As reported by NusaBali.com, the number of climbers ascending and descending Bali’s Mount Batur (elevation 1,717 meters) is now back to “normal levels,” despite the unseasonably high temperatures and drought conditions affecting the Island of Bali.

Made Budiadnyana Putra, the Head of The Association for the Management of Protected Forests (KPHK) at the Agency for the Conservation of Bali’s Natural Resources (KSDA-Bali), assured on Monday, October 23, 2023, that climbing activities are operating at normal levels.

Putra calculates a daily average of 200 people climbing Mount Batur, with weekends and holidays recording the highest number of climbers. Indonesian hikers dominate the number of total visitors to the mountain top. Adding: “The volume of climbers is not affected by the (current) dry season conditions.”

Made Budiadnyana Putra said that a licensed mountain guide invariably accompanies every visitor who climbs Mount Batur. This is done to maximize the prevention of forest fires on the mountain’s slopes. Putra explained that the mountain’s area is relatively safe from the threat of fire, with the areas most at risk being the sides of main roads. This danger is heightened by lit cigarette butts carelessly discarded by passing motorists and trekkers.

The active involvement of local guides also ensures that visitors will not act in outrageous ways that have offended local sensibilities in the past.

The management of Nature Reserves and Sanctuaries Associations and related association agencies are urging mountain climbers not to discard trash in the mountain surroundings and to spare no effort to prevent forest fires. Climbers are personally cautioned by guides and reminded by roadside banners to act wisely in preserving the local environment.

Based on research and the resulting documentation on “carrying capacity” undertaken by Bali’s Center for Control of Ecoregional Development (P3E), Mount Batur has a carrying capacity to handle 500 daily visitors. Meanwhile, the actual average number of daily visitors to the Mountain peak is around 200 people.

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The Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, funded by China, now serves as the principal gateway to one of Cambodia’s most popular tourist destinations, the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Complex.

On Monday morning, a flight operated by Thailand’s Bangkok Airways became the first to touch down at the new airport, situated approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the protected heritage area.

Designated with the International Air Transport Association code “SAI,” this new airport supersedes the Siem Reap International Airport (REP), which first opened in 1932 and is located just a few kilometers from the Angkor complex.

This state-of-the-art airport, funded by China as part of its Belt and Road Initiative at a cost of around $1.1 billion, was designed to accommodate an initial annual passenger capacity of 7 million travelers—2 million more than REP—and boasts a 3,600-meter-long runway.

According to the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, it is the first overseas international airport constructed under a “Build-Operate-Transfer” model by Chinese enterprises and is operated and managed by the Yunnan Aviation Industry Investment Group. As a “4E airport,” it can facilitate larger commercial aircraft, including many utilized on global long-haul routes.

Construction of the airport commenced in 2020, with its design reportedly drawing inspiration from traditional Cambodian architectural styles. While the official airport website offers minimal information on available services, shops, and restaurants at the new facility, it provides a comprehensive schedule of departing and arriving flights.

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The Head of PELINDO in Bali and NTT, Ali Sodikin, confirmed this increase in requests, as stated by the State News Agency Antara.

Moreover, PELINDO’s data shows that from January 6th to October 6th, 2023, 30 cruise ships carrying 21,679 passengers visited the port of Benoa. This marks a significant rise compared to the same period in 2022 when 14 ships brought 7,000 passengers to the Port of Benoa.

Sodikin attributes this upsurge in cruise ship visits to Bali to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reopening of Indonesian international gateways to tourism.

Looking ahead to 2025, Bali is poised to embrace cruise tourism fully, with online registration available for international cruise ships visiting the island. A new Marine Tourism Center is under construction at Benoa, purposefully designed to streamline the arrival and departure of cruise ship passengers.

The new cruise terminal at Benoa will offer foreign currency exchange kiosks, information booths, ATMs, and local kiosks selling merchandise operated by small and medium-sized entrepreneurs.

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Adiputra Karang, the CEO of PT JBT, revealed that Jasa Marga Bali Toll is collaborating with PT Jasamarga Tollroad Maintenance (JMTM), a company specializing in road maintenance services involving scraping, filling, and resurfacing the tollway’s pavement.

The repair activities will commence at the Nusa Dua Gateway and extend to the connecting highway leading to the main road in Nusa Dua. Additionally, maintenance will be carried out on the dedicated motorcycle lane from the interchange to the entrance of the Airport.

In order to minimize any inconvenience for vehicular traffic, the repair work is scheduled between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Further precautions to enhance safety and reduce risks include the demarcation of work zones, placement of cautionary signage, and the deployment of road workers to facilitate smooth traffic flow.

Adiputra Karang appealed to the public to contribute to the repair process by ensuring their vehicles are well-maintained and exercising extra caution while using the toll roads during the repair period.

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The 2023 Travel + Leisure list of the best islands in the world is out, chosen by readers for their aquamarine waters, dramatic coastlines, and pristine beaches.

As in past years, Travel + Leisure readers ranked their favorite islands considering activities on offer, sights, natural attractions, food, culture, and the friendliness of the local folk.

Bali, ranked number 3, is now in Travel + Leisure’s Hall of Fame due to its evergreen appearance in every year’s list of the best islands.

The 2023 list of the best islands worldwide saw Italy’s Ischia named numero uno.

1. Ischia, Italy
2. Maldives
3. Bali, Indonesia
4. Milos, Greece
5. Fiji Islands
6. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
7. Phuket, Thailand
8. Dominica
9. Boracay, Philippines
10. Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
11. Palawan, Philippines
12. Paros, Greece
13. Azores, Portugal
14. Phu Quoc, Vietnam
15. Moorea, French Polynesia
16. Cebu, Philippines
17. Ibiza, Spain
18. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
19. Madeira, Portugal
20. Maui, Hawaii, USA
21. Anguilla
22. Crete, Greece
23. Mackinaw Island, Michigan, USA
24. Island of Hawaii, USA
25. Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA

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As reported by NusaBal.com, President Widodo stated, “Following over three years of united efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic, effective from Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the government has removed the ‘pandemic’ designation, and we are now entering the endemic phase.”

President Joko Widodo’s Announcement of the Conclusion of the COVID Emergency This decision, announced by the Presidential Palace, was prompted by a survey revealing that nearly 99% of the Indonesian population now possesses COVID antibodies. Additionally, the President noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) ceased its declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in June 2023.

Despite formally ending the pandemic emergency in Indonesia, President Widodo urged the public to maintain vigilance in preserving their health and hygiene.

During the press announcement, President Joko Widodo remarked, “With this decision to end the pandemic, the national economy will continue to improve, enhancing the economic well-being of the people.”

The President cautioned that as Indonesia enters the endemic phase of COVID-19, individuals infected with the disease will be responsible for covering the costs of their own treatment. Previously, the government covered the expenses of COVID-19 treatment and hospitalization.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Bali Provincial COVID-19 Task Force, I Made Rentin, noted that most new COVID cases in Bali either display no symptoms or exhibit only mild symptoms that do not require hospitalization. The number of newly confirmed COVID cases remains quite low.

Rentin reported that the occupancy rate of ICU beds in Bali hospitals is extremely low.

The average number of new daily COVID-19 cases is now fewer than five.

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