Archive for October 27th, 2008

Take a Volunteer Vacation in Indonesia with i-to-i

Leeds, , United Kingdom (PRarticle.com) - The mystical archipelago of Indonesia lies in the Indian Ocean between Asia and Australia and is made up of thousands of beautiful islands.

If you’re looking for a more rewarding Indonesian experience then consider a volunteer vacation in Indonesia with i-to-i. Volunteer opportunities include working with disabled people, teaching English and helping out at an orphanage.

The mystical archipelago of Indonesia lies in the Indian Ocean between Asia and Australia and is made up of thousands of beautiful islands. With stunning natural beauty, ancient ruins aplenty and a culture unlike anything else you’ll find on the planet, travel in Indonesia has much to offer the independent traveler. Sights such as the Kelimutu volcano, the Lore Lindu National Park and peerless golden beaches of Bali will ensure that you will never be disappointed when you travel Indonesia.

Options for Volunteer Vacations in Indonesia with i-to-i:

Work with orphans and disabled People in Bali
Working between two worthwhile projects, volunteers will combine working in an Orphanage with helping disabled people in and around Ubud. Volunteer vacationers will work with the WINS program whose primary goal is to give the children of Bali the opportunity to obtain an education and to break the cycle of poverty.

WINS working closely together with Senang Hati a center for people with disabilities, This project started in 2002 when Ibu Putu, bound to a wheelchair herself, took disabled people in to her house to teach them life-skills and to improve their self-esteem. With the help of a benefactor, it was possible to hire housing where residents can help each other and use their creativity to produce paintings, ceramics and other art, which is sold in their gallery to fund the project. There are now 34 people living in the house and 150 members of the project.

This volunteer vacation in Indonesia costs $1050 for 2 weeks, accommodation and meals provided.
Surf and Teach English in Bali

Although Bali has a booming tourist industry, many families do not receive any benefits from it and many struggle month by month to meet the basic needs of their family. The 2002 bombing in Bali worsened this economic situation, and as a result there are now hundreds of children and adults not benefiting from the education they deserve. By volunteering as an English teacher travelers will be helping to enhance the lives of Balinese children and adults through the provision of education. You will be opening up more opportunities to them - particularly as tourism is an important industry.

This project is based in Canggu, with homestay or guesthouse accommodation within easy reach by foot (10 - 15 minutes walk) or bicycle (available for hire). After three surf lessons most volunteers will be able to surf at a beach near the homestay or guesthouse or there are many surf-spots within 1 - 1.5hour drive of the homestay and extra lessons or escorted trips to different beaches can be easily arranged. The homestay is in a quiet area, with a small shop and local restaurant nearby.

The surf and teach English volunteer vacation in Indonesia costs $1650 and lasts for 3 weeks.

To see the wide range of volunteer vacations in Indonesia now offered by i-to-i please visit: http://www.i-to-i.com/indonesia or call 800-985-4864 for more information.

Since 1994, i-to-i, has been the award-winning leader in volunteer vacations, TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) training and job placement abroad. Each year, i-to-i sends approximately 5,000 volunteers to 500 projects in 35 countries and helps 15,000 people gain the certification necessary to teach English overseas. i-to-i volunteers contributed approximately one million hours of service last year.

i-to-i offers volunteer vacations in countries such as: Ecuador, Brazil, Uganda, Indonesia, Malaysia, Madagascar, Zambia, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Honduras and Vietnam.

For more information call 800-985-4864 or visit http://www.i-to-i.com , for media inquiries please contact Alexia Nestora, alexia@lassocommunications.com

Source: http://www.prarticle.com/press-release 

Add comment October 27th, 2008

Media helped Indonesia’s tourism: official

THE media has played a key role in the recovery of Indonesia’s tourism sector that experienced a decline following the Bali bombings and the natural disasters that occurred in the country, its tourism minister said.

Jero Wacik, Minister for Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, reminded tourism stakeholders to maintain a good relationship with the media both in good and bad times during a session in the sixth United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa.

Wacik said the availability of sophisticated information technology enables media to disseminate news immediately.
Indonesia suffered from the bombings in Bali in 2002 and 2005, the tsunami tragedy in Pangandaran as well as a major earthquake in Yogyakarta, both in 2006.

Wacik said that media–broadcast, print and electronic–desires to protect consumers who plan to take trips and encourages tour operators to be more selective and strategic in their promotions and sales of tour packages during a crisis or a tragedy.

Wacik recalled that when Indonesia experienced the Bali bombings, the government immediately put up a media center with the help of a professional public relations company near the area of the disaster for faster and accurate channeling of information.

Precise

He advised tourism officers to provide the media with precise information that includes the exact geographical site of the blow and present other areas that were not affected.

Wacik also told them to allow high-level government officials and reliable industry sources to talk to the media frequently through the established media center, short messaging service, website or e-mail.

Other ways to protect tourism promotion efforts would be putting up a website with regular updates on the repair of infrastructure, improvement of security systems and humanitarian activities as well as a familiarization tour for the press and tour operators to show to them the recovery of the tragedy site and the unaffected attractions.

As a result, with the help of media and other stakeholders, Wacik said that the country managed to restore the image of Indonesia to the global tourist market.

From five million tourists in 2002, 4.9 million tourists in 2005, and 4.8 million tourists in 2006, the country managed to increase its international visitor arrivals by 13 percent or 5.5 million in 2007. Indonesia is targeting seven million tourists in 2008 and eight million in 2009. (NRC)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

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