Chinese tourists to celebrate Lunar New Year in Bali

Kuta (Antara Bali) - The resort island of Bali to welcome more than 10 thousand of Chinese tourists to celebrate Lunar New Year and it is expected to increase the target of 20 million foreign visitors to Indonesia by 2019.

"Chinese tourist has a high interest on Bali seeing that 65 percent of foreign tourists coming to the island because of its culture," Head of Bali Tourism Office Anak Agung Yuniarta said here on Friday.

He said last year, Bali recorded some one million Chinese tourists visited the resort island resulting in a 40 percent increase compared to the same period in 2015.

Yuniarta appreciated some commercial direct flights including Garuda Indonesia and airlines from the Chinese mainland, China's Hong Kong, China's Taiwan carried thousands of the Chinese tourists to Bali.

Meanwhile Chinese Consul General in Denpasar Hu Yinquan said Bali included to be a favorite destination for people from China due to its history, unique culture, natural views as well as its food and spa.

Therefore on January, 27 to 28, Indonesia's ministry of tourism in cooperation with Chinese consulate general in Denpasar, Association of Indonesia's Travel Agencies (Asita) and Bali Province Government to host a cultural performance to entertain some 1,000 Chinese tourists who invited to join New Year Celebrations.

He added Lunar New Year celebrations will be held by the Chinese descent community in Taman Budaya Denpasar on February 7-8, Mataram West Nusa Tenggara Province on February 11-12 and in Kupang East Nusa Tenggara Province on February 15. (DWA/ADT)