Bali Arts Festival 31st 2009 Calendar

The annual Bali Arts Festival provides an opportunity for the artists and people to develop, explore, preserve, and accommodate various talents through such activities as parades, performances, contests, exhibition, and discussions.

The Bali Arts Festival is a full month of daily performances, handicraft exhibitions and other related cultural and commercial activities during which literally the whole of Bali comes to the city to present its offerings of dance, music and beauty. On display are trances from remote mountain slopes, forgotten or recently revived village dances, food and offering contests, classical palace dances, stars of Balinese stage, odd musical performances, "kreasi baru" (new creations) from the dance schools of Denpasar, as well as contemporary choreography and dance companies from other islands and from abroad. The Central theme of this year’s Bali Arts Festival, starting from June 13, 2009 until July 11, 2009 which is the 31st round, is called Mulat Sarira.

About the Bali Arts Festival | The History of the Bali Arts Festival

BALI ART FESTIVAL 2009 SCHEDULE

Saturday, June 13 2009
Activity : Opening Parade Of The 31st Bali Arts Festival 2009
Time : 15.00
Place : Renon Square Denpasar

Activity : Opening Ceremony Of The 31st Bali Arts Festival 2009 Presenting Colossal Exhibition Dance
Time : 19.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Sunday, June 14 2009
Activity : Flowers & Coconut Leaves Arrangement Festival
Time : 10.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : Ngelawang Parade
Time : 10.00
Place : Taman Budaya Area

Activity : Participant from Department of arts and Culture East Lampung Regency.
Time : 16.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Classic Dance from Japan by SOEI Production TV Japan.
Time : 18.30
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Activity : Puppet Shadow by Sanggar Pongah Nutur Br.Mapagan Peninjoan Tembuku Bangli Regency.
Time : 19.30
Place : Kriya Buildings

Activity : Participant from Departments of arts and Tourisms West Sumatra Province
Time : 20.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Woman's Gong Kebyar Parade Merdangga Giri Suwari Mundul Village Buleleng Regency and Woman's Gong Kebyar Parade Githa Swara Dauhwaru Villa Jembrana Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Buildings

Monday, June 15 2007
Activity : Performance Gamelan Saih Pitu by Sanggar Raka Rai Tembuku Village Bangli Regency.
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Performance Angklung Kebyar Parade presented by Group Angklung Eka Satya Dharma Kerti Karangasem Regency and Group Angklung Swaram Sebunibus Village Nusa Penida Klungkung Regency
Time : 14.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Creation Arts by Sanggar Kuta Kumara Agung Temaun Village Badung Regency.
Time : 19.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Tuesday, June 16 2009
Activity : Gong Selonding Creation presented by Group Selonding Pasraman Saraswati Maha Pradnya Karangasem Regency.
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Social Dance Joged Bumbung by Sanggar Kipas Kuta Badung Regency
Time : 11.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Prembon Mask Parade by Sanggar Giri Anglangkara Carang Sari Village Badung Regency
Time : 16.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Music Creation presented by Group Suling Kreatif Denpasar City
Time : 20.00
Place : Front Stage Kriya Buildings

Activity : Dance Creation by SMKN Kubu Bangli Regency
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ksirarnawa

