EVER WONDER why, if you’re not on a pre-booked package, it always seems so easy to get a good-quality room cheaply in Bali if you go looking? The reason is simple, according to the local accommodation industry: There are more than twice as many rooms available as the holiday island needs.

The Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) says the number of star-rated hotels, so-called melati-class hotels, and tourism cottages in Bali far exceeds demand.

Beritabali.com reports that the total number of accommodation rooms in Bali is now more than 55,000 – but PHRI says demand justifies only 24,000 rooms.

The Chairman of the Bali PHRI chapter, Cokorda Oka Sukawati, says the current supply of 55,000 rooms does not yet include villas and local inns (so-called penginapan). …click here to read more

Popularity: unranked [?]

There is good news for tourists who want to visit Bali inthe year 2010, especially tourists from Japan – the implementation of a Visa on Board (VoB) service that will eliminate the need for travelers to line up for hours for the submission of Visa on Arrival (VoA) when arriving in Bali. “This is a breakthrough in the management of VoA to provide better service for foreign tourists,” said Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik, while marking the start of VoB services on a Garuda Indonesia Tokyo-Denpasar-Jakarta flight.

The VoB system, which will take effect on February 1, 2010, is a document management service for the provision of immigration visas on arrival that is carried out by immigration officers. To obtain this VoB service, foreign passengers (Japanese citizens) are required to buy a visa on arrival in advance at the Garuda Indonesia check-in counter at Narita Airport (Tokyo). …click here to read more

Popularity: 1% [?]

For the Australian travellers going away the country, age Australian front-runners Bali and Phuket are first and second alternatives for 8.8% and 6.3% of travelers, who pay an average overnight rate of $129 and $130 respectively, staying barely over a week. Whilst Singapore will host 5.7% of Australian visitors, paying average hotel rates of $160.

Some 4.7% of travelers will visit Kuala Lumpur at the lowest value rates of $92 on the international list. Following is Hong Kong in 5th placed, hosting 4.3% of Australians at $136 average rates. Second in value is Bangkok at $98 per night which slots into number 6th spot. …click here to read more

Popularity: 2% [?]