Bali, known for its stunning beaches, is also home to a wealth of hidden cultural attractions that offer a deeper insight into the island's rich heritage. Among these gems is the Keliki Art Village, renowned for its intricate Balinese paintings and workshops where visitors can engage with local artists. Another unique experience can be found in Tenganan village, where traditional gladiator battles known as Makare-kare take place, showcasing the island's vibrant cultural traditions.
For those interested in historical architecture, the Nurul Huda Gelgel Mosque, built in the 1600s, stands as Bali's oldest mosque, reflecting the island's Islamic heritage. Additionally, the Kebo Iwa monument honors a mythical hero, adding to the island's rich tapestry of folklore. The Bali Museum in Denpasar serves as a repository of Balinese heritage artifacts, offering visitors a comprehensive overview of the island's history and culture.
Art enthusiasts will appreciate the Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets, which exhibits over 1,000 masks and puppets, highlighting the island's traditional performing arts. Lastly, the Kusamba salt farms provide a glimpse into traditional salt crystallization methods, allowing visitors to witness age-old practices still in use today. These attractions not only enrich the visitor experience but also contribute to the preservation of Bali's cultural identity. [ff0d3ac2]
Indian tourists are increasingly opting to hold their wedding ceremonies in Bali, according to Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno. Bali has become an attractive destination for Indian couples due to the lower costs compared to hosting weddings in their own country. In 2023, Indian tourists ranked second in terms of the highest number of visitors to Bali, following Australian tourists. To cater to the growing demand, the Indonesian government is developing super-priority tourism destinations (DPSP), with Lake Toba in North Sumatra being highlighted as an appealing option. Minister Uno also emphasized the need to increase direct flights from India to Indonesian tourism destinations. Additionally, Indian programming and computer experts are contributing to Indonesia's creative economy sector. [4fc3fdcf]
Indian billionaire Ankur Jain and his bride-to-be, Erika Hammond, faced a delay in their wedding celebration at the Muhammed Ali Palace in Cairo due to a flight permitting problem in South Africa. They were stuck at the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport while trying to resolve the permitting issue with South African government officials. Ankur Jain, the founder of Bilt Rewards, has a net worth of $1.2 billion. The flight delay jeopardized their wedding plans. [aa2194dd]
Indonesia's Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, stated that President Joko Widodo has tasked the administration with emulating South Korea's approach to bolster the creative industry. The Indonesian government sees tourism as a vehicle to boost its creative economy, which contributes close to 8% of the nation's GDP. The number of Korean travelers to Indonesia reached 347,185 in 2023, a 284% increase from the previous year. Uno expressed optimism about the future of Indonesia-Korea relations and highlighted destinations beyond Bali, such as Flores Island and Lake Toba, that offer unique experiences. The minister also discussed strategic initiatives to attract more tourists, including the management transfer of Batang Airport to Incheon Airport Management. [19a501c3]
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, in collaboration with the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI), organized an ASEAN Movie Night featuring the award-winning Indonesian film 'Ngeri-Ngeri Sedap', directed by Indonesian Producer Bene Dion Rajagukguk. The event celebrated the rich cultural ties and immense similarities between Indonesia and Pakistan. The film industry is currently the fastest-growing sub-sector of Indonesia's creative economy. In recent years, the film and entertainment industry in ASEAN countries have experienced robust growth. The movie showcased Indonesia's perfect blend of humor, mutual respect, ideal parenting, local wisdom, morality, cultural richness, and beauty of the natural landscape. The film portrays the story of an elderly couple from the Batak tribal family in Toba Lake, North Sumatra, Indonesia, and their three sons who have left home to pursue their careers far away from their village. The parents pretend to divorce to compel their sons to return home. The movie is shot in the backdrop of Lake Toba—the largest volcanic lake in the world, recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2020. The audience also enjoyed a variety of mouth-watering Indonesian dishes during the movie night. [3ae200d3]
Bali's residential market is gaining traction among Asian buyers as rental yields rise. Short-term rental incomes on the island rose 8% to 1.9 million rupiah (US$118) last year. Investors from Hong Kong and Singapore, where rental yields are low, are showing particular interest. Bali's property market is buoyed by an influx of international tourists and domestic migrants. Foreigners face limitations when investing in Bali property, including lease restrictions and higher tax rates. The property market is led by hospitality-related developments, with smaller developers offering managed and affordable residences. [d68577bb]
Indonesia's Bali island is increasing its monitoring of foreign tourists following several criminal incidents that have disrupted local communities. The country's Directorate General of Immigration, in collaboration with local police authorities, has stepped up surveillance of foreign nationals, including enforcing traffic regulations. Foreigners who break the law would face immigration administrative sanctions designed to deter future violations. The Bali office of the country's Ministry of Law and Human Rights has given a mandate to the authorities of traditional villages in the province to oversee foreign tourists' activities and take action against those who violate local laws and customs. In recent weeks, there have been reports of crimes and misbehavior carried out by foreign tourists that caused public disorder or violated the national law and the local customary rules. On Wednesday, Indonesia's immigration authorities arrested 103 foreigners at a villa in Bali for allegedly committing cybercrimes, including online gambling. A number of local people on the island have complained about the behavior of foreign tourists. Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said that stricter rules for foreigners are necessary to maintain comfortable conditions for local residents in Bali. Sociologist Wahyu Budi Nugroho from Bali-based Udayana University said there should be strict sanctions for those who carry out illegal activities. [7f0fff70]
The acting governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, believes that the establishment of family offices of foreign conglomerate families investing their funds in the island could help boost the regional economy. The Bali provincial government is ready to implement the policy and will support it by easing investment steps for investors. The idea of family offices was first suggested by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, in May 2024. So far, a number of foreign conglomerates have shown interest in establishing a family office in Bali. The government is waiting for the finalization of rules and instructions from the central government regarding the investment concept for family offices. [81eb791e]
Experts caution that the government's plan to establish family offices in Indonesia must be cautious to prevent money laundering. Faisal Basri, a senior economist at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), criticizes the plan, stating that potential investors in family offices would not plan to invest in the country's industrialization and that Indonesia could become a hub for money laundering. Family offices would not increase state income as they would not be taxed. Singapore is also holding back on creating family offices due to concerns about facilitating money laundering. It is important to have robust laws and solid planning to ensure the initiative does not give rise to illegal practices. [cb8f2d49]