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he UK’s Minister of State for the Asia-Pacific region, Jeremy Browne, praised Bali’s security improvements in the aftermath of its bombing incidents, as the island had managed to attract more British tourists.

Around 155,000 Brits enjoyed visiting Indonesia each year and most of them came to Bali, said the minister during his attendance at the Bali Democracy Forum in Nusa Dua on Thursday.

“The number is rising. As Indonesia is becoming a better-known country, becoming more high-profile, people are reading more about it. I expect there will be more British people who will know and be more curious about Indonesia, so we expect the number to increase, which is good for this country because tourism is an important sector in the economy.”

He said the British government appreciated the considerable efforts made by the Indonesian government in addressing security concerns, especially after the bombing incidents of 2002, where 28 British nationals were killed.

“In terms of security, facilities and infrastructure, Bali has changed and modernized, but at the same time it succeeds in keeping its original character intact. That’s what attracts people here in the first place.”

“We admire and respect the huge efforts that have been made by the Indonesian government [in improving security]. We have to realize that there are security concerns and we have to be vigilant and mindful. These concerns should exist, but they shouldn’t overshadow the many positive aspects of Bali.”

“Even people who don’t enjoy sitting on beaches will enjoy coming to Bali because it’s a good place to connect with your own inner feelings and peace,” he added.

“I think more people will come in the future because this is a very popular destination that combines beautiful scenery, warm and nice weather, peace and friendliness. Therefore, it’s important to address security threats.”

He promised that the British government would always be available to assist British tourists who needed help, while working closely with the Indonesian government, especially in relation to travel documentation.

The British government has also implemented the “Know Before You Go” campaign, which informs British citizens of the precautions that they should take before heading to foreign countries, so that they avoid any problems.

“We always tell people to be aware of local laws, customs and not to think that every country in the world has the same customs as Britain. They have to think about what precautions they might sensibly take. We want them to enjoy themselves on their holidays, but they need to look after their documentation carefully and need to obtain medical insurance.

In the future, he expected Bali to improve its facilities without losing its central character, which made Bali develop into an attractive tourist destination in the first place, he added.

In relation to traffic problems, which have been the subject of complaints of many tourists, Browne stated that Bali had to strike the right balance between its physical infrastructure and its development, due to increasing numbers of visitors combined with people becoming more prosperous and being able to afford to buy vehicles. Otherwise, Browne added, the result would be more congestion and frustration.

The minister also visited the site of the 2002 bombing on Thursday. He gave an expression of gratitude to those people who helped the victims, as well as paying respect to the victims themselves and those who were still suffering because of the incident.

“It’s appropriate to visit the site of the Bali bombing because it was a significant event for people in Britain and their families, especially the victims. That terrible event will live in the memory of those people, families and friends, who were killed and injured, for the rest of their lives.”