The Bali’s battle to bring back Aussies on top of the agenda

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Bali Tourism Board has pledged increased support to improve their presence in the Australian and New Zealand marketplace in 2007 according to Bali Village, Vice Chairman, Herdy Sayogha.

In an exclusive interview with e-Travel Blackboard, Mr Sayogha said he was contemplating visiting Australia and New Zealand at least twice a year from 2007 in a bid to increase promotional activities for both members of the trade and consumers.

“Increasing Australian and New Zealand arrivals are a priority for us. Australia is still Bali’s fourth largest market” he said.

Mr Sayogha said that in recent months, statistics showed that arrivals were on an increase of 50 per cent during the same period year on year. Currently arrivals from Australia were 20 per cent behind pre-2005 levels due to the buoyancy of Bali’s other source markets with most returning to normal levels.

Bali has also experienced resurgence from new emerging markets including Europe and Japan which are now both in the top four for arrivals to the island. He said potential markets included India and China as well as regional markets.

Traditional Balinese Dancers

Mr Sayogha said he welcomed news that Air Paradise may be re-commencing services from Denpasar to Australia saying “any additional carrier that can service between potential markets is positive”.

He also said the recent ‘Where the Bali hell are you?’ campaign by Little Bali Hotel & Resort Company was a “brilliant thought for Bali” and showed that “many people still have concern about Bali”.

Regarding hotel occupancy levels, Mr Sayogha said it was “hard to say” due to the ever increasing number of new properties or extensions on existing hotels opening each month.

The “Bali is my Life” tagline which is used in conjunction by Indonesia’s national carrier, Garuda and its wholesale division, Garuda Orient Holidays in Australia, has been widely accepted and approved by the Ministry of Indonesia and will continue to be used throughout 2007, according to Mr Sayogha.

“It is an expression of everybody that lives in Bali,” he said.

Bali was recently awarded “Best Island in the World” by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazin