Archive for June, 2008
MINDANAWORLD
By Joji Ilagan-Bian
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Tourism is one of the key sectors on which the members of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) are focusing their resources.
This is not only because tourism increases the mobility of people and business, but also because it is one of the best ways to ensure intra-regional cooperation.
The Mindanao Economic Development Council reported during the 14th anniversary of the sub-regional group that several air links in the region had been opened with more under discussion.
Among these links are the flights between Zamboanga City and Sandakan, Malaysia, by Asian Spirit airline and the flights between Kuching, Malaysia and Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, by Malaysia’s Air Asia. Several other airlines are also looking into servicing other viable routes.
The attempt to establish air and sea links fits well into the desire of the four countries to intensify travel and tourism between and among them and encourage more business exchanges. But more importantly, the cost of travel must be reasonable and affordable for both business and tourism so that activities within the region would flourish.
There is a need for all the airlines to study their fare structure very carefully to ensure competitiveness, or else people from the regions will not be motivated to travel either for business or tourism.
Budget fares can easily result in greater number of cultural and student exchanges; businessmen visiting the areas to explore what they can do together; more tourists shopping, eating and spending their money.
New air route
Just last week, Indonesia’s Wings Air, a subsidiary of Lion Air, has started its chartered flight between Davao City and Manado, a route that has been abandoned so many times because of very thin traffic.
This time, the Indonesian government will exert efforts to help sustain the service by bringing in greater volume of goods from Manado, Indonesia. Indonesian Consul General Lalu Malik Partawana, who is based in Davao City, informed us that his office would exert all efforts to support the new air route.
I am in Bali, Indonesia, enjoying the week with my family. I could have flown directly from Davao, but I decided to go here via Singapore instead because of the cheaper fare and the easier travel.
More needs to be done to ensure better travel within the region and I had discussed this with the consul when I visited him in his office in Davao. I told him that we should make the air link work this time, and this could be done by creating activities that would encourage movement of people from Davao to Manado and other Indonesian cities and provinces.
Setting the right travel rates is crucial as pegging them too high would prevent people from traveling. If priced right, more people would be encouraged to people.
Fifth Freedom rights
Transporting cargo via the airlines has always been a problem in the sub-region. This prompted the four countries to declare the implementation of the fifth freedom rights so that airline companies can service destinations within the sub-region outside of their main routes.
The four countries even approved the “multiple designation of airlines with no restriction on frequency and capacity” and the “adoption of sub-regional multilateral agreement on common airport tariffs,” hoping that this will trigger more travel within the region.
What needs to be done
Having been actively involved in the promotion of this sub-regional group in the past, I believe that air links are very much necessary to further develop the four countries, or their areas covered by the growth area.
The governments can push budget airlines to look into servicing routes between and among them. This will not only heighten the trade relations among the participants, but will even pave the way for them as a group to trade with bigger partners, like China or Japan.
This is also very important to the tourism sector, especially now that the the growth area is looking into promoting itself as one big destination to tourists, particularly Europeans who love to travel to different countries under one itinerary.
There is a need to massively promote successful partnerships or business ventures; initiatives and exchanges, cultural and educational linkages that are worth talking about. All of these must be brought out in the open so that the EAGA excitement will again be in everyone’s heart.
Joji Ilagan Bian is an advocate for the development of the region. She is chairperson of Joji Ilagan Foundation (www.jojiilagancareercenter.com), president of the Philippine Call Centers Alliance of and the Mindanao Tech Voc Schools Association, and Mindanao representative to the Export Development Council. Email comments jojibian2@yahoo.com.
Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: http://business.inquirer.net/
June 26th, 2008
Sedona Hotels International calls for triple celebration as Hotel Sedona Manado was awarded Indonesia’s Leading Resort while Sedona Hotel Yangon and Sedona Hotel Mandalay were nominated Myanmar’s Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards 2008.
