Bali News

Both national and international news medias were lately dominated by spreading pandemic of swine flu. Started in Mexico and a few other South American countries, it has now also reported in Israel and Europe. Recently a Dutch tourist in Bali was sent to the island’s main hospital as swine flu suspect. However doctors then declared the opposite. However the issue has not affected tourist arrivals to Bali.

Statistic collected from Angkasa Pura Persero, the airport operating company was showing an average of 6,000 of direct foreign tourist arrivals per day. May 1st even recorded 8,412. However break down into originating countries was showing slight decrease in arrivals of tourists originating from Mexico and South American countries. However as those countrues are not large feeders of Bali tourism, these decrease did not make significant impact.

Other indicator was hotel occupancy rate which remained stable. Perry Markus from Bali chapter of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) said that occupancy rate of Bali hotels remained satisfactory after swine flu. “Both survey and observation we conduct found an average of 70-80% occupancy rate with actual distribution ranging between 60 and 90%”, Perry said.

He considered 70-80% as extra ordinary as normally between April and June falls in low season when hotel ocupancy rate falls within 50-60% range. “I am quite surprised, alhough I am very pleased to see that Bali tourism was doing better than what has been predicted since the global crisis lat year”, he continued.

The President Director of PT Hotel Indonesia Natour (HIN) I Gusti Kade Heriyadi Anglingan who commands some teen of Inna Group’s hotels said that impact of swine flu has only slightly affect Asian destinations including Bali, especially because Asia has sufficient experience from the past avian flu and SARS. “When swine flu started to spread in Mexoco and even European countries, we are more prepared to anticipate. In fact the death toll of swine flu is not as bad as both avian flu and SARS”, he explained.

Anglingan who once served as General Manager of The Patra Bali also expressed his appreciation to the responsiveness of the airport authority, the port health office of Denpasar, and other components in handling swine flu suspect last week. Michelle, 32 years old Dutch tourist has received professional care from the early detection at the airport, Sanglah general hospital of Denpasar, and announced to the press. “Psychologically it calms down worries of foreign tourists”, he added.

Nevertheless, alertness remains at the highest level in response to swine flu issue, including the response system in place at Ngurah Rai airport. A special clinic remains stand by at international arrival hall. The clinic is actually a part of swine flu response system together with istalled thermal scanner and body cleaner.

Head of Denpasar port health office, dr. I Nyoman Murtiyasa, M. Kes. explained that the thermal sensor installed in international arrival hall which will catch anyone having more than 38 celcius body heat, serves as the first layer. Those caught by the thermal sensor is a suspect as one of the most obvious evidence of swine flu is body heat. Suspect will then taken into body cleaner where 70% alcohol will be sprayed throughout the body, before further physical examination at the airport clinic. Only if further evidence found suspect will then transported to Sanglah general hospital.