Bali Tourism Quality
Bali Tourism Quality – More High Quality Travel Experiences On The Horizon For Bali Tourists
Bali is in a longstanding tug-of-war between wanting to grow its tourism sector, attract ever more international tourists, and maintain a high quality of service and experiences while prioritizing cultural respect and sustainability.
In a meeting of minds, leaders from all of Bali’s biggest tourism associations have committed to developing more high-quality tourism for the island’s travelers and holidaymakers.
The Regent of Badung, Wayan Adi Arnawa, who oversees Bali’s biggest tourism resorts like Canggu, Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and Nusa Dua, has held a meeting with the leaders of the province’s biggest tourism associations.
During the meeting, Regent Arnawa emphasized that the Badung Regency Government is committed to building high-quality, sustainable tourism rooted in local Balinese wisdom and bolstered by strengthening cross-sector collaborations.
Regent Arnawa shared “Tourism that is developed must be in line with the values of Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali, as a foundation for maintaining harmony between humans, nature, and culture.”
Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali, is a Balinese philosophy introduced into the political sphere by Governor of Bali Wyaan Koster. It is a philosophy focused on sustainable development, inspired by traditional Balinese values.
Broken down into its elemental parts. Nangun means to build or maintain, Sat Kerti refers to the six sacred sources of well-being in Balinese culture, and Loka Bali means ‘the world of Bali’. The six elements of well-being in Balinese culture may be familiar to travelers who have already visited the island.
Many of these elements are featured in the design of hotels and accommodations, spa menus, restaurants, and, of course, the island’s cultural attractions and natural landscapes.
Each ‘kerthi’ or element represents an aspect of life that must be tended to with care and diligence in order for the overall well-being of each person, community and landscape to be achieved.
Atma Kerthi is all about sanctifying the soul through spiritual practice, Segara Kerthi focuses on preserving the sanctity and cleanliness of the sea, and Danu Kerthi is dedicated to protecting lakes, rivers, and water sources.
Wana Kerthi is the fourth aspect, which focuses on conserving forests and natural environments. Jana Kerthi is oriented on enhancing the quality and dignity of human life. Finally, Jagat Kerthi is defined by all efforts to maintain the harmony of the world and the universe.
For tourists visiting Bali, these elements make for a spiritually inspiring, restful, rejuvenating, connected, and meaningful travel experience.
Many tourism leaders are concerned, however, that with the rapid growth of the tourism sector and further shifts towards mass tourism, even in some areas of the island overtures, these philosophies will be overlooked, and a poorer-quality tourism sector could emerge.
During the meeting, Regent Arnawa was open about the issues faced by Badung Regency’s biggest tourism resorts and the impacts these shortcomings have on tourists, local communities, and the environment.
He cited traffic congestion, pressure on environmental carrying capacity, waste management, broken sidewalks, and dangerous overhead cables as issues that need to be urgently resolved.
Regent Arnawa is committed to developing and implementing policies that will help solve these long-standing problems in the area. This will make Bali’s biggest tourism resorts safer and more comfortable for tourists, who will then be able to connect more deeply with Balinese culture and the landscape.
He noted “All of these policies are part of a long-term strategy to realize tourism that is oriented towards quality, not just quantity. For that, a joint commitment is needed to strengthen the synergy between local governments, tourism associations, and all elements of society.”
Bali Tourist Money Scam
Bali Tourists Warned Of Common & Easy To Fall For Money Scam
It’s that time of year again. With high season in Bali about to get started, it’s time for all the travel scams to start coming to light again.
Seasoned Bali tourists, you already know what we’re going to be talking about, but for newbies, listen up. There is one money scam in Bali that feels as if it’s been around since the dawn of time, but since travelers keep getting caught out by it, we’re going to keep reporting on it.
That being said, this particular scam appears to be declining. This is in part because more and more tourists are traveling using international travel cards, and more and more of Bali’s leading attractions, cafes, restaurants, and shops accept debit and credit cards.
Nevertheless, cash is still king in Bali, and it’s always good to have some notes with you, especially if you’re exploring away from the big resort areas like Canggu, Uluwatu, Seminyak, and Ubud.
In theory using a currency exchange facility in Bali should be safe, convenient and offer a fair exchange rate.
What makes this Bali money scam so surreptitious is that at face value, everything looks above board. The scam involves a slight-of-hand manaoveur who can steal hundreds of dollars from tourists’ currency exchange transactions.
