More Indian Tourists Coming To Bali

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The number of Indian tourists  to Bali is increasing, an observer said here on Saturday.

Bali tourism observer Tjokorda Gede Agung attributed the rise to among others cultural similarities that the Balinese and Indian societies shares.

He said naturally people are always curious to know  similarities with their culture found in other places including in Bali.

The Bali provincial administration indeed had conducted tourism promotion in India recently which was possibly another factor that drove the rise, he said.

A total of 27,013 Indian tourists visited Bali from January to July which was higher than 21,065 of the same period last year.

The trend was in line with the expectation of tourism minister Jero Wacik who in a recent visit to Bali called for increasing promotion to India to target the rich in that emerging market in view of their Hindu cultural similarities with those of the Balinese.

Gede Agung said in view of the good relations between the two countries followed by cultural cooperation between Bali and India he hoped more rich people from India would come to Bali.

The emergence of Indian cultural centers such as yoga centers that invite trainees from India is expected to also help promote Bali, he said.

He said many Balinese have also been conducting pilgrimage to Maduban, which is the center of Brahma Kumaris Studies that teaches yoga, recently.

He hoped the exchange of visits would help increase further the number of tourists from India to Bali.(**)