Denpasar (Antara Bali)- The Bali provincial administration will intensify tourism
promotion in Saudi Arabia following a vacation of King Salman bin
Abdulazis al-Saudi on the island.
"Logically, when their King came here, his people would also like to
visit. Moreover, the royal family seemed to very much enjoy their
vacation in Bali," Cokorda Bagus Pemayun, secretary of the Bali tourism
office, said here, Sunday.
The King`s visit was fresh air for Bali`s tourism because there had
been a difficulty in attracting Middle Eastern tourists to Bali so far,
he said.
He believed the King`s visit has changed a perception of the Saudi
people about Bali, and therefore it would be a golden opportunity for
Bali to explore the Saudi market.
The fact that the King and his family decided to extend their visit
to Bali showed that King Salman al-Saud and his family felt happy with
their vacation in Bali, he added.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud left Bali for Japan on Sunday at
11:15 a.m. local time after enjoying an eight-day holiday on the
island.
The Saudi King was holidaying in Bali from March 4 to 12, after
paying a state visit to Jakarta on March 1-3, which is considered to be
historical as a Saudi king had lasted visited Indonesia 47 years ago.
The Bali tourism official has seen the King`s visit as a major tourism promotion for Bali.
Middle Eastern tourists are in general high spender, with an average
spending of US$ 1,800 per person per visit, compared to US$1,2000 per
visit by other foreign tourists.
The Arabs usually spend 10.08 days per visit, which is also much longer than other foreign tourists.
"They usually come during Hajj pilgrimage season and summer," he noted.
Over the last five years, the number of Middle Eastern tourists
visiting Bali, has increased by an average of 38.7 percent a year, he
remarked. (WDY)
Bali To Intensify Tourism Promotion In Saudi Arabia
Minggu, 12 Maret 2017 20:40 WIB