Wednesday, June 17 2009
Activity : Gambang Kerawitan Arts presented by Group Gambang mekar Sari Desa Tumbak Bayuh Mengwi Badung Regency.
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Janger Arts presented by Group Sanggar Indra Kila Karangasem Regency.
Time : 11.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Angklung Kebyar Parade presented by Group Angklung Bankti Swara Yasa Pandang Sumbu Kelod Village Denpasar and Group Angklung Darma Santi Yeh Tengah Payangan Village Gianyar Regency.
Time : 14.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Contemporer Art Performance Frm Karangasem Regency
Time : 20.00
Activity : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Youth Gong Kebyar Parade by Sanggar Seni Kumara Widya Suara SMPN 4 Mendoyo Jembrana Regency and Group Gong Kebyar Taruna Mekar Tujuk Kaja Village Tabanan Regency.
Time : 20.00
Activity : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Thursday, June 18 2009
Activity : Dance and Drama by Sanggar Rwabhineda Jl. Serma Mendra No.3 Sanglah Denpasar
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Social Arts Joged Bumbung by Brahmana Bukut, Cempaga Village, Bangli Regency.
Time : 12.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Dance and Drama by Basundari Group and Instrument Gong Gede by Group Gamelan Cendana Batubulan Village Giarnyar Regency.
Time : 18.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Gong Kebyar Parade by Group Gong Kebyar Eka Wakya Paket Agung Village Buleleng Regency and Group Gong Swara Dharma Prawerti Pedungan Village Denpasar City.
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Friday, June 19 2009
Activity : Utsawa Dharma Gita
Time : 09.30
Place : Angsoka Stage, Ayodya, Ksirarnawa, Ratna Kanda and Wantilan Stage.

Activity : Angklung Kebyar Parade presented by Group Angklung Surabrata Lemukiah Village Buleleng Regency and Group Angklung Bilokpoh Tegalcangkring Village Jembrana Regency.
Time : 16.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Participant from Department arts and Tourism East Java Province
Time : 16.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Woman's Gong Kebyar Parade presented by Group Gurnita Stri Acarya Karangasem Regency and Group Sri Candrama Dipa Tatiapi Pejeng Village Gianyar Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Buildings

Activity : Arja Performance presented by Group Arja Siwaratri Biya Keramas Blahbatuh Vilalge Gianyar Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Saturday, June 20 2009
Activity : Utsawa Dharma Gita
Time : 09.30
Place : Angsoka Stage, Ayodya, Ksirarnawa, Ratna Kanda and Wantilan Stage

Activity : Mask Prembon Parade Presented by Sanggar Tedung Bukit Sari Village Jembrana Regency.
Time : 16.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Youth Gong Kebyar Parade presented by Gong Tampak Swara Kencana Tampak Gangsul Village Dangin Puri Kauh Denpasar City and Group Pasraman Pradesa Bangli Bangbang Tembuku Village Bangli Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Sunday, June 21 2009
Activity : Utsawa Dharma Gita
Time : 09.30
Place : Angsoka Stage, Ayodya, Ksirarnawa, Ratna Kanda and Wantilan Stage.

Activity : Food Contest
Time : 10.00
Place : First Floor Ksirarnawa

Activity : Traditional Arts from Tabanan Regency
Time : 20.00
Place : Kriya Building

Activity : Prembon Mask Parade presented by Sanggar Bajra Cita Kedui Tembuku Village Bangli Regency.
Time : 16.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Youth Arja presented by Sanggar Seni Citta Usadhi Badung Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Woman's Gong Kebyar Parade presented by Sekar Sari Bongan Jawa Village Tabanan Regency and Gong Kebyar Sekar Klasik Museum Gunarsa Banda Village Klungkung Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Buildings

Monday, June 22 2009
Activity : Dance and Gong Creation presented by Yayasan Senang Hati Jl. Sasi Tengah Kawan Tampak Siring Village Gianyar Bali.
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Dance presented by Komunitas Seni Budaya 7 Gunung Magelang middle Java.
Time : 10.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Angklung Kebyar Parade presented by Gita Kencana Kerobokan Kaja Village North Kuta Badung Regency and Taman Sari Pakraman Bunyuh Perean Baturiti Village Tabanan Regency.
Time : 14.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Workshop Dialog Program
Time : 14.00
Place : Ratna Kanda Stage

Activity : Participant from Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajachat University Songkla Thailand Selatan.
Time : 18.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : Youth Gong Kebyar Parade presented by Putra Segara Pancingan Kusamba Village Klungkung Regency and Abasan Singapadu Tengah Village Gianyar Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra.

