One of the world's most popular island holiday spots could be forced to slow things down as Indonesian authorities consider banning new hotels in Bali.
Meanwhile, Air Astana is ramping up operations to the UAE with new flights connecting Kazakhstan with Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Ajman is also carving a big name for itself on the tourism front, while Etihad Airways is falling deeper for the City of Love, introducing more flights to Paris next year.
Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.
Indonesia proposes banning hotels in Bali to prevent overtourism
Indonesia is considering banning the construction of new hotels, villas and nightclubs in the holiday hotspot of Bali. Four areas on the tropical island, which welcomes millions of foreigners every year, are included in the proposed temporary rule, which would halt development for a defined period.
No date for the rule has been announced yet by the government, but Bali's interim governor, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, recently told reporters the proposal is designed to battle overtourism and overdevelopment.
Bali reopened for tourism in 2022 after being closed to holidaymakers for two years during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, it has surged in popularity with millions of holidaymakers arriving on the island in search of beaches, terraced rice fields and striking temples.
It is also an increasingly popular destination for digital nomads thanks to relatively low living costs and easy visa processes. The destination now has more than 541 hotels, up from 507 in 2019 with more openings on the horizon including the soon-to-launch Anantara Ubud Bali Resort and luxury river resort Sudamala Ubud.
The westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Bali accounts for a large share of Indonesia’s foreign visitors – with some 2.9 million arriving in the first half of this year, according to the country's statistics bureau. While these tourists bring revenue, the island is in danger of becoming overpopulated, tourism minister Sandiaga Uno said last month.
Earlier this year, a tourism levy was introduced to help fund the protection of future natural landscapes. Rolled out in February, it is priced at a mandatory 150,000 Indonesian rupiahs ($9.56) and applies to all foreign visitors heading to the island.
Air Astana's winter flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi
The national airline of Kazakhstan is boosting flights to the UAE with new routes launching to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Air Astana will fly twice weekly from Atyrau in the west of the country to Dubai, from October 26. From October 30, the airline will begin twice-weekly services from Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, to Abu Dhabi, and from December 12, it will add another route connecting Almaty with the capital of the UAE.
The Atyrau to Dubai service will operate twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays, with a flight duration of four hours and economy fares starting from $396.
From Astana to Abu Dhabi, flights will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays and from Almaty to the UAE capital, flights are set to operate on Thursdays and Sundays. Both routes have a flying time of about five hours, and economy fares start from $375.
The new routes strengthen the airline's existing connections to the Middle East, which include 20 weekly flights between Almaty and Astana to Dubai, plus six services from Almaty and Shymkent to destinations in Saudi Arabia.
Ajman tourism on the rise in 2024
Ajman may no longer be the UAE’s best-kept secret, having recorded an increase of 3 per cent in hotel occupancy rates compared to last year. Famed for its rich heritage, beaches and rugged Hajar Mountains, the emirate is drawing travellers from Armenia, Georgia and Russia.
There has been a 12 per cent increase in visitor numbers from the Commonwealth of Independent States region, which includes the likes of Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. There has also been a 12 per cent increase in nightly accommodation bookings from travellers from CIS nations.
Earlier this year, the emirate announced that international tourism numbers to Ajman were up 20 per cent in 2023, compared to the year before. In an effort to boost this further, tourism authorities are running a promotional tour in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan until September 21. The roadshow aims to highlight the emirate’s attractions to entice more visitors from the CIS region.
In May, Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, director general of the Ajman Tourism Development Department, told The National that the emirate offers something unique for travellers. “The history and the culture in Ajman are different than in the other emirates. It’s something you can only find here,” Alhashmi said at the Arabian Travel Market.
Etihad falls for Paris with double-daily flights and superjumbo services
Etihad Airways is boosting its connection with Paris by adding double daily flights from January. The national airline of the UAE will begin flying its superjumbo Airbus A380 to the French capital on November 1.
In January, a second service will be operated via the airline's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to accommodate the “strong demand for travel between Abu Dhabi and Paris”, said Arik De, chief revenue and commercial officer of Etihad Airways.
Services are timed for morning and evening departures and arrivals to give travellers the flexibility to choose the flight schedule that best suits them. All flights will feature Etihad’s three-class service, including first, business and economy cabins.
Travellers flying on the A380, the world's largest passenger jet, will have the option to travel in the Residence, the world's only three-room suite in the sky. The double-decker aircraft also offers first-class apartments and business studios.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.
Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.
The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Teams in the EHL
White Bears, Al Ain Theebs, Dubai Mighty Camels, Abu Dhabi Storms, Abu Dhabi Scorpions and Vipers
Ashes 2019 schedule
August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval
The%20specs
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Motori Profile
Date started: March 2020
Co-founder/CEO: Ahmed Eissa
Based: UAE, Abu Dhabi
Sector: Insurance Sector
Size: 50 full-time employees (Inside and Outside UAE)
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Safe City Group
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')
Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Indoor Cricket World Cup
Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
More coverage from the Future Forum
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last 16, second leg
Liverpool (0) v Atletico Madrid (1)
Venue: Anfield
Kick-off: Thursday, March 12, midnight
Live: On beIN Sports HD
THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
