In total, 5,966 Ukrainian citizens stay in Indonesia, with 5,482 holding visit stay permits, 473 holding limited stay permits, and 11 holding permanent stay permits.
“Qatar Airways Makes First Landing To Bali With 222 Passengers” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): A Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamlier arriving from Doha landed at Bali’s airport on Sunday. The airline carries 222 passengers and will fly back to Doha on Monday. Henceforth, Qatar Airways is planned to fly to Bali four times a week, departing for Bali every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and returning every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. "I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali is again filled with the inaugural Doha route which flies regularly served by Qatar Airways, this adds international flight routes to six routes, namely Narita, Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur and Doha," said Herry AY Sikado, General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, on Sunday.
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Other Headlines
“Former Health Minister Terawan Booted from Doctors’ Association” from The Jakarta Globe: Former Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto has been kicked out of the Indonesian Doctors Association, or IDI, for “serious ethical misconducts”, prominent members said on Saturday. Terawan served with the Joko Widodo administration for just 14 months until December 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began to rage across the country. He is known as a controversial figure at the height of the pandemic in which he compared Covid-19 to common flu. In February 2020, he said Indonesia had zero Covid-19 cases due to the blessing from God and labeled a scientific study questioning government data as “an insult” to the country. “Terawan’s membership with the IDI has been permanently terminated,” tweeted Pandu Riono, an epidemiologist with the University of Indonesia.
Context: Not at lawmakers are happy with the decision.
Vaccination Update
“Task Force Continues to Boost Booster Vaccinations” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Buleleng's Covid-19 Handling Task Force continues to ramp up the Covid-19 booster vaccination process. Though the target to reach 30% of the total target target, has been achieved on Saturday last week. Now the task force aims to reach 50% of the public to get a booster vaccine. This target must be reached by the end of May at the latest. Spokesman for Buleleng's Covid-19 Handling Task Force, Ketut Suwarmawan said, currently the task force no longer sets a target figure of 30%, but it has been increased to 50%. According to him, the task force still opened vaccination service posts at a number of strategic points. As of Friday afternoon, the booster vaccination had covered 194,178 people from Buleleng or about 36.16% of the target target.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Tuberculosis in Indonesia Causes 11 Deaths Every Hour” from Tempo: Indonesia ranks third in the world in the number of tuberculosis cases after India and China with a total of 824,000 cases and a fatality rate of 93,000 annually. The Health Ministry reported that at this rate, 11 deaths are recorded in each passing hour statistically. The ministry’s director of communicable disease prevention and control, Didi Budijanto, on Tuesday said that the government will conduct a large-scale screening for TB this year as he estimates there is only 49% of TB sufferers who are taking medication. “This means there are around 500,000 patients that have not sought medication and risks being a source of transmission,” he said.
Economy & Infrastructure
“Electric Vehicles Are Solution for Curbing Oil Imports Says President” from Antara: The development of electric vehicles is part of a grand design for renewable energy transition that may offer Indonesia a solution to curb fuel oil imports and save state funds, President Joko Widodo said. The head of state noted that the country’s dependence on fuel oils and fossil energy has increasingly become higher, while much of its domestic fuel oil needs are still imported. “(This) burdens our state budget, current account deficit, and trade deficit,” he said. Indonesia must not let the dependence on fossil energy to continue, so the country must find ways to create energy self-reliance, he said. “Right from the upstream industry, which produces batteries and other components to the downstream industry, which provides electric vehicle charging and home charging stations, we want to show the world that the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia is growing and developing rapidly,” he added.
Context: Elsewhere, plans for electric vehicles at tourist sites in East Java move ahead.
More...
Nation: “Investment in Tourism Sector Creates One Million New Jobs Says Minister” from Antara
Nation: “Tourism Awareness Groups Face Human Resources Development Obstacle” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia's Carbon Tax Rollout May Face Delays” from CNA
Province: “Bali to Address Waste Issues Ahead of G20 Summit” from Antara
Province: “Bali Flower Sales Fall by 75% Due to Pandemic” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: “Denpasar Police Chief Asks Traders to Not Sell Cooking Oil Above HET” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“Overseas Visitors Increase After No-quarantine Policy Applied” from Antara: The Law and Human Rights Ministry recorded a significant increase in the number of international travelers arriving at Bali and Jakarta’s airports after the implementation of no-quarantine policy. "According to the data from the immigration checkpoint at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, the number of international travelers arriving in Bali on March 13-24, 2022 reached 7,317," Sub Coordinator of Public Relations Department of the Directorate General of Immigration at the ministry Achmad Nur Saleh said on Saturday. He continued that the highest number of overseas visitors coming to Indonesia via the airport was recorded at 1,060 on March 19.
Context: In related news, 21, 253 international passengers have passed through Bali’s airport (Indonesian) so far in March.
More...
“International Flights Have Been Opened for More Than a Month, Foreign Tourists to Bangli Are Still Minimal” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
“Nusa Penida Prepares to Rise Through Sustainable Tourism” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Of Interest
“Indonesia’s Parliament Hopeful of End to Russia-Ukraine War Before Bali Welcomes Putin” from Coconuts Bali
“Indonesia Resists Calls for Kicking Russia Out of G20” from The Jakarta Globe
“Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo Promotes Bali Through Sambal Matah” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
“Indonesia Looks to Mangroves for Climate Solutions, Community Empowerment” from The Straits Times (Paywall)
“Pipedrive’s Cofounder Urmas Purde Dies in Bali” from Estonian World
“Nine Foreigners Denied Entry to Bali” from Nusa 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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