Tuesday, June 23 2009
Activity : Gong Traditional Kerawitan Gambang presented by Desa Adat Telepud, Pujung Kaja Sebatu village Gianyar Regency.
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Angklung Kebyar Parade presented by Yadnya Kerti Blumbang Kawan Village Bangli Regency and Group Angklung Werdhi Ulangun Bambengan Sukasada Village Buleleng Regency.
Time : 14.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Participant from Anjugan Prov. Bangka Balitung TMII Jakarta
Time : 16.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Buildings

Activity : Jegog Creation presented by Sanggar Yudistira Jembarana Regency
Time : 19.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Activity : Palegongan Creation Dance presented by Sanggar Pelangi Budaya Nusantara Jl.Tukad Banyusari No.73 Denpasar
Time : 20.00
Place : Kriya Buildings

Wednesday, June 24 2009
Activity : Painting Competition
Time : 10.00
Place : Arts Center Area

Activity : Janger Dance Kembang Girang presented by Sanggar Kori Agung Mas Sukawati Village Gianyar Regency.
Time : 11.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Bulan Pucak buat Nyoman Sayang presented by Theatre Ambengan Village Buleleng Regency.
Time : 19.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Buildings

Activity : Participant from College of The Holy Cross Department of Theatre Amerika
Time : 20.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Buildings

Activity : Puppet Show Ramayana presented by Sanggar Seni Saba Sari Blahbatuh Village Gianyar Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Kriya Buildings

Thursday, June 25 2009
Activity : Kerawitan Gambang presented by Sekaa Gambang Denpasar City
Time : 10.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Social Dance Joged Bumbung presented by Winagun Semara Mendoyo Dangin Tukad Vilalge Jembrana Regency.
Time : 11.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Mask Dance Parade presented by Banjar Kelandis Sumerta Kauh Village Denpasar City.
Time : 20.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Puppet Show presented by Dalang Anom Ranuara Denpasar City.
Time : 20.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : Balinese POP Song Competition Participant from Denpasar City, Gianyar and Badung Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Friday, June 26 2009
Activity : Performance Leko Pancadarwa pendem from Jembrana Regency.
Time : 10.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Handicraft Competition
Time : 10.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Mask Dance Prembon Parade presented by Sanggar Seni Jenggala Sedah Abianbase Village Gianyar Regency.
Time : 16.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Pupput Show presented by Bunter Tangi Lingkungan Terusan Lelateng Village Jembrana Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Kriya Buildings

Activity : Balinese Pop Song Competition participant from Buleleng, Klungkung and Bangli Rebency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Saturday, June 27 2009
Activity : Karawitan Genggong presented by Sekar Sari Munduk Lumbung Baturiti Village Tabanan Regency.
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Mask Dance Prembon presented by Sanggar Seni Werdi Senggita Kerambitan Village Tabanan Regency.
Time : 16.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Kontemporer Arts presented by Sekaa Semut Tabanan Village Tabanan Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Balinese POP Song Competition Participant from Karangasem, Jembrana and Tabanan Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Sunday, June 28 2009
Activity : Children Fashion Show
Time : 10.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : Performance Gong and Dance presented by Sanggar Wira Kencana from Jakarta
Time : 10.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Youth Mask Dance presented by Sanggar Kertha Jaya Jl. Pulau Bungin No.1 Denpasar
Time : 10.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Adult's Fashion Show
Time : 15.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Buildings

Activity : Youth Fashion Show
Time : 15.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : Mask Dance Prembon Parade presented by Eka Murti Pakraman Tegeh Baturiti Village Tabanan Regency.
Time : 16.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Calonarang Presented by Universitas Hindu Indonesia Denpasar.
Time : 20.00
Place : Kriya Buildings

Activity : People Puppet Show presented by Sanggar Tri Datu Anturan Village Singaraja Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Monday, June 29 2009
Activity : Karawitan Gambang presented by Sanggar Gambang Wijaya Kusuma Padangbulia Sukasada Village Buleleng Regency.
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Joged Bumbung presented by Dharma Kanti Angsori Baturiti Kabu Village Tabanan Regency.
Time : 11.00
Place : Ayodya Village