The scam goes something like this: A tourist walks into a currency exchange shopfront or kiosk. The teller and tourist agree on the exchange rate, and the teller counts out the amount in the original currency to make sure everyone is on the same page about how much is being exchanged.
The teller then brings out the Indonesian Rupiah notes and counts out the amount agreed upon with the tourist. Sometimes, they count the notes out several times before reassembling them and handing them over to the tourist. Just as they gather the notes together, the teller will use a sleight of hand to drop some of the notes down behind the desk or screen.
To the tourist’s eye, all that’s happened is that the notes have been reorganized into a pile, but in reality, as many notes as possible have been swiped away behind the desk for the teller to keep.
This scam has been happening in Bali and in many other tourist destinations all around the world for decades.
Over the years, the tellers have become super good at swiping the notes away without tourists’ notice. In fact, in some cases where tourists have filmed the interactions, it’s still nearly impossible to tell what’s happened even when the video is played back in slow motion.
Several safeguards can be implemented by tourists to keep them safe from scammers.
The first is to only exchange currency in a certified and reputable facility, such as a bank, at the currency exchange counter of a resort hotel or at any of the exchange facilities at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on arrival though the outlets at the airport typically have a higher exchange rate than those outside the airport.
The second is to take some time to familiarize yourself with the Indonesian Rupiah notes. It’s especially easy for first-time tourists to Indonesia to get confused by the new numerical denominations and note colors.
The final safeguard is the most essential: count the notes handed over by the teller at least twice before walking away from the desk or signing the exchange invoice.
While some tourists feel awkward doing this, as it may appear distrusting of the teller, those who are running legal and legitimate currency exchange facilities will not be offended, and in many cases will encourage tourists to do so.
Bali Road Safety
Bali Commits To Improving Road Safety.
Officials in Bali have confirmed that they will be working to improve road safety on Bali’s most accident-prone roads.
The news comes after a tragic traffic collision took place on the Singaraja-Denpasar Highway on Saturday, 26th April, where two young siblings were killed.
On Saturday, 26th April, Gede Krisna Ari Putra, aged 20, and his younger sister, Komang Karna Angga Wijaya, aged 8, both died after their motorcycle collided with an oncoming bus.
The loss has shocked communities across Bali and a fundraiser has been launched to help raise money to support the sibling’s family in paying for a funeral.
The Head of the Traffic Unit of Buleleng Police, AKP Bachtiar Arifin, has spoken to reporters revealing further details of the incident and confirming steps the Buleleng Police are taking to help improve safety on the roads in the area.
The Singaraja-Denpasar Highway is a notoriously dangerous stretch of road in Bali. The province’s roads are statistically amongst the most dangerous in Indonesia, frequently ranking among the top three provinces for traffic collisions annually.
AKP Arifin issued an update to reporters regarding Saturday’s crash, he shared “There has been no suspect determination. Currently, the bus driver is under investigation.”
AKP Arifin took the opportunity to inform reporters about plans to improve road safety in the area, noting “Our plan is to coordinate with the Transportation Agency to help install street lights around the route.”
The Head of Buleleng Transportation Agency, Gede Gunawan Adnyana Putra, confirmed that new signage will be installed along the Singaraja-Denpasar Highway warning road users of the dangers of the route.
Putra told reporters “We will provide information to the road office because there are consecutive traffic accidents here and it is dangerous. From the results of the consultation, what kind of signs are appropriate to be installed, so that people are more careful in driving? We will try to propose whether a warning light or a caution sign or a crowd sign.”
With regards to the fundraiser, Ary Ulangun confirmed that that IDR 100 million had been fundraised for the family of Gede and Komang.
Ulangun worked with Ten Thousands Dreams Foundation to collect donations which have been handed over to the family. He told reporters “We never cut donations . Even if there are funds left over, all of them will still be given to be used by the family. Considering that they are indeed a poor family.”
Tourists planning vacations to Bali must be aware that the island’s roads are notoriously dangerous. While traffic officers are often stationed in highly congested areas to help manage traffic flow, every day there are serious traffic collisions reported across the island.
Tourists who are keen to explore Bali by motorcycle must ensure that they wear a helmet and suitable clothing while driving. It is a legal requirement to wear a helmet and proper shoes while driving a motorcycle in Bali, despite many drivers choosing not to.
