Bali Generates 45% of Indonesia's Foreign Exchange from Tourism.

Earlier, Antara reported that Bali contributes Rp. 34 trillion (US$3.7 billion) or 45% of all foreign exchange earned nationally from tourism.

This figure corresponds with the approximate 2 million Bali visitors from a national total of 6.4 million tourists in 2009.

Ida Bagus Kadek Subhisku, the head of the Bali Tourism Service said: "Bali belongs to us all, and is at the same time also a magnet to other regions in introducing their regions. Besides South Sulawesi, North Sumatra, Central Sulawesi, and West Papua, have also established tourism promotion cooperation with Bali."

Subhisku explained that hotels and restaurants in the Bandung regency of Bali earned Rp. 850 billion (US$92.4 million), followed by Denpasar and Gianyar.

Bali's man in charge of tourism admitted to the press that Bali's tourism infrastructure suffered from many shortcomings. Nonetheless, Bali boasts 270 individual tourist destinations, including 180 marine tourism facilities. The island's tourism industry also counts 155 star-rated hotels containing 46,000 rooms, and cottages or villas providing an additional 2,175 rooms. Bali has 1,693 restaurants, 635 registered travel agents and 8,000 licensed tour guides.

In the latest development, TTG Asia reports that the number of Australian visitors has surged 54% in the first 6 months this year compared to the same period in 2009.. Meanwhile also, Bali has been abuzz with domestic tourists during the recent Ied Holidays filling hotels to over 90% capacity.

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From Indonesia Digest