Hotel Sedona Manado winning this award on its first nomination within two years of operations is remarkable. Mr Vincent Tan, Senior Vice President of Sedona Hotels International said “We are honoured to receive this award which signifies the international travel industry recognition of Hotel Sedona Manado as Indonesia’s Leading Resort. We are committed to continue contributing to Indonesia’s travel and tourism industry and to raise Manado’s profile on the global tourism scene as an attractive dive and leisure travel destination.”
Set against a backdrop of Manado’s renowned diving and fronted by a dazzling private lagoon, Hotel Sedona Manado offers endless recreational opportunities. The sprawling 24 hectare resort is a tropical paradise with lush greenery, spacious rooms and memorable dining experience. Within the resort’s manicured grounds, Martha Tilaar Salon and Day Spa pampers with ancient Javanese beauty rituals.
Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as the travel industry’s equivalent to the Oscars, the World Travel Awards are the most comprehensive and prestigious awards program in the travel industry. The awards recognize excellence in the world’s travel and tourism industry and are voted by travel professionals from 167,000 travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations across the globe.
Source: http://www.etravelblackboard.com/
June 25th, 2008
Written by Patrick Frater
HONG KONG – Indonesia has banned foreign-made advertisements and commercials.
Move, which came in a joint decree from the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Depkominfo) and the ministry of Culture and Tourism (Depbudpar), is intended to boost the Indonesian ad industry. “Advertisements to be shown in Indonesia must use human and natural resources of Indonesia,” it said.
“The joint decree is aimed at giving more opportunities to domestic production houses, and the employment of one foreign expert must be accompanied by three domestic workers for transfer of skill,” communications minister Muhammad Nuh said.
Exceptions to the new ruling include commercials for tourism promotion of foreign countries, properties located outside Indonesia; international games, competition and education, and global brands that use the same actors all over the world.
Local television stations with ad revenues of $2.45 billion enjoyed a 66% share of the country’s ad market last year. Newspapers accounted for 30% and magazines 4%.
Advertisement spending during the January-March 2008 period increased to $922 million from $747 million in the same period last year.
Source: http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/
June 20th, 2008
Jetstar is capitalising on WA’s booming economy – and its cashed up residents – by establishing an international crew and pilot base in Perth.
Making the announcement during an address to the Australian Tourism Exchange, Jetstar commercial group general manager Bruce Buchanan said Jetstar will begin three to four times weekly flights to Indonesia from October.
Mr Buchanan said the new services marked numerous landmarks for Jetstar, including inaugural international services from Perth and the first entry for Jetstar into Jakarta.
“We are excited by the prospects that these three new international routes present for Jetstar,” he said.
“They will broaden our footprint across South East Asia and see us establish our seventh Australian port for international operations.”
“Plans are already underway for Jetstar to establish an international crew and pilot base in Perth, which will support these new flight services.
“These developments are in addition to our existing double daily domestic services between Melbourne and Perth, including individual daily direct flights from both Melbourne and Melbourne Avalon Airports to Perth.”
Jetstar’s new international A320 services from Perth will replace Qantas services as part of the further development of the group’s two brand strategy and will result in a five per cent increase in capacity.
Jetstar’s announcement comes as Tourism Western Australia figures show that Western Australia’s love affair with international travel is surging – 2007 numbers are up nearly 20 per cent on the previous year.
In 2006, 587,000 West Aussies left for an overseas holiday, rising up to 701,000 last year.
But it’s not just on foreign soil where our dollars are being spent. Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said Western Australians spent more than $2.2billion visiting local tourism areas last year, an increase of more than 11 per cent over 2006, and above the national average.
Ms McHale recently launched a million-dollar campaign to get West Aussies to holiday at home to boost the local tourism industry.
“With the stronger Australian dollar luring Australians overseas, it’s critical that we continue to promote the advantages of travelling at home,” she said.
A month ago, Tourism Minister Sheila McHale launched a million-dollar advertising campaign to get Western Australians to holiday at home.
Ms McHale said West Aussies spent more than $2.2billion visiting local tourism areas last year - an increase of more than 11 per cent over 2006 and above the national average.
