The Eat, Pray, Love movie starring Julia Roberts is expected to attract more tourists to Bali, as travel agents are offering a package to follow the trail of movie character Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey on the resort island.
Tourists will get the chance to feel Gilbert’s romantic experiences in Bali through a series of visits to places screened in the movie.
The package was launched by the Culture and Tourism Ministry on the sidelines of the recent movie premiere at Ziegfeld Theatre, New York, Bali Tourism Board chief (BTB) Ngurah Wijaya said.
“We promoted an ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ tour package during the premiere,” Wijaya said.
The package includes trips to Benoa seaport, Ubud in Gianyar and Padang Padang Beach in South Kuta, as well as a visit with Gilbert’s spiritual guru, Ketut Liyer.
Tour operators would offer the package through Indonesian consulates in several countries, such as Germany, Italy, India and Australia, Wijaya said, adding that tour operators would cooperate with overseas travel agents to promote the packages.
“Some BTB travel agents are already promoting this package,” Widjaya said.
Widjaya was optimistic the Eat, Pray, Love concept would be well received by tourists, adding that the movie is an effective tool for promoting Bali’s tourism industry.
“The movie depicts Bali as a place to find happiness. It boosts the image of Bali as a spiritual tourist destination, and compliments the image of Indonesia as well,” he added.
Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika agreed the movie was a welcome “free” promotion for the island.
“The movie helps us promote Bali’s tourism,” Pastika said, adding that he was eager to watch the movie.
Pastika expects there will be more movie producers using the resort island as a backdrop for future movies.
“After Hollywood, I want to attract Bollywood producers to make films here,” he said.
The Eat, Pray, Love movie was adapted from Gilbert’s novel of the same title. The book tells about Gilbert’s true story of finding balance and tranquility in her life.
Filming for the movie took place last year in Italy, India and Indonesia.
— JP/Ni Komang Erviani
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