Bali Update News

State airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I is readying to expand Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, saying it will organize a tender for the first phase of the project soon.

The expansion has been estimated to require up to Rp 1.9 trillion (US$ 210 billion) in investment and is scheduled for completion by 2013.

“The project will be separated into four phases. We are ready to commence the first phase, disbursing Rp 227.7 billion in investment,” Angkasa Pura I planning director Yuda Prana Sugarda said in Jakarta on Wednesday, adding that during the first phase the company would construct access roads and substitute buildings.

JAKARTA: The government, through the maritime affairs and fisheries minister, declared Nusa Penida island in Bali a maritime conservation area on Sunday.

The government hopes the designation will benefit the local community in Nusa Penida, a 20,507-hectare area rich in maritime and coastal resources.

Minister Fadel Muhammad said in a press release that Nusa Penida conservation area supported the government’s 2020 target to protect the ecosystem of 20 million hectares of maritime and coastal areas in the country.

The Bali Forum for Environment (WALHI) has rejected the development plans for Bali International Park. The park is going to be built by the central government in time for the meeting of the economic cooperation forum of Asia-Pacific APEC in 2013.

WALHI Bali Regional Council Chairman Wayan “Gendo” Suardana said during the hearing with Bali’s House of Representatives in Denpasar on Monday that 250 hectares set aside for park development is against the spatial plan for the Bali province. Furthermore, it’s a reflection of intervention by the central government, not to mention the monument for peace that is going to be added within the international park conflicts with the policy of a moratorium on development in South Bali.

Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Asian region due to her lush natural landscapes and beautiful white sandy beaches. However, if you are not a beach lover, there are still many places to visit in Bali that will pique your interest and make your vacation to this island worthwhile. In Bali, you always have a choice whether to go to the tourist hot spots or to explore parts of the island that is not necessarily popular with visitors but still beautiful nonetheless. Don't be fooled by the island's minute size because there is definitely more to Bali than meets the eye.

If you are a history lover with a passion for arts, one of the places to visit in Bali is the region of Ubud. This small town is the hub for all local arts including sculptures, dance, music, handicrafts and architecture