Denpasar (Antara Bali) -  The number of visits by Chinese tourists to Bali reached 892,887  in the first seven months of this year or an increase of 57.63 percent  from 326,440 visits in the same period last year.

"The rise has placed China on top of other countries of origin of foreign tourists visiting Bali,"  head of the provincial Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Adi Nugroho said here on Tuesday.

Adi said most of the Chinese came directly to Bali by air via the Ngurah Rai International Airport with only 152 coming by sea as passengers of tourist boats.

Chinese tourists accounted for 26.24 percent of the total number of 3.4 million tourist visits to Bali in the January-July period of 2017.

Adi Nugroho said the number of Chinese visiting Bali has increased after direct flights opened by Indonesian airlines especially the nation's flag carrier Garuda  Indonesia, which has served direct flight between Denpasar and a number cities in China.

Chinese Consul General in Bali Hu Yinquan has said his office had taken part in promoting Bali  in China prompted by the similarity arts and culture.

Therefore, at a meeting with Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, Hu Yinquan offered Chinese cooperation in building infrastructure with high technology  and development of the tourism sector.  
  
China offers to build railways in Bali to better facilitate transport around Bali especially for tourists, he said. (WDY)

Pewarta: Reported by I Ketut Sutika

Editor : Edy M Yakub


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