Bali hosts 3-day diplomatic tour

Smoke along with volcanic ash out of the crater of Mount Agung is still a status alert, visible from Observation Post Mount Api Agung, Rendang Village, Karangasem, Bali. (/2017) (ANTARA FOTO/Nyoman Budhiana/wdy)

Nusa Dua, Bali (Antaranews Bali) - The Bali Provincial Government, with the support of several state enterprises and ministries, has organized a diplomatic tour from February 23 to 25, as part of a recovery programme following the eruption of Mount Agung, which had affected tourism on the island.

A total of 120 people comprising ambassadors and family members were invited and taken to a "ring of fire" tour to Tirta Gangga in Karangasem, Kintamani in Bangli, Tegalalang in Gianyar, and golf court in Nusa Dua, spokesman of the Indonesian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Purnama Damayanti, it said here on Thursday.

The tour is aimed at assuring the foreign ambassadors that Bali is safe for visits. An ambassador plays an important role in proposing travel advisory for citizens.

The diplomatic tour has been organised in cooperation with the foreign affairs ministry, the tourism ministry, the office of the coordinating minister for maritime affairs, and the Bali Tourism Board.

Bali, one of the world`s most famous tourist destinations, hopes to receive at least 6.5 million foreign tourists this year, or one million more than the target of 2017, which was 5.5 million tourists. Over 5.7 million foreign tourists visited the resort island of Bali in 2017, leaving behind the target of 5.5 million.

The number of tourist arrivals in 2017 rose by 16 per cent, from 4.92 million during the previous year. (ed)