Figures showed that West Australians spent more than 20million nights away travelling the State, with the top drawcards being Perth, followed by the South-West, Golden Outback, Coral Coast and the North-West.
“With the stronger Australian dollar luring Australians overseas, it’s critical that we continue to promote the advantages of travelling at home,” she said.
“Western Australians are the biggest supporters of our tourism industry and outspend both interstate and international visitors.
“It is important that Western Australians continue to support our tourism industry, which is a vital part of our economy and keeps our regional areas thriving.”
A high-level travel warning is still current for Indonesia, with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issuing a ‘reconsider your need to travel’ to Indonesia overall and a ‘do not travel’ warning for Maluku and Central Sulawesi Province.
JAYNE RICKARD
Source: http://www.thewest.com.au/
June 20th, 2008
Tifa Asrianti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta city administration said Monday the government would assist in developing marine tourism in the Thousand Islands regency to help boost the local economy.
Arie Budhiman, head of the Jakarta tourism agency, said the government would prioritize future development programs requested by the regency.
“No specific budget figures have been mentioned yet, but the government will encourage the local administration to propose programs. Then both bodies will set up the roadmap and action plan,” Arie said.
Edy Putra Irawady, deputy coordinator of industry and trade at the office of the coordinating minister of the economy, said the Thousand Islands had the potential to become the center of marine tourism in Indonesia.
He said the regency’s 108 islands could be sorted by economic potential into eight different groups. These include their suitability for entertainment, nature conservation and housing and commerce.
“The Thousand Islands can also be developed along the lines of food production, education and vocational training, shopping centers and exhibitions, sports events and entry points with immigration facilities, customs and a port,” Edy said.
He said his office would provide a forum for island regencies throughout Indonesia, including the Thousand Islands, to consult and share experiences in developing their respective marine potentials.
He added the forum would consist of regencies with marine tourism potential, such as Raja Ampat in West Papua, Benoa in Bali, Bangka Belitung, Natuna and Sabang in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Nias in North Sumatra, Batam, Bintan and Karimun in Riau and Bunaken and Wakatobi in Sulawesi.
Edy said the government and the administration would streamline regulations and reduce bureaucracy to support the development program, as well as set a pollution prevention agenda.
On the tourism development front, Arie said the Thousand Islands regency needed to take concrete steps to attract more visitors.
He said a major concern was the heavily polluted Jakarta bay, currently the main gateway to the regency.
He said his administration would coordinate with the Banten and West Java administrations to raise public awareness of the pollution problem.
Jakarta’s 13 rivers all empty out into the bay, bringing tons of household, commercial and industrial waste every day.
Arie added infrastructure, accessibility and weather conditions also limited tourism development in the area.
“Tax returns from hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues in the Thousand Islands have been below expectation for the past couple of years because of all these factors,” he said.
“Hopefully this new program will help boost the economy, and hence the tax returns, in the area.”
Deputy Regent Andit Rachman had earlier pledged to review data on island ownership and permits on land usage in the regency to help boost the development of tourism there.
Source: The Jakarta Post
June 18th, 2008
Kevin Rudd, Jakarta
Of course our relationship extends far beyond the important area of security cooperation. We realize that bringing together a wide range of people from our countries pays real dividends. I am keen to see our people-to-people ties spread more widely.
I have said before that I want to make Australia the most Asia-literate country in the collective West. This is not a purely academic exercise — although education is a critical part of the puzzle.
It is about increasing the chances for people from Australia to get together with people from countries around the region, to sit down and talk and learn about each other. We already have over 170,000 students studying Indonesian in Australia. I want to see that number rise.
The Australian government announced in the Budget that we are going to allocate $62 million over three years to boost the study of Asian languages in Australia.
Indonesian is one of the target languages, and part of the funding will go to helping language teachers in Australia spending some time in the country of the languages they teach.
And this is a two-way street. We want the people of Indonesia to have more opportunities to learn about Australia. So I was delighted today that we agreed to get officials to work on establishing a work and holiday visa program.