Activity : Workshop / Dialog Program
Time : 14.00
Place : Ratna Kanda Stage

Activity : Adult's Gong Kebyar Parade presented by Sanggar Gita Lestari Petak Kaja Village Gianyar Regency and Group of Artist Bangli (HSB) Tegal Bebalang Village Bangli Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Tuesday, June 30 2009
Activity : Balinese Sacred Literary Reading Contest
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka, Ayodya, Ratna Kanda, Wantilan, Ksirarnawa

Activity : Dance and presents for the old artist
Time : 19.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Activity : Contemporer Arts Music and Dance presented by Sanggar Praba Cakra Suara Banjar Adat Tegal Village Buleleng Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Puppet Shadow Creation presented by Gus Gong Tegal Jadi Marga Village Tabagan Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Kriya Building

Activity : Legong Dance Classic presented by Sanggar Bali Ganda Sari Bedulu Village Gianyar Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Wednesday, July 01 2009
Activity : Gong Semara Pagulingan presented by Sekar Tunjung Biru Tanjung Benoa Kuta Selatan Village Badung Regency
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Pupput Shadow presented by Jro Dalang Sudarma Bungkulan Sawan Village Buleleng Regency.
Time : 12.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Youth's Gong Kebyar Parade presented by Kriya Kumara Sandhi Karangasem Regency and Sekar Segara madu Tanjung Benoa Kuta Selatan Village Badung Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Thursday, July 02 2009
Activity : Symposium
Time : 09.00
Place : Natya Mandala ISI Denpasar

Activity : Social Arts Kembang Janger presented by Sanggar Dharma Santhi Bila Tua Kubutambahan Village Buleleng Regency.
Time : 11.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Mask Dance Parade presented by Kene Kamasan Village Klungkung Regency.
Time : 16.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Participant from Department of Youth and Sport and Department of Arts and Tourism from Pesisir Selatan West Sumatra Province.
Time : 18.30
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : Adult's Gong Kebyar Parade presented by Guntur Madu Sibang Gede Abian Semal Village Badung Regency and Gong Kebyar Kumbaka Yoni Tojan Village Klungkung Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Friday, July 03 2009
Activity : Symposium
Time : 20.00
Place : Natya Mandala ISI Denpasar

Activity : Karawitan Saron presented by Besang Kawan Village Klungkung Regency
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : People Puppet Shadow presented by Sanggar Seni Madu Raras Pengosekan Ubud Village Gianyar Regency
Time : 14.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Mask Dance Prembon Parade presented by Sanggar Seni Santhi Budaya Singaraja Village Buleleng Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Participant from Tainan National University of Arts.
Time : 20.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : People Puppet Calonarang presented by Sanggar Gita Bandana Praja Denpasar
Time : 20.00
Place : Kriya Building

Saturday, July 04 2009
Activity : Gong and Creation Dance Followed by Gender Wayang presented by Sanggar Gita Mahardika Babakan Sukawati Village Gianyar Regency.
Time : 11.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Dance Creation presented by SMK 3 Sukawati Vilalge Gianyar Regency
Time : 16.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : Contemporer Arts presented by Sanggar Seni Nrita Dewi Junjungan Ubud Village Gianyar Regency
Time : 19.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Final Competition for Jegeg Bagus Bali Province
Time : 18.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Sunday, July 05 2009
Activity : Ngelawang Parade presented by Karangasem, Buleleng, Denpasar, Bangli and Badung Regency.
Time : 10.00
Place : Arts Center Area

Activity : Gong and Dance presented by LKB Saraswati Jakarta
Time : 10.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Mask Dance Prembon Parade presented by Smara Sandi Group Besang Ababi Village Karangasem Regency.
Time : 16.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : The Amazing Bedoyo Calonarang Dance Padneswara Group Jakarta
Time : 20.00
Place : Kriya Building

