The Bali Arts Festival is a full month of daily performances, handicraft exhibitions and other related cultural and commercial activities during which literally the whole of Bali comes to the city to present its offerings of dance, music and beauty. On display are trances from remote mountain slopes, forgotten or recently revived village dances, food and offering contests, classical palace dances, stars of Balinese stage, odd musical performances, “kreasi baru” (new creations) from the dance schools of Denpasar, as well as contemporary choreography and dance companies from other islands and from abroad.

The central theme of this year’s Bali Arts Festival, starting from June 17, 2006 until July 15, 2006 which is the 28th round, is called Swabhawaning Idep.

Bali – located some 2,500 km away from the earthquake and well-shielded by numerous large intervening land masses, did not feel the earthquake or experience any of the deadly waves it generated,” Bali Update reported.
All infrastructure, tourism operations, airport services and hotels remain at full operational levels with hotel occupancies at their highest levels this year.

Visa on Arrival - Update
Since February 2, 2004, citizens of only 11 countries and territories are eligible for a free tourist visa on arrival. Nationals receiving a 30-day stay permit at no charge are: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Chile, Morocco, Peru and Vietnam.

Citizens of 21 countries and territories may purchase a 30-day visa on arrival for US$25 or a 3-day visa for US$10: the United States, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Hungary, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Korea, Norway, France, Poland, Switzerland, New Zealand and Taiwan.

Visas on arrival are non-extendable and cannot be converted to another type of visa. Overstays are chargeable at US$20 per day of overstay, processed at the airport upon departure. Visas are granted at only 29 gateway ports in Indonesia, including the tourism points of Bali, Lombok and Jogjakarta.

Citizens of countries not entitled to visa free entry or visa on arrival must apply for a visa at an overseas Indonesian embassy or consulate before arrival. Citizens of any nation wishing to stay more than 30 days, visit for business purposes, to study, to reside or to work, also must apply for an appropriate visa before traveling to Indonesia.