A tourist walks through rice fields in Bali. The island paradise now plans to remain closed to travellers until 2021 due to the pandemic. Unsplash
A tourist walks through rice fields in Bali. The island paradise now plans to remain closed to travellers until 2021 due to the pandemic. Unsplash
A tourist walks through rice fields in Bali. The island paradise now plans to remain closed to travellers until 2021 due to the pandemic. Unsplash
A tourist walks through rice fields in Bali. The island paradise now plans to remain closed to travellers until 2021 due to the pandemic. Unsplash

Bali off limits for 2020: Indonesian island drops plans to reopen to tourists this year


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Travellers dreaming of visiting the holiday hot spot of Bali will need to wait a little longer, as the Indonesian island has banned tourists from visiting for the rest of the year.

Originally, Bali had said it would welcome tourists again from September, but authorities have now postponed this until 2021.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster confirmed the changes in an official letter.

“The Indonesian government couldn’t reopen its doors to foreign travellers until the end of 2020 as we remain a red zone,” Koster wrote.

“The situation is not conducive to allowing foreign tourists to come to Indonesia, including Bali.”

No new date for the reopening was mentioned.

Bali typically welcomes more than six million overseas travellers each year, but will have to rely on domestic tourism until 2021. Unsplash
Bali typically welcomes more than six million overseas travellers each year, but will have to rely on domestic tourism until 2021. Unsplash

A few months ago, Bali looked as if it could be a coronavirus success model as the island recorded very low rates of infection despite case numbers of Covid-19 rocketing across the rest of Indonesia.

By June, the island's infection rate had started to increase and Bali has now recorded 4,576 cases and 53 deaths. Indonesia as a whole has 155,412 cases to date, making it 23rd in the world for confirmed infections.

Indonesians hoping to travel overseas will also have to remain patient as the government has prohibited citizens from doing so until the end of 2020.

Domestic tourists can travel to Bali after movement restrictions across the country were eased. In July, temples and tourist attractions reopened on the island for domestic visitors.

Authorities plan to focus on this market as a means to sustain Bali's tourism industry until it can properly reopen. The holiday hot spot is known for its beach clubs, terraced rice fields, surf spots and temples and typically welcomes around six million overseas visitors every year.

Bali leads list of world's best beach clubs

  • 1. Potato Head Beach Club, Seminyak, Bali
    1. Potato Head Beach Club, Seminyak, Bali
  • 2. Phi Beach, Sardinia, Italy
    2. Phi Beach, Sardinia, Italy
  • 3. Blue Marlin, Cala Jondal, Ibiza. AP Images
    3. Blue Marlin, Cala Jondal, Ibiza. AP Images
  • 4. Le Club 55 in Saint-Tropez, France. Getty Images
    4. Le Club 55 in Saint-Tropez, France. Getty Images
  • 5. Scorpios, Mykonos, Greece
    5. Scorpios, Mykonos, Greece
  • 6. La Brisa, Canggu, Bali
    6. La Brisa, Canggu, Bali
  • 7. Ocean club, Marbella, Spain
    7. Ocean club, Marbella, Spain
  • 8. Sundays Beach Club, Uluwatu, Bali
    8. Sundays Beach Club, Uluwatu, Bali
  • 9. Nikki Beach Marbella, Spain
    9. Nikki Beach Marbella, Spain
  • 10. Ku De Ta, Seminyak, Bali
    10. Ku De Ta, Seminyak, Bali
  • 11. Noa Beach Club, Novalja, Croatia
    11. Noa Beach Club, Novalja, Croatia
  • 12. Marina Beach Club, Valencia, Spain
    12. Marina Beach Club, Valencia, Spain
  • 13. Sunset Ashram, Ibiza, Spain
    13. Sunset Ashram, Ibiza, Spain
  • 14. Saadiyat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi
    14. Saadiyat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi
  • 15. Shimmy Beach Club, Cape Town, South Africa
    15. Shimmy Beach Club, Cape Town, South Africa
  • 16. View from Nammos, Mykonos, Greece
    16. View from Nammos, Mykonos, Greece
  • 17. Single Fin, Uluwatu, Bali
    17. Single Fin, Uluwatu, Bali
  • 18. Cotton Beach Club, Ibiza, Spain
    18. Cotton Beach Club, Ibiza, Spain
  • 19. Paloma Beach, Cap Ferrat, France
    19. Paloma Beach, Cap Ferrat, France
  • 20. Classico Beach Club, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    20. Classico Beach Club, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule

12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)

2pm Formula One final practice 

5pm Formula One qualifying

6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)

Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)

Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)

MATCH INFO

Day 1 at Mount Maunganui

England 241-4

Denly 74, Stokes 67 not out, De Grandhomme 2-28

New Zealand 

Yet to bat

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)

Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)

UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

RESULTS

2.15pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m

Winner Shawall, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer)

2.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Anna Bella Aa, Fabrice Veron, Abdelkhir Adam

3.15pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

3.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m

Winner Taajer, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

4.15pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 (D) 1,700m

Winner Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri

4.45pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner Maqaadeer, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Tickets

Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.

Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.

THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe

For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.

Golden Dallah

For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.

Al Mrzab Restaurant

For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.

Al Derwaza

For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup. 

How to vote

Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.

They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi

Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday) 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sideup%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202019%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Waleed%20Rashed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20technology%2C%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.2%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Launch%20Africa%20VC%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20Riyadh%20Angels%2C%20Alex%20Angels%2C%20Al%20Tuwaijri%20Fund%20and%20Saudi%20angel%20investor%20Faisal%20Al%20Abdulsalam%3C%2Fp%3E%0A