Activity : Participant from India Culture Center (ICC)
Time : 20.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Monday, July 06 2009
Activity : Gong and Creation Dance presented by Kupu Kupu Tarum Semara Mredangga Perean Baturiti Village Tabanan Regency
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Workshop / Dialog Program
Time : 14.00
Place : Ratna Kanda Stage

Activity : Jegog Collaboration presented by Yudistira Sound Factory from Jembrana Regency
Time : 19.00
Place : Kriya Building

Activity : Mask Tradition presented by Anak Agung Kompyang Oka Temaja Klungkung Regency
Time : 20.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : Youth's Gong Kebyar Parade presented by Anturan Village Buleleng Regency and Pendamping Sanggar Saraswati Singapadu Vilalge Gianyar Regency
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Tuesday, July 07 2009
Activity : Performance Janger Arts presented by Mother's of PKK Banjar Grenceng Denpasar City.
Time : 10.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Woman's Gong Kebyar presented by Asti Sweta Swara Sesetan Village Denpasar City and Woman's Gong Kebyar from Puri Kanginan Village Bangli Regency.
Time : 20.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : Dance and Drama Calonarang presented by Salju Group Denpasar.
Time : 20.00
Place : Kriya Building

Wednesday, July 08 2009
Activity : Youth's Dance and Creation presented by Sanggar Alit Sundari Dlod Rurung Batuyang Batubulan Kangin Village Gianyar Regency
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Joged Bumbung presented by Dharma Putra Anggabaya Penatih Village Denpasar City
Time : 11.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Music and Dance presented by Group Terang Bulan Japan
Time : 18.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Stage

Activity : Contemporer Arts presented by Sanghyang Jaran Tusan Banjarangkan Village Klungkung Regency
Time : 19.00
Place : Kriya Building

Activity : Adult's Gong Kebyar presented by Sanggar Seni Sabda Prabha Krisna Tegalcangkring Jembrana Regency and Sanggar Taruna Patria Tengah Kerambitan Village Tabanan Regency
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Thursday, July 09 2009
Activity : Participant from North Minahasa
Time : 10.00
Place : Angsoka Stage

Activity : Youth's Dance and Gong Creation presented by Legian Kuta Village Badung Regency
Time : 11.00
Place : Ratna Kanda Stage

Activity : Dance and Baleganjur Parade presented by Klukung, Bulaleng, Gianyar, Tabanan and Karangasem Regency
Time : 16.00
Place : Open Stage Ksirarnawa

Activity : Pupput and Mexico Dance presented by Lucia Mendoza and Carla Pedroza Castaneda.
Time : 19.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Adult's Gong Kebyar presented by Askra Muni Karangasem Regency and Pendamping Sanggar Seni Dwi Mekar Buleleng Regency
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra

Friday, July 10 2009
Activity : Dance and Angklung Kebyar Creation presented by SMP Dwijendra Denpasar
Time : 10.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Youth's Performance presented by Sanggar Githa Ariswara Mas Ubud Village Gianyar Regency
Time : 14.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Participant from Department of Arts and Tourism Daerah Istimewa Jogyakarta
Time : 19.00
Place : Wantilan Stage

Activity : Woman's Gong Kebyar presented by Gita Wherdi Ayu Group Peminga Benoa Kuta Selatan Village Badung Regency and Woman's Gong Kebyar presented by Mekar Sari Group Balerung Mandera Srinertya Waditra Peliatan Ubud Village Gianyar Regency
Time : 20.00
Place : Ksirarnawa Building

Activity : Odalan Bali presented by Sanggar Seni Cudamani Pengosekan Ubud Village Gianyar Regency
Time : 20.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Saturday, July 11 2009
Activity : Legong Keraton Classic presented by Sanggar Banjaransari Banjar Palawak Sukawati Village Gianyar Regency
Time : 10.00
Place : Ayodya Stage

