REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- The Tourism office of Bali predicted a surge in the number of Middle East visitors to the tourist island as a result of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud taking long holidays on the tourist island.
King Salman is now in Bali holidaying from March 4 to 12. The King's visit to the Hindu predominated island is seen as an effective promotion of Bali tourism especially after the holiday schedule has been extended for threw days. The King visited Bali after a three-day state visits in Jakarta from March 1 to 3.
"We hope that after the visit by the King, his people would follow," head of the Bali provincial tourism office Anak Agung Gede Yuniartha Putra, said here on Tuesday.
Yuniarta Putra said so far the number of visits by tourists from Middle East averaged 40,000 per year. "After the widely publicized visit by the King the number could surge to 100,000 to 150,000 per year.
"I think the impact would be significant. I was told by friends at the tourism office report about the King visiting Bali is viral abroad not only Saudi Arabia, but also Bahrain, Dubai, and other countries in Middle East," he said.
Observers have said the King's visit served as a free promotion of the country's tourism industry. In visiting the Hindu predominated island, King Salman has shown great religious tolerance. Never before a leader of an Islamic country visited Bali, a Balinese has said.
Yuniarta said Bali would be all ready to receive larger visitors from Middle East including in the availability of tour guides and culinary. "There are many halal restaurants in Kuta. In fact King Salman and group have no complaint about it," he said.
Middle East tourists are big spenders. Averagely they spend US$ 2,000 per day and they stay quite long up to five days a visit. Middle East tourist like to spend their holidays in places with cool air like mountains, Yuniarta said.
The mass media are not given access to information about the itinerary of the King and his entourage in Bali.
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