Bali sets target to attract 2.1 million tourists

The Bali administration has set an ambitious target of attracting 2.1 million foreign tourists in 2010.

Head of the Bali Tourism Board, Ida Bagus Kade Subiksu, told reporters that foreign tourist arrivals had been increasing since early 2009. "We have seen substantial growth in foreign tourist arrivals," Subiksu said.

The island plans to attract 1.9 million tourists this year. As of October 2009, foreign tourist arrivals had reached 1.67 million, a 13 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

IB Ngurah Wijaya, chairman of the Bali Tourism Board, responded positively by saying that the target was achievable.

"I believe we can attract 2.1 million foreign tourists considering the island's tourist industry is already rebounding," Wijaya said.

He added that he saw growth in tourist arrivals and hotel occupancy rates, and robust business in tourism-related industries including restaurants and travel agencies.

Aloysius Purwa, chairman of the Bali branch of the Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (Asita), echoed Wijaya's opinion.

"I expect health and security issues such as bombings and rabies outbreaks to have little impact on the island's tourism industry," he said.

Purwa also added that Bali should intensify promotional activities in Europe and new emerging markets. Bali's traditional tourist markets are Japan, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan and China.

Foreign airlines including Air France, KLM and Singapore Airlines have launched direct flights to Bali from Europe. Qatar Airways also serves Europe-Bali routes via Qatar and Malaysia.

The head of the Bali branch of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI), Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana, urged the local government to develop tourist facilities outside of Kuta, Jimbaran, Sanur and Ubud.

"Bali has abundant tourism sites that can be developed into world-class destinations," he said.

He said most non-star and star rated hotels and lodgings were currently busy preparing for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Patra Bali Resort and Villas, located in Kuta, is almost fully booked now, reservation manager Tami Rahani told The Jakarta Post on the weekend.

"Ninety percent of our rooms and villas have been booked from the last week of December to the first week of January, mostly by Australians. There are also Japanese, European and domestic tourists," she said.

She added that most of the reservations were made through travel agencies working with the hotel.

The Intercontinental Resort in Jimbaran was also preparing for the upcoming peak season.

"Most of our rooms are already reserved for the Christmas and New Year's Eve period, but we're still expecting more guests," Dewi Anggraini, the resort's public relations director, said.

"We are also preparing events for New Year's Eve celebrations," she added.

The Westin Resort in Nusa Dua has half of its rooms reserved for the year-end holidays. Most of the guests booked rooms for between five nights and two weeks.

"We are expecting more reservations by the middle of this month," Renata Tjoa, the public relations director, said.

She said the resort would hold a special event on New Year's Eve, which would incorporate dances and cultural events from across Indonesia. "We will concurrently host special children's events in a separate ballroom."