Activity : Participant from Payon Percussion Jakarta
Time : 14.00
Place : Ratna Kanda Stage

Activity : Social Dance Joged Pingitan Third Generation presented by Yayasan Tri Pusaka Sakti Pekandelan Batuan Sukawati Village Gianayar Regency
Time : 14.00
Place : Ratna Kanda Stage

Activity : Closing Ceremony For The 31st Bali Arts Festival 2009 and Colossal Dance Drama from Bali.
Time : 20.00
Place : Open Stage Ardha Candra


Note : information is supplied by Dinas Kebudayaan Bali - should further detailed information become available it will be posted on this site. Balibagus.com is not responsible for any incorrect information or changes to the above schedule.

(Resource: BaliBagus.com)


" Single Woman's Collection "

UNWTO Solidarity with Indonesia and Confidence in its Tourism Sector

Madrid, 20 July 2009 " United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) expressed its solidarity with the people of Indonesia in the face of the recent events in Jakarta, targeting some of its tourism facilities.

The UNWTO Secretary-General a.i., Taleb Rifai, confirmed that UNWTO is working closely with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to advance its tourism sector, which plays a vital role for Indonesia in terms of jobs, trade and development and has recently succeeded in achieving solid and impressive results due to its rich and diverse product.

Rifai expressed great confidence in the capacity and experience of the Government of Indonesia to overcome quickly the current difficulties, to consolodate the rich and vast tourism assets that it possesses and to continue building an even stronger Tourism sector n the future.

Contact Information:

Assistant Secretary General and Spokesperson: Geoffrey Lipman

Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

T: +34 91-567-8178/8100 " F: +34 91-567-8218

comm.@UNWTO.org " www.UNWTO.org

Search Engine Submission - AddMe

Global Players Meet in Bali To Push Trade Liberalization

Bali was the forum for the first round of meetings with key players in global trade talks last week, amid mounting concerns over protectionist measures announced by the white house.
Speaking at the gathering of 19 major farm exporting countries in Bali, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that the global economic crisis was putting pressure on countries to protect their economies, while at the same time underlining the need for greater trade liberalization.
" Leaders should show their commitment," she told reporters.
" Everybody knows the United States and India are the most important players in terms of setting the tone and providing how far the [Doha]agreement can go. The new administrations on both sides are providing a fresh perspective in how they see this global issue can be solved."
At the event, US trade Representative Ron Kirk met World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy and recently appointed indian Trade Minister Anand Sharma.
Disagreements-primarily between india and United States over tariffs-coused the last series of negotiations between WTO ministers to collapse in Geneva in July, plunging the fate of the broader Doha Round into uncertainty.
Developing countries, including China and India, want the industrialized world to scrap agricultural export subsidies, while Western powers are seeking greater access for their products in emerging markets.
Sharma said it was time to "pick up the pieces from where they are and move forward. We are not looking at difficulties, we are looking at the possibilities, to do our best and take this process to its culmination," he said.
"there are no obstacles which are insurmountable. We have to create an understanding and trust. There have to be adaptations and adjustments, that is what negotiations are meant for."
The Indian minister said he would go to Washington this month for follow-up talks. The talks were taking place on the Cairns Group of major farm exporters, which includes Australia, Brazil and Canada.
The group has called for a fresh start to the Doha Round and condemned rising protectionism, including a new trade war between the United States and Europe over dairy export subsidies.
The WTO talks, which started at the end of 2001 in the Qatari capital, aim to boost global comnerce by removing trade barriers and subsidies.
The 19-nation Cairns Group accounts for about 25 percent of world farm exports and advocates cuts to all tariffs and the elimination of export subsidies.

Resource: Shipping Gazette

Two Years Later, Tsunami Drills Held in Bali and Sumatra

Wasti Atmodjo and Syofiardi Bachyul Jb., The Jakarta Post, Sanur, Padang

The scenario is frightening: a huge earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale hits Denpasar, the provincial capital of Bali, at 9:15 a.m. Thousands of people run screaming from Sindhu beach in the Sanur resort area.

