REGIONAL UPDATES – APRIL 2019 INDONESIA FOCUS UPDATES Airline News Malindo Air's New Route to Connect Kuala Lumpur and Adelaide Via Denpasar Malaysian-based airline, Malindo Air, will open a new route connecting Kuala Lumpur to Adelaide, Australia via Denpesar, Bali on the 16th of April, 2019. Flight reservations can be made through Malindo Air’s official website, malindoair.com. ticketing offices, customer care centers and travel agents. In the initial period flights will be available four times a week every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Monday employing a Boeing 737-800 aircraft that can accommodate 12 business and 150 economy class passengers, as well as Boeing 737-900 Next Gen offering 12 business and 168 economy class seats. Destination - No Formal Decision Made on Komodo’s Possible Closure: Indonesia’s Komodo Environment Ministry The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has clarified that no new decision has been made regarding the closure of Komodo Island. Research is still underway to assess the situation and determine what needs to be done. The East Nusa Tenggara government released a statement saying “the island would be closed next year.” The ministry and its team will continue to take strides to improve the sustainability of Komodo National Park. Destination - Lombok is Safe, ASITA Assures Tourists Lombok The Indonesia Tour and Travel Agency Association (ASITA) has ensured the public that Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), is safe to visit after a series of earthquakes caused a sharp decline in tourist arrivals. According to Dewantoro Umbu Joka, head of ASITA’s NTB branch, international tourists are still wondering whether Lombok is safe to visit. The most recent data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) shows that international tourism NTB from January to February 2019 had decreased 38.14 percent from the same period last year. Destination - Indonesia Orders Airlines to Lower Fares after Domestic Travel Hit Indonesia With rising airfares in Indonesia impacting the local travel and tourism industry, the Indonesian government is strongly urging Indonesian air carriers, especially the state-owned Garuda Indonesia, to drop their airfares immediately. Luhut Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for maritime affairs, has given Indonesian airlines an ultimatum to lower their ticket prices on all routes from April 2019. REGIONAL UPDATES – APRIL 2019 | 1 REGIONAL UPDATES – APRIL 2019 Destination - Ten Annual Events Tourists Can Look forward to in Bali Bali As compiled by Four Seasons Resorts Bali, below are 10 events on the island that you should not miss out on. 1. Nyepi This Balinese-Hindu New Year offers a unique opportunity to enjoy a silent day where locals are found meditating and cleansing their spirit. The night before Nyepi there is the ogoh-ogoh (giant effigy) parade which is a fascinating celebration including displays of art and engineering. Since Nyepi follows the lunar-based Balinese saka calendar, the date changes each year. In 2020 you can celebrate it on March 25. 2. Bali Spirit Festival From March 24 to 31, Ubud will host an annual yoga festival that focuses on global community, dance, world music and wellbeing for both tourists and locals. 3. Ubud Food Festival Slated for April 26 to 28, Ubud Food Festival started five years ago and has become one of the most popular food events in Indonesia. Visitors can expect to be exposed to various culinary cultures, local food and prominent restaurants. 4. Bali Arts Festival The creative and artistic event in Denpasar lasts an entire month, from June 16 to July 14. Artists from all regions of the island will get together to present their works at the event, featuring many interesting cultures from epic dances and gamelan orchestras to local handicrafts and wayang kulit shadow puppets. 5. Tanah Lot Arts Festival Scheduled on July 20, the event will showcase an opening show performance of the Rejang Sandat Ratu Segara sacred dance featuring 1800 dancers. It previously had set an Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) for such a colossal show. 6. Sanur Village Festival From August 21 to 25, lovers of art, delicious food, culture and the environment can join the Sanur Village Festival. Among its versatile programs are eco- activities like planting corals and exotic and endangered plant species, fashion shows and photography exhibitions. There will also be gold and fishing tournaments, a cycling tour and family-friendly events such as body painting, kite flying, beach games and a fun run. 7. Bali Kite Festival On August 29 the Balinese sky will be full of colorful high-flying kites of all shapes and sizes. The idea is to thank the gods for bountiful harvests and fertility. You can either watch the event on the beach or take part and put your ability to the test. REGIONAL UPDATES – APRIL 2019 | 2 REGIONAL UPDATES – APRIL 2019 8. Ubud Writers & Readers Festival From Oct. 23 to 27 more than 150 writers, artists, authors, thinkers and performers from around the world will spend five days in Ubud together to participate in cross-cultural dialogue. Every year the festival has a certain theme which will lead to interesting discussions and performances. 