JAKARTA - The application of visa on arrival (VoA) which has been going on since early March 2022 has succeeded in bringing nearly 15,000 foreign tourists to the island of Bali. Deputy for Strategic Policy at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) Nia Niscaya said this was an effect of making it easier for foreign tourists to come using VoA. "From the beginning, there were almost 15,000 tourists, especially in Bali, until the 26th. Most VoA users come from Australia, Singapore, the United States, France and England," Nia said in the Ministry of Tourism's Weekly Press Briefing, Monday (28/3/2022).Nia assessed that the VoA policy was more effective than an electronic visa or e-visa in terms of bringing in foreign tourists.“It is very clear that the growth of foreign tourists visiting was when it was still an e-visa and then VoA. There are numbers that get e-visas in one month, while VoA is only for one week," he explained. On the same occasion, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said government policies had a positive impact on the level of foreign tourists visiting. "This is a policy that is right on target, has the right benefits, and is on time. And Alhamdulillah, it did not trigger an increase in Covid-19 cases," said Sandi.Currently, there are 42 countries that have access to VoA, making it easier for them to visit Indonesia. The increasing number of visits is expected to be a momentum for economic revival for Indonesia. "Surely this is a new optimism, momentum for our economic revival and can open up business opportunities and jobs," said the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. The government plans to expand VoA facilities to several other entrances in Indonesia, including Medan Kualanamu Airport, Soekarno-Hatta Tangerang-Banten, Juanda Surabaya, Sultan Hasanuddin Makassar, and Sam Ratulangi Manado. Source : https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20220329/12/1516418/implementasi-visa-on-arrival-hampir-15000-wisman-kunjungi-bali

JAKARTA - The tourism sector on the island of Bali was hit hard because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, as the positive cases of Covid-19 in Indonesia have decreased, the Island of the Gods has returned to life, which is marked by the return of domestic and international tourists to Bali for vacation. Although the tourism sector in Bali had experienced a drastic decline due to the pandemic, it was the opposite with the property sector. During the pandemic, the property sector in Bali still grew by around 20-30 percent. In fact, Ciputra Group's General Manager of Marketing, Andreas Raditya, predicts that the easing of travel policies to Bali could increase Bali's property market by more than 30 percent this year.According to him, the growth of property investment in Bali is not affected by the pandemic conditions, even in 2021 many people tend to invest in Bali.This condition, said Raditya, especially occurred in the Ciputra Group project, namely Ciputra Beach Resort in Tabanan, whose sales increased by approximately 30 percent. "This achievement is certainly very good during this pandemic, while many property projects in other areas have declined. Bali is indeed different from other provinces in Indonesia because Bali is one of the best tourist destinations in the world," said Raditya in a press release, Tuesday (29/3/2022).Buyers of houses and lots at Ciputra Beach Resort, said Radit, are still dominated by investors from Jakarta and Surabaya, around 75 percent, the rest are local buyers and from other provinces.Raditya explained that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the work culture of the community, most of whom work from home. Correspondingly, young executives and entrepreneurs are inspired to take control of their work from Bali. "Based on our monitoring, the demand for people living in Bali is increasing, especially those over the age of 30 who tend to think about investing in Bali," he said.Last year, he said, it could be said that sales of houses and plots at Ciputra Beach Resort in Bali increased by around 30 percent compared to 2020. Currently, Bali is the main destination of choice for people working remotely. This means a work style that allows professionals to work outside of an office environment. Current work trends lead millennials to choose an office with flexibility that allows them to work remotely. In addition, the trend of domestic tourist interest in Bali has increased sharply so that although foreign tourist arrivals have decreased, Bali is still attractive for the domestic market. "That's why Bali is interesting." Apart from the trend of working remotely, infrastructure development, especially toll roads, said Raditya, also makes property in Bali more attractive. For example, Ciputra Beach Resort is benefiting from the development of the Gilimanuk–Mengwi toll road, which is planned to start construction in June 2022 and is targeted for completion in 2024. “The location of Tabanan is between Gilimanuk, Kuta, and Mengwi. So sales of this project have increased where most of the purchases from Jakarta and Surabaya can easily access Ciputra Bali Beach Resort,” he said. Currently, Resvara's newest cluster, which offers houses and lots with prices starting from Rp. 2 billion, is attractive to investors. Moreover, in early March, examples of houses, namely the Askana Type and the Svana Type, were already available at the Ciputra Beach Resort project site. The Resvara cluster was developed on 7.2 hectares of land east of the Ciputra Beach Resorts area and consists of 190 units of two types, Askana (7 x 15) and Svana (10 x 20) both plots and houses. Ciputra Beach Resort is developed on 80 hectares of land with a coastline of 1.7 kilometers so that it has a charming view and is also surrounded by Balinese scenery, terraced rice fields. Source : https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20220329/47/1516224/pelonggaran-perjalanan-ke-bali-kian-mendongkrak-sektor-properti

