Bali offers discount deals

By PAULA OLIVER

Discount travel deals are luring tourists back to Bali, but struggling locals are becoming desperate for a stronger resurgence.

Tourism traditionally makes up as much as 80 per cent of the tiny island's income, but the industry has suffered since last October's terrorist bombing of two popular Kuta nightspots.

In the weeks after the blasts, which killed more than 180, including three New Zealanders, hotel occupancy fell from 90 per cent to record lows of less than 10 per cent.

Visitor arrivals almost halved from a daily average of 4650 before the bombs.

Several major hotels and resorts are still running well below capacity this month and have either laid off staff or created special shift rosters that halve workers' hours.

In Kuta, some shopkeepers have been forced to turn off their lights and air-conditioning because they cannot afford to pay the bills.

But positive signs of a mini-revival are beginning to emerge.

Visitor numbers began to pick up last month and, although figures are still below normal for the time of year, struggling Balinese are welcoming the increase.

Airlines and resorts have combined for a major push of special discount deals for New Zealanders and Australians.

Visitors can now spend six nights in Bali starting at $1099, where previously it would have averaged $1349. High-class resorts are also offering special discount packages.

Tania Williams of Garuda Indonesia airline told the Weekend Herald that the packages were beginning to attract interest.

"New Zealanders are pretty resilient. I think a lot are coming back from Christmas holidays and breaks and they're thinking, 'Where do we go now?' We're getting a lot of inquiries."

Alyssa Field of Garuda Orient Holiday, a major Bali wholesaler, said interest had increased in the past three weeks.

"It's coming from across the board. There are a lot of repeat visitors - people who have been before and want to go back to the same accommodation."

Mrs Field said that after the bombings several people cancelled or deferred their travel to Bali. Bookings were now coming in for travel later this year.

Another travel agent said one of the surprising aspects of the small revival was the number of people planning to take their families to Bali.

Renewed interest in Bali is providing heart for struggling locals.

Some have been forced to close their small stalls or shops through lack of business, and the streets around Kuta's renowned shopping district are far emptier than normal.

Some entrepreneurial stallholders have elected to send a message with their merchandise - selling T-shirts that scream "F*** The Terrorists", "Terrorism won't stop me", and "Osama don't surf".

At the bomb scene, nothing more than rubble and empty space can be seen from the road.

"Plait your hair, plait your hair?" local women offer. "Paint your nails?"

Since the bombings, more tourist police can be seen on Bali's streets, and security is tight on flights in and out of Denpasar.

Tennis star Anna Kournikova is being courted to play in Bali, an effort rumoured to be aimed at drawing young male tourists back.

Indonesia is hoping for a speedy recovery in Bali - the island accounts for about one-third of its total tourism revenue, and usually attracts 1.5 million visitors a year.

Indonesian Government officials hope a push for domestic tourism to Bali will spur international growth.