T

he Badung regional administration in Bali kicked off on Friday the maiden Badung Maritime Festival in another effort to lure more people to the marquee tourist region on the popular resort island.

The three-day event takes place in several different venues, including Kuta Beach and Benoa Bay — both are popular tourist districts in Bali.

A series of programs are prepared for the event: cultural performances, a fishing tournament, a culinary festival, a photo contest and a surfing competition.

“This event should become a platform to encourage more locals to participate in improving the tourism sector, which is vital for the regency,” Badung regent I Nyoman Giri Prasta said in his opening speech.

Located in southern Bali, Badung covers many of the island’s top tourist districts, such as Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and Nusa Dua.

Ngurah Rai International Airport, the country’s second busiest airport, is also located in the regency.

Last year, Bali saw nearly 5 million foreign tourist arrivals, up by around 25 percent from the 4 million recorded in 2015.