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Dec 14 - 20, 2007 / No.1538
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Flying colours set for Bali |
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| | Battle: all rooms fully booked for conference. |
By Mimi Hudoyo
BALI – The biggest event Bali ever hosted was proceeding smoothly as TTG Asia went to print, a feather in the cap for the island and, some say, Indonesia, which has not had this kind of high-profile spotlight in decades.
With some 10,000 participants from 148 countries descending on Bali for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from December 3 to 14, observers said this was the most important and historical event in Indonesia after the Asian African Conference in 1955, where representatives of 29 countries, mostly newly independent, met to generate Afro-Asian economic and cultural co-operation and to oppose colonialism.
The travel trade sees Bali and Indonesia stepping notches up as a leisure and MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) destination. UNFCCC professional conference organiser, Pacto Convex, reported 8,400 rooms had been prepared to accommodate official delegates and participants in 64 hotels in Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Tanjung Benoa, Kuta, Tuban, Seminyak and Sanur.
There were 800 meetings in total organised in 27 meeting rooms at the UN Compound, comprising Bali International Convention Centre (BICC) and the Westin Resort, Laguna Resort & Spa, and Grand Hyatt in Nusa Dua.
Pacto project manager, Ms Fifi Hasanah, said: “Despite views there would be some challenges to organise such a huge event, all has been smooth so far. The expected immigration ‘jam’ at the airport at peak arrival times, for example, did not happen, as the immigration office opened fast track lanes for delegates.”
Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies Bali Chapter chairman, Mr Al Purwa, said: “This is a turning point for Bali as a tourist destination...Apart from the thousands of people who are here, the world is watching Bali through the worldwide media coverage during the event.
“There are challenges, such as the shortage of permanent meeting facilities and street congestion going into the Nusa Dua area in the morning due to security checks, but these are anticipated and I have heard no complaints from participants about all this. In fact, the building of tents to minimise space shortage has proven we can organise such a large event here.”
According to Pacto, about 5,525m2 of tent space was built outside BICC and the Westin Resort area.
Mr Purwa added: “I’m optimistic demand for leisure and MICE business to Bali will rise after this. What Bali seriously needs now is a convention centre, which can accommodate up to 15,000 people.”
Feedback from the hotels shows the turn-out for the conference is generally not disappointing. Novotel Nusa Dua Bali Hotel & Residences general manager, Mr Philippe Battle, said at press time: “We allotted 80 per cent of our hotel inventory (188 rooms) for the conference in the beginning, but we ended up dedicating all for it.
“This is probably too early to claim victory as the peak of the event (which is the real test to Bali’s and Indonesia’s capability to handle the event) is yet to come, but as the newest property in the Nusa Dua area, the event gives not only good exposure for the hotel but also for Bali.”
The 648-room Grand Hyatt Bali director of sales, Ms Maria Sitanggang, said: “The convention has contributed about 34 per cent of total business to our hotel (during the two-week period). This is lower than we expected earlier, but the impact is greater.” Ms Sitanggang also said despite the stringent security measures in Nusa Dua, the event did not disrupt leisure travellers’ activities. “We did not close bookings for wholesalers and, being low season, the leisure market has contributed 30 per cent of our business during these two weeks.”
Although our hotel is part of the UN Compound, only the Wantilan Ballroom is closed for public, so all other activities in the hotel run as per normal.
“Hotel guests have been informed of the tight security measures and should be prepared with ID at any time, otherwise, nothing disrupts their holiday,” Ms Sitanggang said.
As this story goes to print, the Department of Culture and Tourism in co-operation with the UN World Tourism Organisation took the opportunity to organise a seminar on Climate change and its impact on the Indonesian tourism at the Grand Bali Beach Hotel.
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