Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The average of foreign tourists' length of stay in Bali so far this year fell to 3.4 days from 3.7 days in the same period last year, an official said.
The decline was due to the growing number of hotels and accommodations in other international tourist destinations although the number of tourist arrivals to Bali continued to increase, Secretary of the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) Ferry Markus said here on Sunday.
In addition, many tourists visited Bali not only for recreation but also for business so that they shortened their visits to the world-renowned tourist island, he said.
"Many Asian and European tourists shortened their length of stay because they came to Bali not only for recreation but also for business," he said.
After all, the average of tourists' length of stay in Bali was still high, he said citing an example that during non-holiday seasons, the occupancy rates of hotels in Bali reached a minimum of 60 percent.
During holiday seasons, the figure could reach up to 90 percent as what happened during the post-fasting month festivities and New Year celebrations, he said.
He said the matter should draw attention from all parties who cared about the development of tourism industry in the island.
"There need to be more intensive efforts to solve the problem. It is not enough to conduct promotion only but we should increase the accommodation facilities in Bali," he said.(*)