Tourists who are caught driving without a helmet may face fines, or criminal prosecution as the province continues its ‘no mercy’ approach to foreigners breaking the rules.
Travelers in Bali who are planning on renting and driving a motorcycle must make sure that they have the correct driving license, remembering that car driving licenses do not automatically license drivers to use motorcycles, especially not motorcycles over 125cc which is most mopeds in Bali.
The standard Honda Scoopy moped is 125cc and therefore most countries in the world require a specialist motorcycle driving license, including Indonesia. Tourists should be sure that they have a full international driving license.
It is essential that tourists have fully comprehensive travel and health insurance before driving in Bali, and to be very clear about what is and is not covered by their policy in the event of a traffic collision. Tourists should also keep their insurance details easily accessible in their wallet or on medical ID on their phones, as in many cases Bali hospitals will refuse treatment until insurance or proof of ability to pay is confirmed.
Bali International Hospital Confirms Foreign Doctors
Hospital Confirms Foreign Doctors Will Work At New Medical Tourism Facilities
Bali International Hospital has confirmed the names of four of the foreign doctors who be employed at the medical facility.
This is the first time that foreign doctors will be given permission to practice medicine in Indonesia, and the new hospital is set to become one of the biggest medical tourism facilities in Asia.
The Bali International Hospital is nearly ready to open its doors to patients. The hospital will be open to privately paying patients in June 2025 and is the first medical facility in Indonesia to employ foreign doctors.
The hospital will employ several medical professionals around the world, and more details have been revealed about the first four doctors on the roster. The first four doctors to be named each have Singaporean citizenship and are specialist oncologists: Dr. Robert Lim, Dr. Francis Chin Kuok Choon, Dr. Patrica Khi Sunn Sunn, and Dr. Tan Yew Oo.
One more doctor has been named in the hospital staff, Dr Rio Marnoto, who has spent the last 24 years practicing medicine in Munich, Germany, and who is returning to Indonesia as a German citizen, to offer his services to his homeland. More international staff set to work at Bali International Hospital come from Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.
The President Director of the Bali International Hospital, Dewi Fankhuningdyah Fitriana, told reporters “The operation of the Bali International Hospital is a meeting point between global standards, Indonesian talent and Balinese hospitality.”
Bali International Hospital is set to become one of the best cancer hospitals in Indonesia. It will offer treatment to Indonesian nationals and medical tourists who relocate to or travel to Bali for treatment.
Bali International Hospital, a subsidiary of Indonesia Healthcare Corporation (IHC), has partnered with Icon Group to bring world-class oncological care to the province.
In a press statement released earlier this year, Serena Wee, CEO of IHC ASEAN, shared, “We are honored to be part of this transformative partnership, helping to redefine cancer care in Indonesia.”
Adding “For the first time, our doctors will be able to practice within the Sanur SEZ in Bali—a historic achievement for healthcare in this region. This is a unique opportunity that enables us to continue delivering exceptional cancer care and improving local access to high-quality treatments for our patients in Indonesia.”
The President Director of the Bali International Hospital, Dr Fitriana, commented “Cancer is the second leading cause of death among non-communicable diseases in Indonesia, with cases rising each year. More than 65% of cancer diagnoses occur at an advanced stage upon a patient’s first visit to a healthcare facility, highlighting the urgent need for high-quality oncology care.”
She noted, “We have invested in the latest cutting-edge cancer treatment technologies and partnerships like Icon to provide our patients with exceptional care.”
Bali International Hospital is an expansive new medical facility in Sanur’s heart. The hospital spans 67,465 square meters over four floors. It features 255 beds, 34 intensive care rooms, 8 operating rooms, 4 cath labs, 5 centers of excellence, and advanced imaging and treatment capabilities. The hospital will specialize in Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Orthopedics.
The hospital will also offer patients comprehensive health screening packages, dedicated facilities, and services in women’s and children’s health, travel medicine, and vaccinations. The emergency department will also provide ambulance services for private-paying patients.
The private ambulance service and emergency response contact line for Bali International Hospital will be available in English and Bahasa Indonesia, with interpreter services also available in other languages.
Medical screening packages are already available for medical tourists to book ahead of their visits and vacations to Bali.
Screening packages start at IDR 3,400,000 for the most basic package, with the Pearl Screening package, available from IDR 17,000,000, the most comprehensive package, focusing on early detection for cancer in women.
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