Bali Travel Fair Boosts Asean Tourist Visits

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Bali Beyond and Travel Fair (BBTF) 2016 is expected to expand the tourist markets in the Southeast Asia countries, in addition to other potential markets.

"We will continue to target the ASEAN market through BBTF to promote Indonesia`s tourism," a BBTF 2016 committee member, Ketut Ardana, said here on Tuesday.

According to him, China, Australia, and India as well as the Middle East countries are potential market besides European countries and the United States, this year.

The number of tourists from Southeast Asia countries in recent years has increased.

The Bali Central Statistic Agency said during January-November 2015, tourists from Singapore and Malaysia were the top ten visitors to Bali.

During that period, the number of tourists from Malaysia visiting Bali was 168,273 people and in the fourth position. Meanwhile, Singapore was in the seventh position with the number of visits reached to 125,910.

Both countries contributed 8.1 percent to the overall number of foreign tourists reaching 3,631,195 people, up by 6.2 percent from that in the same period last year.

The annual BBTF was held for the first time in June 2014.

During the event, Indonesian tourism operators meet buyers from around the world.

The BBTF 2016 will be held on June 22 to 26 in Badung district.(WDY)