Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Alexander A. Ivanov on Wednesday inaugurated a Russian Honorary Consul in Bali, in a bid to better protect Russian citizens working and holidaying in the resort island.

Ivanov, accompanied by his wife Lyudmila Ivanova, inaugurated Chairul Nuku Kamka, chairman of an association of tour operators in Bali that deals exclusively with Russian tourists, as the new honorary consul, at an event at the St. Regis Hotel in Nusa Dua on Wednesday evening.

"This will establish stronger relations between Indonesia, Bali in particular, and the people of Russia," Ivanov said.

The inauguration makes Chairul the first Russian honorary consul in Indonesia, a position endowed by the Kremlin in anticipation of the increase in Russian tourists to Bali.

Bali receives an average of 40,000 Russian tourists a year. Hotels and travel agents prize Russian tourists because they tend to stay longer - an average of 10 to 14 days - and can spend up to US$1,500 per person.

The newly appointed consul expects to start his job by raising the number of Russian tourists by 25 percent, to 50,000 Russian tourists this year.

"We have a lot of plans to get more tourists to come to Bali, such as by offering new tour packages and savers deals," Chairul said.

"The Indonesian government has also offered to fully fund our Visit Bali exhibition in Moscow in March."

When asked whether the global financial crisis would affect his plans, Chairul said he was not worried, citing the "excellent" cooperation between the Russian government and the Bali tourism industry that has allowed two direct chartered flights per week from Moscow to Denpasar.

-JP/Andra Wisnu

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