Another important element of our relationship is our regional cooperation.
Australia’s future — like that of Indonesia — will depend on developments in our immediate neighborhood. We both want to see a stable, open and prosperous region develop.
Indonesia has long played a regional leadership role. As the earliest of the regional organizations, ASEAN has been a model for the region. It has shown how cooperation and dialog can be built in and has set an example of what can be achieved.
Australia is a strong supporter of ASEAN — particularly having been its first dialog partner since 1974. We recognized early that Australia and ASEAN needed to build a partnership because we were after the same thing — stability in our region.
Australia has a particularly close relationship with Indonesia in regional organizations.
Look at APEC for example. APEC has led the way in building cooperation across our broader region. Australia and Indonesia are the leaders of a task force within APEC that is looking at how to bring our experts across the region together. President Yudhoyono and I agreed to lift the tempo of this task force’s work.
Furthermore President Yudhoyono and I agreed that we would take to the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru this year a joint proposal on how to better coordinate regional disaster response work.
We have a good history of cooperation to build on — we worked together to set up the Indian Ocean tsunami warning system in 2005.
There is also another aspect to regional cooperation that I would like to talk about.
The working-level cooperation we have on matters like disaster relief has the capacity to make a real difference. But we also need to think about the bigger strategic question of what sort of regional institutions we want to see evolve throughout this century.
The rise of India and China is driving the region’s economic growth — and that of the wider world. And the region’s share of the global economy is growing.
By 2020 Asia is expected to make up 45 percent of global GDP. It will account for one-third of global trade.
By 2020 Asia’s share of global military spending will be nearly one-quarter. In other words, global economic and strategic weight is shifting to Asia. So we need to anticipate the consequences of these changes and work to shape the region’s future.
One critical element of this is thinking about how to develop the next stage of our regional architecture. Because strong institutions are needed to underpin an open, stable and sustainable region.
Our existing regional institutions all have positive roles to play. APEC brings together a wide range of economies, including at the leaders level, every year.
ASEAN has led the way in developing a sense of community in Southeast Asia and it has formed the basis for a range of other important groupings — ASEAN plus three (ASEAN and the Northeast Asian countries China, Japan and the Republic of Korea), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ASEAN plus 11 others).
And the most recent addition is the East Asia Summit (bringing together ASEAN, the Northeast Asian countries and, Australia, New Zealand and India).
But we need to think about the next stage of evolution of our regional organizations. None of the existing mechanisms as currently configured is capable of achieving what the region needs to effectively shape the future.
Because what the region needs is an organization capable of handling political, economic and security dialog. An organization that brings together all of the major countries — the United States, Indonesia, India, Japan, China and Australia. An organization also capable of marshaling cooperation and, where agreed, common action in these areas.
That is why I announced last week that Australia will initiate consultations over the next six months in the region’s capitals. We have appointed a high-level envoy, Dick Woolcott (a former Australian Ambassador to Indonesia of course) to carry out these consultations.
Next year, subject to those consultations, we would envisage the possibility of convening a conference of government and non-government representatives to advance the proposal. The proposal is an extension of APEC’s original vision of an Asia-Pacific Community. This proposal is not about economic or monetary union, or even a customs union. It is not about a political union. It is not about a security pact.
It does not envisage any diminution in national sovereignty. Nor does it necessarily envisage any diminution of any of the existing regional bodies or existing security alliances or other similar arrangements.
The proposal embraces an Asia-Pacific Free Trade Agreement and other steps that we are already looking at towards greater economic integration in the region. But it must be about more than just economic cooperation. It should include confidence-building measures designed to promote greater openness, transparency and cooperation around the region.
In the early 1990s, Australia’s Prime Minister Paul Keating and Indonesia’s President Soeharto worked together to establish the APEC Leaders Meeting.
That meeting took APEC’s work to the next level — it made APEC the only forum that brings together the leaders of our region every year.
