Bali hoteliers angry over Australian govenrment advice

[spicyayam]

The Bali Hotels Association is not happy with the Australian government's travel advisory for the Balinese new year holiday Nyepi, which falls on March 16 this year.

A BHA statement signed by its chairman, Jean-Charles Le Coz, noted, “This statement is not related with the level of security or threat that Bali may experience.

"It is only an update on an event (Nyepi) that happens yearly and that involves one day of silence. During that day, every year, millions of Balinese Hindus follow the ritual requiring silence and minimal movements.

“We are disappointed to read that this normal information has been relayed in the Australian press as a “Travel Warning”.

“We can only deplore, as we have done so for the last couple of years, that the Australian travel warning system relays information that is often linked to hearsay.

“Is not location specific and most importantly that each time new information (regardless of its importance to security) is posted, it pops-up as a “change in travel warning” and every time replicating fears that are not founded.”

Source: http://hotelier.typepad.com/hotelier/2010/01/bali-hoteliers-angered-by-latest-travel-advice.html

You can read the travel bulletin from the Australian government here.

Balinese New Year, known as Nyepi, will take place on Tuesday 16 March 2010. Local custom requires that all people in Bali observe a day of silence from 6am on Tuesday 16 March 2010 until 6am Wednesday 17 March 2010. Authorities require that all people in Bali stay indoors, make no noise and switch off all lights for the duration of this period. The Balinese Hindus consider “Nyepi” to be the most important day on the religious calendar and these prohibitions are taken very seriously.

During this 24-hour period, tourists must remain in their hotels and should seek the advice of hotel management regarding movement around the hotel grounds. Balinese across the island strictly observe this tradition and people leaving their homes or hotels between 6am on Tuesday 16 March and 6am on Wednesday 17 March risk being forcibly returned to their homes or hotels by Balinese traditional village level security personnel (Pecalang).

This is an important cultural event for the people of Bali. Australians are urged to be sensitive and strictly observe local custom to avoid giving offence. If in doubt, seek local advice.

The information is just an FYI, and nowhere does it say, "don't travel to Bali during this time". The bulletin seemed like good advice to me?

 

[Adam]

Gee whiz, I can't see the problem with that, great advice for a newby IMHO. At least people have an idea about what the hell is going on, better than being bailed up by the pecalang or wandering the streets thinking somebody dropped an A bomb and you're the last survivor.

Why do Aussie authorities seem to cop so much flak from Bali 'authorities'? The fact we're the largest group of western tourists arriving there (from a tiny population), a figure snowballing every day, obviously shows we don't pay too much attention to this stuff anyway. It might be wise sometimes to be careful not to bite the hand which feeds ones self...... :evil: :roll:

 

[trinrick]

A very astute observation Adam,well said mate