Bali sees 22.85 percent increase in Australian tourists

An official has said that Bali saw a 22.85 percent increase in Australian tourists coming to the island from last year’s 788,644 visitors.

Head of Bali Central Statistic Agency I Gede Suarsa claimed the increase was partly linked to Australia's improving economy, antara news wire reported on Saturday.

Apart from economic reasons,he said that Bali's current favorable condition and its proximity to Australia

also played pivotal roles.

He said a small number of Australian tourists, only 17,937 people,came by sea.

Suarsa said Australians ranked number one for foreign visitors to Bali accounting for 27.9 percent of a total 2.82 million foreign tourists.

Besides Australians, the number of foreign tourists from other countries, mostly Asian countries minus Japan, had also increased, he said.(dic)