Current Bali Listings
Search Bali Listings
More Bali Listings
Chat live Bali Agent
Elegant Bali Villa $99
Bali Villa Sales
Bali Villa Rentals
Bali Agents Email
Contact Bali Agents
Bali Testimonials
Current Bali Listings

BALI NEWS & VIEWS

       Dec 31st. 2008 

Over 22,000 readers worldwide.

Save a tree do not print this newsletter unless necessary          

"I do appreciate receiving your news letters which are very

informative" . MS. M. N. Australia 2008/8/23

"May I say I think your newsletter is great". Mr.  P. 2008/10 U.S.A.

"I really look forward to keeping up with the news while I am at home in Perth. I spend about 40% of my time in Bali on business and whilst away it is important to keep updated and that is what you do for me". Mr. A. M.  Perth, Australia 2008/12/24

Happy New Year From Our Staff and Management

2009 will be fine

BALI CHRISTMAS

Santa Claus takes detour to Bali.

It was the best Christmas day ever at ©Bali luxury villas with friend’s family associates and guests from all over the world.

Once again Desiree Bellefontaine and her staff at Desiree's Restaurant cooked a perfect Christmas dinner with delicious pumpkin soup, squash, vegetables potatoes and imported U.S. tender turkeys cooked to perfection by Chef Surana and his team.

The Restaurant staff headed by Bagio and Kadet got into the spirit of Christmas wearing Santa clause hats. 

One guest commented “it was like eating dinner at home with my mom”. 

“it was like eating dinner at home with my mom”

In fact Villa Owner Momma Elsie (as the staff call her) took care of the decorations and  secret  homemade receipt dressing with the turkeys. 

 

Finally  a surprise visit from Santa, who gave gifts to all, made the day.

Then guests returned to their  villa for a swim in their warm 27° pools. 

As we say “life is good, in Bali” and Santa and his helpers made it a very special day.

"life is good, in Bali”

 

BALI  NEW YEARS PREDICTIONS

 2009 Predictions:

It's that time of the year to review my last year’s predictions and bring out my crystal ball to make my predictions for 2009.

I was wrong - 2008 was not great. 

Let me start off by admitting I was wrong on the world economies for 2008. Our slogan for last year was “2008 would be great”. 

Needless to say with the exception of Bali real estate 2008 was definitely not great.

So what's ahead?

 After discussing with many very intellectual people during the holidays including C.E.O’s of oil related companies I've come the conclusion that no one, including yours truly, knows what's ahead.  Because no one knows how the world's governments will react to severe economic and financial news. What I do believe is we've not seen the worst yet.  

 “We’ve not seen the worst yet”

Read Full List of predictions at 2009 Predictions

BALI TOURISM NEWS

 
Look high or low for tourism flow: Hit or miss?

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Which number would you like to have for next year's total tourism visit projection? Would it be 6.2 million, 6.4, 6.5, or even 8 million? These are the choices you get when the government sets a target for expected visitors to the country in 2009.

Last Thursday, the director general of marketing for the ministry of culture and tourism Sapta Nirwandar was very optimistic with the 8 million figure. "The industry was a crisis-proof one," he claimed at that time.

A few days later however, Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said in a press conference Tuesday that the projected figure for next year was 6.5 million, with a second target of 6.4 million, "a moderate projection," he said, and a third at 6.25 million, "a (more) pessimistic target".

If the world economic crisis was not happening, then the target of 8 million could be easily reached, the minister argued.

As for this year, the number of tourists was 6.433 million, Jero added, bringing in US$7.55 billion in foreign exchange income, a 45 percent increase from the $5.3 billion recorded a year earlier.

The average tourist in 2008 spent $1,178 on a visit to the country, up from $970 last year.

Optimistic or not, crisis or not, hotel room capacity keeps growing. Carla Parengkuan, executive director of the Indonesian Association of Hotels and Restaurants, said 40 new hotels would start to operate next year.

"Optimistic or not, crisis or not, hotel room capacity keeps growing"


Letter to the Jakarta Post:

I agree with the article in the Jakarta Post article titled “Hotels hold on despite global financial crisis”

But in fact, what I am hearing from my hotel manager friends are some larger hotels are seeing 20% to 30% drops in occupancies.