9. Bali International Triathlon Usually held in October, Bali´s main sport event invites both Indonesian and international athletes to join a triathlon. After swimming at sunrise, participants have to do a bike leg, followed by a road race through villages. It will also host a fun run in addition to sprint and Olympic distance courses. 10. Perang Pandan War Dance Ceremony The annual mass coming-of-age ritual that honors Indra, the Hindu god of war and the sky, is a signature of the Balinese old village Tenganan in Karangasem regency. The ancient tradition includes a war dance called makre-kare or megeret pandan where male villagers fight friendly duels, armed with a small rattan shield in one hand and a packet of thorny pandan leaves in the other. REGIONAL UPDATES – APRIL 2019 | 3 REGIONAL UPDATES – APRIL 2019 LAOS FOCUS UPDATES Destination - E-Visa for Laos to Go Online in June Laos The Laos eVisa is an electronic travel authorization that will be launched by the government of Laos in June 2019. A valid Laos visa online will allow citizens from eligible countries to visit Laos for tourism purposes. Once approved, the Laos online visa will grant its holder a stay of up to 30 days in Laos. Travelers who wish to visit Laos will be able to obtain their Laos eVisa by completing an online application form with their personal details and passport information. The online eVisa for Laos will be issued for a single entry. Upon arrival, visitors to Laos will be able to present their approved Laos visa to the border authorities to enter the country. The online visa for Laos should contribute to smoother immigration checks and improved border security. Although the full list is yet to be announced, the eVisa for Laos is expected to be available for a large number of nationalities, including citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada, and all European Union member states. Destination - Laos Lowers Chinese Visa Fees Laos According to Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Dr Bosengkham Vongdara, Laos has lowered the visa fees for Chinese tourists from USD14 to USD10 to make it easier for them to travel to the country. Dr Bosengkham added that the Lao government is printing tourism brochures in Chinese and adding Chinese language to signs at tourist attractions. Destination - High-Speed Thai Train to Steam into Laos Laos The Thai government aims to complete the 608-km high-speed Thai-Sino high-speed railway project, linking Bangkok and Nong Khai, by 2023, so it can reach the Laos- China train from the Thai capital in just three hours. Once the Thai train reaches Nong Khai, the rail line leads over the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. Destination - Laos Creates Two National Parks to Protect Forests and Natural Beauty Vientiane The Laos government has created two national parks: Nam Et–Phou Louey Park in northern and Nakai-Nam Theun Park in the central region to protect forests, biodiversity, natural beauty and the country’s geological development. The government believes the parks will enable researchers to use the areas as an outdoor classroom to study the relationship between biodiversity in the parks and the protection of nature. According to the decrees, the Nam Et–Phou Louey Park comprises 414 hectares and lies within Huaphan and Xieng Khuang provinces. The Nakai-Nam Theun Park consists of 427 hectares and is situated in Khammuan and Borikhamxay provinces. REGIONAL UPDATES – APRIL 2019 | 4 REGIONAL UPDATES – APRIL 2019 Destination - Tourism is the Linchpin in Laos' Green Growth Strategy Vientiane The 2030 strategy, which was unveiler in March 2019, provides a pathway for the mainstreaming of environmentally-friendly policies into the programmes of all government departments and sectors. Among these, tourism has been listed as a pivotal sector in leading the green and sustainable development of the country in the coming years. Endorsed by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on January 31, the strategy makes reference to Laos’ abundant waterfalls, forests, caves, and temples as well as the country’s fine traditions and harmonious way of life. Tourism- related businesses will also be encouraged to efficiently consume energy and to use environmentally-friendly products whenever possible. Destination – Ma Té Sai Craft Luang Ma Té Sai, known for its innovative and useful crafts created by local women Prabang artisans, is forging ahead into 2019 with new colours, a new location, more Singapore events, and a tour to the Muang Sing Festival in November. Trend setters have named “Living Coral” as this year’s Pantone colour. To stay ahead of the curve, Ma Té Sai worked with their Tai Lue friends in Oudomxay Province last July to come out with a new range of cotton scarves, hand towels, throws, and blankets in stripes, checks, and ombres.