Five minutes later, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) issues a tsunami warning. The quake's epicenter is said to be 10 km under the sea.

When the warning comes, people are fleeing coastal areas to higher ground as tidal waves five to six meters high close in. Within 30 minutes, the waves have flooded most of Denpasar.

This disaster in Bali is not real. It was part of a tsunami drill held Tuesday to mark the two-year anniversary of the devastating waves that killed tens of thousands of people in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra.

A similar drill was held in Padang, West Sumatra. More than 5,000 students in Padangpariaman regency's nine villages scrambled from their classrooms to higher ground as soon a tsunami warning siren wailed.

The students then practiced helping injured 'victims'. The drill was organized by the Tsunami Alert community and Mercy Corps Indonesia through the Interagency Working Group and the regency administration. More than 36,000 of the regency's residents live in coastal areas.

"The drill in Bali is the most comprehensive tsunami drill held in the country since the real tsunami hit Aceh and North Sumatra on the same day two years ago," said Harkunti Pertiwi Rahayu, the chair of the tsunami prevention program and a tsunami expert at the Bandung Institute of Technology.

Numerous smaller drills have been carried out in tsunami-prone areas, he added.

The drill in Bali was jointly organized by the state ministries of technology and environment, the tourism ministry, the BMG, educational institutions and other partners. It involved at least 14,000 Denpasar students ranging from elementary to high school, as well as the tourism industry, local communities and local officials.

State Minister of Research and Technology Koesmayanto said the drill was a key step in preparing people to cope with disasters.

Bali is one of the world's top vacation destinations and one of the areas of the country most vulnerable to earthquakes. The island has two active volcanoes and was hit by a huge earthquake and volcanic eruption in the early 1960s.

Koesmayanto said the government has installed tsunami early warning systems in several provinces, with the newest system able to send an alert within just six to eight minutes.

The tsunami early warning system includes seismographs and buoys. Since 2005, the government has added 70 seismographs in the western part of the country. By 2008, there will be 160. In Bali, six buoys have been installed in Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said the government is also establishing tsunami escape buildings. Each will be constructed on 500 square meters of land at least five meters above sea level, and will be able to accommodate at least 400 people.

The buildings will be located at Nusa Dua resort in Bali and Pangandaran Beach in West Java.

Source: The Jakarta Post

Five Thousand People Ready for Monkey Dance, the Colossal in Bali

Jakarta, September 12th, 2006 " Monkey Dance, or the Cak Dance as the locals call it, commonly involves as many as 75 to 150 dancers. Visitors coming to Bali are continuously satisfied having watched the non-instrument dance usually performed at night. Extraordinarily, this type of dance will be presented by more than 5,000 people from Tabanan district in Tanah Lot, Bali, in September 29th, 2006. The dance would be commenced at around 5 pm as the day sees the end, taking an advantage of the unparalleled sunset as a backdrop in Tanah Lot, Bali. The crowd involved would be from various professions and age. Some of them are the local government officials, policemen, soldiers, teachers, students, and entrepreneurs from Tabanan. These people have been practicing for 3 months.



The colossal dance is called the Cakolosal 5,000 Tabanan and is fully supported by the government of Tabanan, Bali, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of RI, as the Head of Tabanan District, Mr. Wiryatama, said during the press conference held in Sapta Pesona Building, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of RI, in Jakarta.


The event is part of the efforts done by Tabanan people in recovering Balis tourism industry. That is why the government of Tabanan is eager to held such event in Tanah Lot, preparing a grand stage called Surya Mandala, enough to cater all the dancers and around 4,000 spectators.


The dance whose choreographer is I Gusti Agung Ngurah Suparta, will take around 40 minutes. According to a tour operator, currently 1,500 international tourists have booked for the grand event.


Bali is now as normal as usual and many people are anticipating for more visitors to come.

Resource: Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Indonesia