Malaysia One of Bali's Potencial Tourism Markets

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Malaysia has become one of Bali's most promising tourism markets with an ever increasing number of foreign tourists arriving to the island, a local tourism official said.

"Malaysian tourists represent a potential market for Bali's tourism industry thanks to the increasing number of tourist arrivals every year on the island," the head of the province's tourism service, Ida Bagus Kade Subikshu, said here on Saturday.

He said that a total of 693,432 tourists came to the island from Malaysia between January and May, 2012, constituting 6.13 percent of the total number of foreign arrivals during the period. While quoting data from the province's tourism service, he also added that a total of 1,132,462 foreign tourists visited the island.

The number was up 3.57 percent from the same period last year at 66,953.

He said right now Malaysia is the third biggest source of foreign tourists to Bali, after Australia and China.

He said Malaysian tourists like Balinese culture and landscapes, including its beaches.

He said two airlines companies - one national and another a Malaysian private company have also contributed to this trend with eight direct flight services offered between Malaysia and Bali every day.

He said most tourists from Malaysia stay nine days in Bali on an average and spend around US$130 per person per day.(DWA)