What is Nyepi? If you’ve never been to Bali before in March, then it’s likely that you’ve never heard of this holiday. It is the most important Balinese Hindu celebration, which marks the turn of the New Year in the Caka Calendar (one of the the calendars that Balinese abide by). Nyepi is a silent day that that occurs for 24 hours during March, each year, following the new moon. It is a day of compulsory quietness (A.K.A. an introverts dream!) that is reserved for self-contemplation. Anything that may interfere with that purpose is restricted. This year (2022) Nyepi falls on March 3rd.THE PURPOSE OF NYEPINyepi is a time of purification prior to the New Year. All of the evil spirits that have been lurking over this island paradise are metaphorically told to pack their bags and scram! This is represented through a series of events that occur in the lead up to the sacred holiday. The day of silence influences the malevolent spirits into believing that there is no one left on the island; thus, causing them to leave.NYEPI ACTIVITYThe lead up to Nyepi sees a whole series of events occur. Driving around town in the weeks prior, you will notice each banjar (village) creating a large monster-like sculpture. These are called ‘ogoh-ogoh’ and represent the bad spirits that are being guided to leave the island during the Nyepi ceremony. Melasti ceremonies occur in the days leading up to Nyepi. They are a cleansing process for people and sacred artefacts which are held alongside the water, at many coastlines around Bali.The day before Nyepi is when the action happens! It begins with prayers in the family temples followed by ‘pengrupukan’; where family members clang a series of loud objects (pots, pans, instruments) around their homes/compounds to chase away malevolent spirits. These spirits are represented by the ogoh-ogoh sculptures which will then be paraded, down the streets, from each individual banjar at 3pm towards town.The central location for the largest (and most popular) ogoh-ogoh parade in Ubud is at the soccer field on Monkey Forest Rd. Head there around 5pm to see the incredible sculptures. Each village is getting more and more competitive every year in the creation of their elaborate monsters. The ogoh-ogoh’s are usually (arrangements may change each year) paraded on the soccer field and then carried down Monkey Forest Road where they ‘compete’ against one another in a simulated fight. This is a sight not to be missed! Children and men from the villages haul the large monsters atop bamboo frames onto their shoulders and walk down the road. After which, they are carried home to be burned in their respective villages.The following day is the day of silence. Everyone who resides on the Island of Bali at this time needs to respect and follow the rules of Nyepi.THE RULES ON THE SILENT DAYThere are four main Nyepi prohibitions; Amati Geni (no fire, light, electricity), Amati Karya (no working), Amati Lelunganan (no travelling), Amati Leanguan (Fasting and no entertainment). I know what you’re thinking ‘no fun!’- but you’re wrong! These rules actually create a magical peaceful landscape where we can go back in time from millennial tech, chill out, and give our eyes a break from the screen for a day. Say ‘catchyalater’ to the guilt that lurks around telling you to be doing more each time you relax; ‘cause on Nyepi- you legit aren’t allowed to! It’s a day where you are required to stop, calm down and enter contemplation as the Caka calendar clocks over into the New Year.Here are the main rules to follow as of 6am on the 3rd of March until 6am on the 4th of March:• Do not go out onto the street: Everyone is required to stay inside the premises in which they reside on Nyepi. There is no traffic on the roads or people on the streets. Every village will assign local law enforcers (pecalang) to patrol the streets via bicycle to ensure that no one leaves their accommodation.• No motor vehicles may be used: With the exception of emergency services.• Be quiet: If we haven’t conveyed the whole ‘silent’ factor of Nyepi yet. Keep the noise level to a minimum- no one outside your room should be able to hear you.• No light: This is the most magical element of Nyepi. Because when there is no light pollution in the sky, oh boy, do those stars shine! Make sure you take glimpse of the shimmering skyline after sundown. It may just be the finest part of the whole experience of Nyepi. You can use low lighting to navigate around your indoor space as long as it isn’t visible from the exterior of the room- use your shutters.• No electricity: This is a debateable one, as some people still use it. Technically you shouldn’t. But there won’t be anyone in your room to police this. If you do choose to use electricity, use it on things that won’t disturb the peace (i.e. no stereos, speakers, TVs). Turn off any automated electronics that may cause a disturbance (pool pumps, sensor lighting etc.)THINGS TO CONSIDER IN THE LEAD UP TO NYEPI:• The airport will be closed from 6am on the 3rd of March until 6am on the 4th of March. Similarly, you will not be able to get transport anywhere on the island during this period.• From around 3pm on the day prior to Nyepi, villages will begin to transport their ogoh-ogohs to central locations in each town in Bali. Undoubtedly, causing traffic jams. If you need to get around the island on this day, plan accordingly by allowing extra time in transit.• Unless your hotel provides it, you will need to pre-arrange food and water for the 24-hour period to eat in your home/accommodation. We have posted some suggestions on Facebook about this. You can re-heat meals at home (as cooking smelly foods is ill advised), get takeaway or organise a pre-arranged meal pack to take home prior to the silent day.• There will be no internet on the entire island of Bali from 6am on the 3rd of March until 6am on the 4th of March (*cue grumpy old foreigners having a whinge*). Any plans you have to work online, contact others via online services etc. will need to be re-arranged. This is the first year that the authorities are implementing this rule. It is an attempt to stop people leaving their homes and taking selfies on the abandoned streets (ugh, sigh), and to also promote the philosophy of silence and contemplation. [Note: authorities have confirmed that internet will be suspended during this time, but speculation still circulates as to whether it’s phone-only internet or the entire service].• Most stores will be closed from 9pm on the 2nd until 9am on the 4th. Some may stay closed longer; however there will be plenty of places open around brunch o’clock by the 4th.Nyepi is unlike any other holiday in Bali, and is certainly unlike any experience in the West. For 24 hours you can experience the entire island in complete silence; bugs, ducks and birds dominate the soundscape without the low hum of motorbikes. If you’re not keen to be a part of this enchanting holiday you can make preparations in advance to head to Java, Lombok or the Gili Islands (which are generally packed at this time). Yet, it is something that we believe, everyone should have on their bucket list to experience at least once in their lifetime.  Source  : https://ubudhood.com/nyepi/