B

ali remains a magnet for domestic and foreign tourists seeking to ring in the New Year, as the island offers a wide range of activities that promise a joyful celebration.

Local police declared that security had been tightened across Bali to anticipate possible trouble.

Street celebrations will be held in numerous areas on the island, with larger ones to be held in popular areas, including in the Denpasar downtown area, which hosts the Denpasar Festival and Kuta beach, where thousands are expected to flock.

Hotels and restaurants have also prepared various entertainment programs to indulge their guests.

Harris Resort Kuta Beach will present a New Year celebration at its pool deck area, featuring a DJ and dance performances of the electric kecak dance, the samba dance, cabaret, belly dancing and Balinese dances.

At the Westin Resort in Nusa Dua, New Year'€™s Eve will be an evening of fine food and merriment with the Magical Bali New Year'€™s Eve Celebration in the elegant Mangupura Hall at the Bali International Convention Center.

'€œThe festive season, especially the moment of welcoming the New Year, is a wonderful time that brings families and friends together. We hope they enjoy the experience, feel well rested and ready to face 2015 in a positive frame of mind,'€ said Dewi Anggraini, the resort'€™s director of marketing communications.

The Mulia Resort and Villas in Nusa Dua has also prepared a selection of holiday dining menus to celebrate the delight of the festive season.

Earth, Wind & Fire, featuring Al McKay, will perform during the countdown moment at the Mulia.

To ensure a peaceful transition from 2014 to 2015, a team of police and military personnel will be jointly working to secure the island'€™s tourist spots.

The authorities are expecting a record number of visitors to descend on the Kuta area to celebrate the New Year.

People heading to Kuta for its popular nightlife usually have to leave their cars and motorcycles parked in areas away from the festivities, as main roads will be closed for traffic on New Year'€™s Eve.

Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Albertus Julius Benny Mokalu said on Tuesday that thousands of police personnel would be deployed to safeguard the New Year celebration.

'€œWe are on alert to welcome the New Year. In Bali, we will be working hard to prevent any breach of security, including terrorism,'€ Benny said, adding that people should report any suspicious people.

Police will also watch all of the island'€™s entry points, including the Gilimanuk seaport in western Bali, the Padangbai seaport in eastern Bali and the Benoa seaport in south Bali. Police will operate X-ray machines in several main seaports to prevent anything dangerous being brought onto Bali.

Police will also tighten security in many traditional fishing ports around Bali. '€œWe will be working together with local people, as well as, to watch the areas. All of us should be on alert,'€ he added.

Following a recent online threat against Indonesian police conveyed by a purported member of the Islamic State (IS) movement, Benny said that security at all police offices and the family houses of police officers had also been tightened.

Police personnel will also be deployed to many strategic place, including Kuta, Seminyak and their surrounding areas, where most local people and tourists celebrate New Year'€™s Eve.

According to a survey by American travel website, TripAdvisor, Indonesian travelers are favoring local destinations over international destinations, with Bali being the top choice with four local destinations in the top 10 for New Year'€™s Eve.

The survey also reveals that Seminyak is the third-most popular destination and Kuta places ninth for travelers in the Asia-Pacific region planning a New Year break, after Sydney and Singapore.