Bali Police have been ready to safeguard the resort island in the upcoming Christmas and New Year Holidays.
Bali Police chief Insp. Gen Sutisna told reporters over the weekend that his personnel would tightly secure important entry points such as Ngurah Rai airport in Kuta, Benoa harbor, Gilimanuk and Padang Bai ferry ports connecting Bali with Java and Lombok islands.
The police will also watch over famous tourist destinations across the island including Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Ubud and other sites.
"We will deploy 1,200 personnel teamed in a special year-end security unit", the general pointed out.
In addition to these entry points, the police will increase security in traditional fishing ports in Jimbaran, the local waters around Klungkung,, and Buleleng regency in the North.
"Terrorists may take any chance to enter Bali from various entry points. While official harbors and airports are tightly guarded, they may enter the island from a small-scale traditional fishing port. We don't want to take a chance on this risk," Sutisna said.
The Bali police will close all alternative entry points including any illegal entry points to the island.
"The leader of the terrorist group *Noordin M. Top* died already. However, he had still many followers. We have to be cautious," explained Sr. Com. Dewa Anom, head of the Bali police's special antiterrorist squad Densus 88.
Bali will be flooded by hundreds of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists planning to spend the year-end holidays here.
"Bali has always been a soft target for any terrorist act since it has an international reputation as a holiday destination for world travelers," Anom said.
Any terrorist act may get international attention. "That is the main objective of the terrorists," Anom said.
Two terrorist attacks hit Bali in October 2002 and October 2005 claiming more than 200 victims.
Separately, Ferry Markus, secretary of the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurants Association (PHRI) responded positively to the police security plan for the holidays.
"We expect the police to secure other places of interest outside tourist spots, hotels, airport and harbors. They *terrorists* can be anywhere," Markus said.
He said PHRI's members have secured bookings from clients for the coming holidays.
"Most hotels and villas are fully booked," Markus said.
Hotels like Hard Rock Bali, Discovery Kartika, Sanur Beach, Bali Intercontinental are ready to treat their clients to various Christmas and New Year packages.
