21 January 2010

Bali hoteliers angered by latest travel advice

DENPASAR - The Bali Hotels Association (BHA) has hit back following the latest Australian Government travel advice, which draws attention to the Balinese New Year (or Nyepi) on March 16.

The overall level of the Australian advice has not changed and the government continues to advise travellers "to reconsider your need to travel to Indonesia, including Bali, at this time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack".

A BHA statement signed by its chairman, Jean-Charles Le Coz, noted, "This statement is not related with the level of security or threat that Bali may experience.

"It is only an update on an event (Nyepi) that happens yearly and that involves one day of silence. During that day, every year, millions of Balinese Hindus follow the ritual requiring silence and minimal movements.

"We are disappointed to read that this normal information has been relayed in the Australian press as a "Travel Warning".

"We can only deplore, as we have done so for the last couple of years, that the Australian travel warning system relays information that is often linked to hearsay.

"Is not location specific and most importantly that each time new information (regardless of its importance to security) is posted, it pops-up as a "change in travel warning" and every time replicating fears that are not founded."

Bali Hotels said the situation in Bali had not changed and that security measures "are constantly monitored, audited and reviewed…and BHA member hotels and guests are well protected".

"Security and safety standards of BHA hotels are amongst the highest on the island and serve as the basis of numerous safety and security policies in Indonesia and other parts of Asia," the statement concluded.

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Your Comments (3)

Do we need an Official Terrorist Representative Office?

Quote: "We can only deplore, as we have done so for the last couple of years, that the Australian travel warning system relays information that is often linked to hearsay." This implies that there should be an 'official' channel between terrorists and travellers. Intelligence starts off with 'hearsay' and only turns into 'intelligence' after investigation. No single travel advisory site can be relied upon. I advise people to look at New Zealand and Canadian government sources followed by the UK, Australia and then, lastly, the U.S.A. The New Zealand and Canadian advisories are written from a more laid back attitude. The British site is more staid but its overall advice is well tempered. Australia reflects past tragedies (Bali) but its intelligence related to the smaller Pacific destinations is good. The U.S. travel site must be the most nervous and over-cautious of them all. Almost every aspect of life in some countries, according to the U.S. I sometimes wonder where the hell they get all their data. What is often better are U.S. Embassy 'Post Reports' which are written for staff. They are available from: < http://www.ediplomat.com/np/post_reports/post_reports.htm >. It should be remembered that threats to travellers often reflect actions of their governments which makes U.S., U.K. and Australian passport holders and businesses in destination countries most vulnerable.

By J Hewson, Sunday, January 24, 2010
Nyepi Day overreaction

Why on earth would you want to make an attack in Bali on Nyepi Day ....too many eyes if you want to get around on a day of "quiet" ? Obviously started by someone who knows nothing of Bali, but is sitting in Canberra in Foreign Affairs Dept with a "life qualification of nil" !

By steve bradley, Thursday, January 21, 2010
Share the intel !

Perhaps the nature and source of this information should be shared with everyone rather than being subject to suspicion in its present form.

By Brian Wright, Thursday, January 21, 2010