Many European Tourists Keep Spending Holiday in Bali

The promotional effort done by the Indonesian government with the tourism industry in late 2012 to attract European tourists began to have a positive impact, said tourism analysts Drs. Dewa Nyoman Putra.

“An increasing number of tourists visit from European countries such as travelers from UK, France, Germany and Russia experienced a positive growth in 2013,” said the observer of Bali tourism in Denpasar, on Wednesday.

As per the data of Bali Provincial Tourism Department, the number of European tourists who had vacation on the island continues to grow, even if the people of the country are still experiencing a global economic crisis that is not a hundred percent recovered.

European tourist arrivals continue to grow every month, during August 2013 recorded 79,136 people. In a year, it reached 719,212 people, so it is quite significant.

Putra said that a visit of the European society to the island has 21.94 percent of the entire role of foreign tourist arrivals to Bali which reached 3.2 million people during 2013.

Arts, culture and customs embraced by Balinese people plus the natural beauty become the main attraction for the international community, including from Europe who visit Bali. “It is certainly also due to the vigorous campaign carried out to the European countries,” he said.

Tourists from several countries in Europe which most come on holiday to Bali showed an increasing trend which is quite good as the French increased to 18.81 percent to 125,247 in 2013 from the previous year for only 105,417 people.

British tourists increased 6.05 percent from 115,429 people became 122,408 people in 2013 and the two countries are now included in the top ten countries supplies travelers to Bali, apart from Australia, Japan, China, South Korea and so on.

While the German tourist reduced visiting Indonesia, but recorded have vacation to Bali is increasing from 85,331 people in 2012 to 100,663 people, an increase of 17.97 percent over 2013.

While tourists from Russia also come spending holiday in the island, there were 79,338 people during 2013 or an increase of 1.89 percent compared to the previous year that there were only 77,869 people, said Putra.

Govt of Klungkung to Hold Nusa Penida Festival

Government of Klungkung Regency plans to hold Nusa Penida Festival to attract tourists to the island.

“We plan to hold the event on June 2, 2014,” said Head of Department of Culture and Tourism of Klungkung, Wayan Sujana, in Semarapura, on Tuesday.

The event will be centered in Nusa Lembongan and will involve the entire customary villages in Nusa Penida district. “We expect to perform all cultural potential in Nusa Penida in this event,” he said.

Nusa Penida has several traditional arts, such as ritual of Sanghyang Gerodog that once had disappeared during the last 32 years. The ritual is usually held in Nusa Lembongan for a full month.

Besides, Rejang Renteng dance will also be performed as Nusa Penida traditional dance.

Cepuk woven fabric is also will be presented in the festival. In addition, “Ledok”, a typical food for community of Nusa Penida will also be displayed.

“Incidentally, we are now working to develop spiritual tourism in Nusa Penida. If all culture potential can be explored, the development of tourism in the island will be better,” said Wayan Sujana.

Currently Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan become destinations of foreign tourists who love water attractions, such as snorkeling and other underwater activities.

source : www.thebalitimes.com

Bali Gains Success in India’s Tourism Industry

The tourism practitioners in Bali stated that tourists from India are increasing.

“Increasing number of Indian tourists to Bali means that the tourism promotion once conducted by the government to India seems to have concrete result,” said tourism practitioner Made Sudana in Denpasar.

Nonetheless, he suggested that tourism marketing to overseas should be intensified in order to keep foreign tourists coming to Bali, such as Indian tourists increasing to 1.97 percent of total foreign tourists to Bali, reaching 3.2 million people in 2013.

Bali Department of Tourism records the number of Indian tourist arrivals rose by 38.49 percent to 64,579 people during 2013 when compared to the previous year, which recorded only 46,632 people.

Sudana said that increasing Indian tourists coming to Bali is because of the good relationship between governments and cultural cooperation between Bali and India, which have Hindu culture.

The similar relationship is expected to add to the excitement for wealthy people in India who come to Bali, as well as spiritual leaders conducting pilgrimages (Tirtayatra) to the island of Gods.

The tourist accommodation business owners in Bali welcomed the community and spiritual leaders to join efforts to develop the tourism industry by spreading feelings of peace.

Currently, there are centers of Indian culture emerging with the practice of Yoga in Indonesia with instructors from across the country, which will automatically be able to provide information about the culture of Bali after their return to India.

The Bali Provincial Government and Indian Government have built a good relationship marked with reciprocal visits of officials, that is believed to have added to the excitement to the people of both parties.

“Many Balinese people conducted pilgrimage to India, to visit places of worship in the country, with the hope that Indian people do so as well,” Sudana said.

source : www.thebalitimes.com