T

he Sukawati art market in Gianyar regency has long been a favorite destination for visitors to Bali.

Hundreds of shops sell a large variety of bamboo and wooden handicrafts, textiles, garments and cheap and colorful souvenirs. Holidaying in Bali would not be complete without buying unique souvenirs for friends and family.

Sukawati Market, located 25 kilometers from Denpasar, offers beautiful art at affordable prices.

More than 1,074 art vendors operate in the market, said I Nengah Artawan, head of the market management office. If you visit the market during school holiday season, don't expect to be able to park your car.

Dozens of tourist buses fill the small parking lots, making it difficult for any cars to pass on Jl. Sukawati.

The market is home to small-scale handicraft producers and sellers hoping to make profits from cheap mass-produced goods.

Visitors can buy colorful quilt covers with Balinese motifs, low-quality paintings, statues, interior ornaments and a handful of accessories.

Artawan said most of the traders at the market sold wholesale as well as retail products.

"Holiday season is the most anticipated time for traders as they make profits from domestic visitors," he said.

The market is generally quieter outside of the holiday season.

"We receive hundreds of visitors every day, making business more lucrative," said Ni Wayan, a garment seller.

"During the low season, we are fortunate if we have 10 buyers a day," she said.

Sukawati art market faces tough competition from the Badung and Kuta art markets and wholesale shops in Denpasar that sell similar items at fixed prices.

"Visitors still benefit from shopping here: they can bargain," she said.

Many visitors still choose Sukawati Market as a place to shop.