October 27, 2021
Tourism Ministry pushes Bali packages + Bali electric train on tracks for 2023 + 20 million holidaymakers predicted for end of year + more
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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
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Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“Sandiaga Uno Comments on Lack of International Tourists in Bali” from Tempo: The Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno on Tuesday commented on the lack of international tourist visits to Bali even though Indonesia has opened the door for international tourism on October 14. He believes there are no international flights yet destined for Bali. “Oftentimes flight slot applications are submitted by the airline after an analysis towards the level of demand are conducted, or in other words, seeking for the potential number of passengers,” Sandiaga wrote on Tuesday. The tourism ministry has offered Bali tourism packages to travel agents located in 19 countries touted as the ‘It’s time for Bali’ social media campaign.
Context: This is the first time we’ve seen the government specifically pushing tour packages for Bali — and also the first time we’ve heard of the ‘It’s time for Bali’ campaign.
“Electric Train in Bali to be Built in 2023” from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian): The Bali Provincial Transportation Service has begun planning the construction of an electric train on Bali in 2023. Head of the Bali Transportation Service I Gede Wayan Samsi Gunarta explained that apart from providing Trans Metro Dewata buses, in the future Bali will provide electric trains. "In the future, we are still thinking about how to provide trains (electricity) and so on," said Gunarta on Friday. He said the construction of the electric train was confirmed to start in 2023. However, his party is still calculating the financing for the construction of the electric train. "That's a lot, we are still calculating because it depends on the technology and depends on where. For example, if it's only seen on the surface, it might be cheaper than having to float or go down. There are many factors," said Gunarta.
Context: A rail system of varying descriptions has been suggested for Bali for some years, here is an example from 2018. The National Railway Plan of 2011 also has a vision of a rail system for Bali by 2030, you can see a map of its route on page 40 in the master plan PDF.
“Nearly 20 Million in Java-Bali Predicted to Travel During Holidays” from Kompas (Indonesian): Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said it was estimated that 19.9 million people on the island of Java-Bali would travel during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. "Based on the results of the Balitbang survey, the Ministry of Transportation for the Java-Bali region is estimated to travel around 19.9 million, while Jabodetabek is 4.45 million," said Luhut. He said the increased mobility, if not accompanied by discipline in implementing health protocols, would risk increasing Covid-19 cases. "So whatever strategy we do, we are still the same, in addition to vaccinations and others, we limit the movement, we also make it in certain places," he said.
Context: See news reports yesterday of plans to mandate PCR tests for other modes of domestic transport as an example of the strategies the Minister may be alluding to.
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Other Headlines
“Govt Spending on Covid-19 Vaccines Reaches Rp28.2 Trillion” from Antara: Government spending on COVID-19 vaccine for domestic needs has reached Rp28.2 trillion, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has said. "For the vaccine, it is around Rp50 trillion, we have used Rp28.2 trillion," he said on Tuesday. According to Sadikin, there is a possibility of cost savings because the government has managed to get quite a lot of free vaccines from a number of producers and friendly countries. Sadikin said that the treatment costs of patients when COVID-19 cases spiked in June-August 2021 are still in the process of being counted. "We had a spike in COVID-19 cases in June-August, so we have not calculated it, maybe there will be an addition to the Rp36-trillion figure that we said earlier," he added.
Vaccination Update
“Over 69 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19” from Antara: At least 69.13 million Indonesians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Tuesday, according to data provided by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force. According to the latest data from the task force, the number of fully vaccinated people rose by 866,113 to 69,130,122 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the number of people receiving their first dose rose by 922,722, bringing the number of first dose recipients in the country to 114,347,101, it reported. As per data, the number of third dose or 'booster' vaccine recipients rose by 2,899 to touch 1,110,323, it said. Overall, the government is aiming to inoculate 208,265,720 million people.
More ...
