Indian Tourists to Bali Up 23 Pct

Denpasar (Antara) - The number of Indian tourists visiting Bali rose 23.56 percent to 31,529 in the first half of 2013 from a year earlier, suggesting that the Balinese tourism promotion in the country appeared to be successful, an observer said. The tourism promotion must be continued to attract as many foreign tourists as possible to visit Bali, Balinese tourism observer and operator Made Sudana said here on Saturday. The figure put India in the 13th place as a source of foreign tourist arrivals in Bali next to Russia, France, Germany and the United States. Sudana noted that the rising number of Indian tourists visiting Bali was also inseparable from good government-to-government relations which led to cultural cooperation between Bali and India which have many things in common. Hopefully, the good cultural relations would encourage more and more well-to-do families in India to visit Bali, he said. He warmly welcomed the efforts made by the community and spiritual figures to help develop the tourism industry by disseminating peace vibration. The presence of Indian cultural foundations which among others introduce yoga practices with Indian teachers in Indonesia will help introduce the Balinese culture among Indians, he said. (*)