At the same time ©Bali luxury Villas such as us are seeing record occupancies.

Our 55 villas are 84% occupied now and will top out at 100% in a few days

Another small indicator that the recession has not hit is that we had 120% more paying guests at our annual Christmas dinner than last year. 

I do believe that the recession is hurting more expensive resorts throughout world such as Hawaii.

With the Indonesian rupiah down 20% against the U.S. Dollar and Euro recently Bali is a bargain for those wishing to stretch their holiday budget during these tough times. 

"Bali is a bargain for those wishing to stretch their holiday budget during these tough times"

I believe in 2009 the recession will cause a small decrease in the amount of tourists who may have normally made reservations in Bali. 

But the fact that Bali has been living without bombs and crisis for some time will bring enough new tourists to Bali to compensate for the loss.

Our slogan is Two Thousand and Nine Will Be Fine.

Sincerely Yours:

Lawrence B.M. Bellefontaine, President Director, Pt. B.A.L.I.


"My family have stayed in one of your 4 bedroom villas before and absolutely loved" Ms. N.W.  Australian ,2008/12/30 


Indonesia and Bali still seeing booming tourist trade

Wednesday, 24 December 2008
 

Despite global gloom, Indonesia’s tourist arrivals are still seeing very healthy growth, particular in relation to Bali, and now the country is predicting tourist numbers will grow by 25% in 2009.

For the ten months to October end, international arrivals hit 5.1 million, lifting some 13% on top of 2007 figures, of this figure some one million travellers travelled to Indonesia with intentions to visit Bali.

Looking to 2009, Indonesia is confident that it can repeat the success of 2008 again.

The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism is predicting eight million international arrivals, or a 25% increase on this year’s figures, which is expected to sit at around 6.4 million.

“With the looming crisis, I’m afraid we won’t have the expected peak of foreign tourist arrivals in December... But you can’t say that the government has failed,” said Sapta Nirwandar, a director general at the Ministry of Tourism, reported The Jakarta Post.

In the ten months being accounted for, some quarter of a million tourists in Bali were Australians, signalling the renewal of the Australian appetite for the exotic island destination.

Australians are travelling there despite the government travel warnings, and both Jetstar and Garuda have reported nearly full planes.

“Advance bookings did drop off but there has been a lot of last-minute bookings for next week,” said a spokesperson for Jetstar to The Australian.

Garuda added, “We’re confident that Bali will come out of it reasonably well, as people make their holiday plans and they start to reconsider going there.”

http://wTax ww.etravelblackboardasia.com/article.asp?id=58242&nav=109


BALI NEW LAWS

The new Income Tax Law

A new Income Tax Law (UU No. 36 Year 2008) has been passed by the President of Indonesia on September 23rd 2008  will come into effect on January 1st 2009.

  IMPACT: Income tax tariff will be reduced  while  nontaxable income will be increased .  All employees with no tax ID will be penalized with 20% increase from normal income tax.   For outbound Indonesian who doesn't have the tax ID yet, they can apply for it online until 31 December 2008.  If you already have an existing tax ID, you may ignore this advisory.


Fiscal Ends Jan. 1, 2009

On Jan 1st the government will implement free fiscal on Jan. 1, 2009 for Indonesian citizens and Foreign Holders of working permits who have tax identity card (NPWP).

For those without a tax Id the fiscal will be increased 150% for Rp1,000,000 to Rp 2,500,000

Fiscal fee is currently applied to Indonesian citizens travelling overseas.

The Tax Office is intensifying efforts to force Indonesian citizens to posses the

BALI LUXURY VILLA SPECIALS

Two For One:

Want a great deal.

From Jan 5th. 2009 to Jan 22nd. 2009 we are offering a deal that is two good to be true.

For every two nights Receive 1 night free .

For example book a One bedroom EARL Villa Jan. 15th to Jan 22nd. for our normal price of $195.00 and receive the third night free. Therefore your final price is only  or $130.00 per night Plus 10% Tax & 5 % Service Charge

Alternately you can book a Two bedroom villa at our normal published price an receive a three bedroom absolutely free.

© Bali luxury villas to suit all tastes and budgets:

Included in prices are complimentary airport transfer & full time private maid & pool ***.

Model

Click link for

photos and details   

Bedrm.

Bath

M2

Pool

Low Season