Bali Update Edition 858

This week’s lead stories: An Australian tourist has been found dead in a Sanur hotel room; Bali police are increasing surveillance of small informal sea ports in the period leading up to the 2013 APEC Summit; Judges have begun hearing a legal suit challenging the lease of the publicly-owned mangrove forest by the Governor to a private company; and 9,000 police will be deployed to ensure a smooth election process when the people of Bali vote for the man to be their next governor on May 15.

There’s also an article on why Bali’s governor thinks the Island would be better governed if granted “special province” status.

Thank you for your patience as we finally present the latest installment of “Bali by the Numbers” with the total foreign tourist arrivals for 2013 and how they stack up with results over the past 5 years.

We also look at the impact of Chinese New Year on Bali tourism and share information on the nation's tallest Buddha statue now being erected in West Bali.

Be sure to see our snapshots from a delightful morning spent with AC Milan last week at The Westin Resort in Nusa Dua.

In other hotel news, we share more details on the new Sofitel property currently being built at Nusa Dua and luxuriate at the utterly amazing Sundara Restaurant now open at the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay.

Aviation news looks at Garuda Indonesia’s plans to recommence flights to London and the signing of an air services agreement between Indonesia and Australia that will provide 10% more passenger seats between those two countries.

Looking Ahead:

• Soori “Artist in Residence” Program Hosts Bori Benko February 15-28, 2013.
• Enjoy Valentines at the Ayung Resort Ubud on Thursday, February 14 with a special “aphrodisiacal menu.”
• A Kitchen Troika of talented chefs convenes for one night at Mozaic Restaurant Gastronomique on Saturday, February 23, 2013.
• Oakley Pro Surfing Event in Bali – Part of the ASP World Championship Tour June 18-29, 2013.
• Fremantle to Bali Yacht Race May 4, 2013.
• Early Bird Discounts now available for 7th BIZNET Bali International Triathlon on Sunday, June 23, 2013

Follow on Twitter http://twitter.com/BaliUpdateEd

J.M. Daniels, Editor
Bali Update