In Reply to: JBR posted by Rama Girl on Tuesday, 17. April 2007 at 10:03 Bali Time:
Thanks for a very well written jbr.
We too used to import from Bali and Java (mainly outdoor furniture) but over the years the prices went up and the quality dropped, so for the last two years have been importing pretty much the same original quality from Vietnam.... as you say things change (Bali for sure)and we are already witnessing that in Vietnam as it develops.
What is interesting to me though is your reports that tourism numbers were low as I received a newsletter from Bali Dicovery yesterday....
Quote from Bali Discovery -
In for a Quarter, These Numbers are Fine!
Bali by the Numbers: Q1 2007 Arrival Figures for Foreign Arrivals Among the Strongest Ever to Bali.
(4/14/2007) Preliminary foreign tourist arrivals figures to Bali for March 2007 of 120,673 indicate that Bali arrivals are booming at record levels:
• March 2007 foreign arrivals at 120,673 are +43.47% ahead of March 2006 figures (84,109).
• Similarly, quarter on quarter arrivals show a +47.48% improvement for 2007 (348,452) versus 2006 (236,260).
• While the dramatic improvement in just one year is largely due to the depressed condition of Q1 2006 following the October 2005 terrorist attack, the Q1 2007 total of 348,452 foreign visitors nonetheless represents a new record in Bali arrivals.
end quote
I guess it will never be the same as it was prior to the first acts of terrorism, but we are excitedly looking forward to our first visit in two and half years in ealy June. I do hope the numbers are picking up as per the above report so that those that are dishonest can revert from those practices.
Never the less, we still can't wait to see our old friends and the positive changes we have heard so much about to certain areas of this beautiful island.