It is now time that we think about how to realize the original APEC vision of establishing an Asia Pacific Community. It is time to begin thinking about how our region should look in 2020.
I am pleased to announce today that the Australian Government intends to host in 2009 a major conference on the future of Australia-Indonesia relations.
Our goal is to bring together people who have had a long involvement with relations between our two countries and people who are experts and leaders in their fields but have perhaps not had the chance to get involved.
Australia and Indonesia come to each other with vastly different histories. One of us represents the Group of 77 — the developing countries.
One of us is of the West. One predominantly Christian. The other, the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
But we also come together with much in common. We are democracies that are committed to making a contribution to our region and to our world. We are committed to working with each other to build our relationship.
Today, in my talks with President Yudhoyono, we agreed to take our partnership to a new level. A new level that will build on our strong bilateral economic, political and security links.
But equally importantly, we made a new commitment to work in partnership in the world. We have much work to do to meet the challenges of our time — from climate change and terrorism to sustainable development and response to natural disasters.
By combining our strengths, I believe that our partnership can be a model to the world of cooperation. I am committed to that goal.
This article is an edited version of Australia’s PM Kevin Rudd’s speech at a recent luncheon in Jakarta hosted by the Indonesia Australia Business Council (IABC)
Source: The Jakarta Post
June 17th, 2008
Trisha Sertori, Contributor, Bali
Indonesia’s premiere film maker, Garin Nugroho, revels in the archipelago’s cultural diversity: it’s stories that span hundreds of different lifetimes, which despite those differences beat with the same human heart.
Nugroho is currently finishing his most recent film, Under the Tree, which is being shot in Bali and due for release later this year. He says the film examines Bali’s emerging immigrant culture through the eyes of three women.
Through the film he weaves Jakartan and Balinese culture, touching on dilemmas, heartbreak, love and hope, emotions that affect every life, regardless of cultural background.
“The film is set in Bali because it is one of the most important places in Indonesia. A place everyone dreams of. Also, I always make films in local areas, such Papua, Sumba, NTT, because I think the beauty of Indonesia is in its multiculturalism.
“As a film maker, every time I make a film here it is like a new journey — a new discovery. It is always a quantum leap from one culture to the next,” says Nugroho of his untiring fascination with Indonesia.
Under the Tree sees life through the eyes of women, says Nugroho, because the director believes women hold the key to another “perspective in the real society”.
“I think many of the country’s problems can be solved by women,” he says.
He adds that Bali is like a magnet for many women seeking to create a new life, a cultural melting pot that allows for self discovery and revelation. The magnetic quality of Bali can be seen in its growing immigrant population, says Nugroho.
“Bali is becoming multicultural like Europe or America. Immigrating there can offer a good life, education … so there is this migrant society in Bali.”
He explains that the stories of Bali’s migrant society can also be made up of tragedy and loss, such as a pregnant woman from Java who moves to the island and sells her baby, or the daughter of a Jakartan family who discovers her real mother is a Balinese dancer.
The film is about love and loss expressed in the simplicity and majesty of a Balinese sunrise.
“One of the women is Ayu. She is 40 years old and pregnant, but there is something wrong with her baby. It will die within hours of birth and she has to decide whether to continue the pregnancy or have an abortion,” says Nugroho of the dilemmas faced in life, the contradiction of one woman selling her baby and another losing hers — the twisting knife of love’s trade-offs.
“The film is about the struggle within emotions that in Bali become like sunrise or sunset. Sunrise in Bali is short, but so beautiful,” says Nugroho of one element of the film that expresses the endless cycle of life and rebirth at the heart of Balinese beliefs.
He adds the film has shadows of the tales of the Mahabharata, pointing up the infinite perspectives in life; stories that hold true to the human condition 2,000 years after they were written.
The film’s title, Under the Tree, refers to the Balinese reverence for trees, says Nugroho.
“The title is because in Balinese culture, trees are so important — everything is related to trees,” says Nugroho of the “tree of life” metaphor pointing to flowers and leaves used daily in Hindu ceremonies, trees as places to sit in the shade and rest, and the banyan tree with its spiritual connection to the Gods.
