Bali Police Deploying One Thousand Officers To Guard Saudi King

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Bali Police will deploy over one thousand officers to guard Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and his 1.5 thousand-member entourage during their vacation on the world`s most famous tourist island on Mar 4-9.

"The Bali Police will deploy 878 officers apart from other personnel, with the total number reaching more than one thousand," Chief of the Bali Police Inspector General Petrus Golose stated here, Wednesday.

Security will be stepped up from the moment the aircraft of the King and his entourage land at the I Ngurah Rai International Airport. Security will be intensified at several roads and hotels where they will stay.

The traffic police will secure several roads used by the Saudi King, crown prince, princesses, and ministers from the airport towards their hotels in Nusa Dua.

"We will deploy 78 cars and 38 motorcycles to secure the roads," Director of the Bali Traffic Police Anak Agung Sudana noted.

The King`s entourage will include the crown prince, 25 princes, and 10 ministers.

King Salman will stay in the country for nine days from Mar 1 to Mar 9. He will stay in Jakarta for four days on a state visit and will be holidaying in Bali for five days.

The King and his entourage will be received as state guests at the Bogor Palace. On Thursday, he will meet leaders of several Islamic organizations at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta.

The visit by the Saudi King is being viewed by observers as a big promotion for Indonesia`s tourism industry, especially in the Middle East.

King Salman`s plan to holiday in Bali will place the world`s famous resort island on the headlines in the Middle East.

The visit will be a huge, free promotion for Bali, which the Singaporean-based DestinAsian Readers Choice Award 2017 has named as the world`s best island. (WDY)