Nation: “People With Immunodeficiencies to Receive Booster Vaccines” from Antara
Nation: “Vaccinations for 5-11 Age Group Likely Next Year” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Receives Astrazeneca from New Zealand” from The Jakarta Globe
Badung: “Vaccination at Mengwi Terminal Targets Those With KTPs” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Stay Alert to Slightest Surge in Covid-19 Cases” from Antara: President Joko Widodo has urged all regional heads across Indonesia to be vigilant to the slightest increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in their respective regions. "We have to strengthen tracing, tracking, and testing attempts by examining people, who have come in close contact with the patients,” he said on Tuesday. A spike was observed three weeks ago in North Maluku Province, while it occurred two weeks back in the provinces of West Papua, West Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi. A surge in cases was also recorded in Gorontalo, West Kalimantan, and Southeast Sulawesi last week. "In addition, 105 districts and cities in 30 provinces experienced a rise in COVID-19 cases. Although the number is small, we have to remain vigilant," Jokowi emphasized.
More...
Nation: “BNPB Prepares Covid Prevention Strategies Ahead of Int'l Events” from Antara
Nation: “Combating Mercury Use in Gold Mining Remains a Challenge” from Antara
Economy & Infrastructure
“Lombok Airport Accommodates 7 Million Passengers Per Year” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): With the new terminal, Lombok Airport will be able to accommodate 7 million passengers every year. General Manager of Lombok Airport, Nugroho Jati, said on Monday, "The investment value is IDR 1 trillion, starting from the development of a new terminal, adding the length of the runway according to the standard of large aircraft." Lombok airport development is carried out to support tourism and international events held in NTB such as World Superbike and MotoGP. "The operation of the new terminal is just waiting for the right time, we guarantee that after the expansion of the terminal, the flow of passenger arrivals and departures will be much better than before," said Nugroho.
More ...
Nation: “Lombok Airport Passengers Rise 10%” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: “New Mall in Denpasar to be Built” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Education
“72% Schools Have Implemented Face-to-face” from Antara: Seventy-two percent schools in regions enforcing Level 1, 2, and 3 PPKM have implemented limited face-to-face learning (PTM) so far, the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry has said. "It is such a progress," director of elementary schools at the ministry, Sri Wahyuningsih, said on Tuesday. "The implementation of limited PTM has improved quite well in several regions. However, some schools have not implemented the (face-to-face) learning method," she added. The decision to implement face-to-face learning has been left to the discretion of regional governments, Wahyuningsih noted. PTM has only become mandatory for schools whose staff have been completely vaccinated, she added. However, vaccination coverage among educators has not reached 100% yet, she said.
More...
Province: “PPPA Minister Wants Covid-19 Vaccination for Children to Make Learning Easier” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“Many Tourist Restrictions to Enter Bali, Governor Asks for Patience” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): A number of regulations for tourists entering Bali have made many people protest. However, Bali Governor Wayan Koster has asked for patience. The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, said that these policies came from the central government. He said that we have to see developments that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over. According to him, there are still shadows of the emergence of new variants in several neighboring countries and this has become a concern for the central government because of the new variants.
More...
Province: “Many Tourists Cancel Their Stay in Bali” from Merdeka (Indonesian)
“'Overpriced' Services by PCR Test Providers Blasted” from Tempo: Aviation observer and PT Asia Aero Technology commissioner Alvin Lie on Tuesday commented on the cost of Covid-19 PCR testing, which he suspects had been priced above its reasonable price range and that the government likely let this happen. “That the government in a short time can order for PCR tests to be reduced from Rp500,000 and then to Rp300,000 shows the government has known about overpriced PCR testing services, but decided to let it happen,” said Lie on Tuesday. Alvin suspects the government seemingly let business in the Covid-19 testing industry reek profit above the understandable price range. He strongly suggests the government to oversee testing tariffs through regulations and not just official government circulars.
Of Interest
“Public Institutions Must Be Open to Criticism” from Antara
“Smoothly Delivering Rats in Middle of Pandemic” from Bali Express (Indonesian)
“ABK KM Liberty 1 Sinks North of Bali” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
“Indonesia Strong Candidate to Host 2023 World Beach Games” from Tempo
How You Can Help Bali
In response to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali and the resulting economic crisis due to Covid19, tens of thousands of families have found themselves with a greatly reduced income—if any. By the middle of 2020, over 100,000 people on Bali had lost their job. While government support has been limited, Indonesians and foreigners have sprung into action, raising funds and distributing badly needed food and everyday essentials to those most in need.
We've been raising awareness of these efforts, and if you’d like to make a contribution of any kind, you can see a list of some organisations here. Further projects have registered themselves with Bali Solidarity. If you know of an effort and would like to have them listed, please send their information to TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global
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