Much of the film was shot in the homes of the films’ actresses, including Bulantrisna and Rina, says Nugroho.
“We shot in Bali at the homes of the dancers. Bulantrisna’s house is like a library, an intellectual house. The home of the Kecak dancer, Rina, is the home of an every day life. These homes are a library of Bali,” explains Nugroho of the way homes can be read to tell of the lives of their inhabitants.
His next project is a schizophrenic leap from the culture of the soul to the culture of rock and roll: He is currently working on a film about Indonesia’s rock band, Slank.
Under the Tree is set for an October release.
“I hope it can be launched in Bali,” says Nugroho.
Source: The Jakarta Post
June 13th, 2008
Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - Japan plans to liberalize its shrimp imports from Indonesia starting July 2008, an official said.
“The expected drop in duty on shrimp imports to nil percent from one percent is expected to take effect as of July 2008. We hope Indonesian shrimp exporters will benefit from the good chance to increase their exports,” Director of Foreign Marketing at the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Saut Hutagalung said on Thursday.
A key to increasing the export of aquatic products actually lies in their quality that met food security standards and market demand, he said.
Good quality would improve consumer confidence and product image so that the market for Indonesian aquatic products would become increasingly wider, he said.
“The good image has enabled us to improve our access to the export market through negotiations on reduction of bilateral trade barriers,” he said.
He said the government was also cooperating with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in improving the competitive edge of Indonesia`s aquatic products and increasing their access to the export market.
The government has set the target of aquatic exports for 2008 at US$2.6 billion with shrimp and tuna expected to be the main foreign exchange earners.
Last year, Indonesia exported US$2.3 billion worth of aquatic products, nearly 50 percent of which came from shrimp exports and 15 percent from tuna exports.(*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008
Source: ANTARA News
June 13th, 2008
JAKARTA: The government says it will develop vocational schools of international standards in a bid to meet foreign labor market demands for Indonesian graduates with good English competency.
National Education Ministry director for vocational school development Joko Sutrisno said here Monday that Indonesia recently received a request for 200 graduates from automotive vocational schools to work abroad, but could send only 90 people because of the others’ limited English-speaking ability.
He said 85 percent of vocational school graduates entered the labor market while the other 15 percent continued their studies at university.
Those from business and management, information technology, hotel and tourism, and mining and craft schools were the most highly sought for overseas employment, he said.
The government has set a target of a 40:60 ratio of vocational school to high school students by 2009 in order to meet the labor market demands.
“The ratio now stands at 43:57,” Joko said. –JP
Source: The Jakarta Post
June 5th, 2008
Denpasar (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to officially kick off the 30th Bali Cultural Fiesta (PKB) on June 14, 2008.
“The head of state to be accompanied by a number of ministers will watch cultural attractions involving thousands of artists from Bali as well as other regions,” Organizing Committee Chairman of the 30th Bali Cultural Fiesta I Made Adi Djaya said here on Tuesday.
The organizing committee invited 12 foreign ambassadors to the inaugural ceremony of the annual cultural fiesta.
“The 12 foreign ambassadors get special invitation because their countries will participate in the annual arts event on the Island of Gods (Bali),” he said.
The invited ambassadors will include those from the United States of America, Japan, Singapore, India, South Korea, Thailand, Britain, and Malaysia.
During his stay in Bali, the President would also open the first Bali Cultural Congress and watch a colossal classical dance-drama created by the Denpasar-based Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI), he said.
This year`s theme of the cultural fiesta is “Self-Control Towards Balance and Harmony.
The event will involve arts troupes from nine districts and one city of Bali, five arts groups from other provinces, and several arts groups from the 12 invited countries.
Last year, the 29th Bali Cultural Fiesta was participated in by arts groups from Japan, China, Korea, India, the United States, Singapore, the Netherlands, and China. (*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008
Source: ANTARA News
June 4th, 2008
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