REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) including tourist destinations in Bali to the list of world cultural heritage sites could boost tourism in Indonesia, especially in Bali.

"The tourist destinations will be promoted the world over. This has the potential to attract tourists, which can, in turn, improve the welfare of the local community," tourism analyst Dewa Nyoman Putra said here on Thursday (15/1).

The popular sites that have been added to the world cultural heritage list are Pura Ulun Danu Batur and Lake Batur Kintamani in Bangli district, Subak Pakerisan Tampaksiring, Gianyar, Catur Angga Batukaru, and Pura Taman Ayun.

The UNESCO would not determine a location as a world heritage site without ample deliberation, Putra affirmed.

The organization monitored and evaluated the places to ensure that they are sustainable and worthy of being included in the list of world cultural heritage sites.

Putra pointed out that a team of UNESCO officials is currently in Bali to ascertain the involvement of the provincial government and local communities in the maintenance and sustainability of the sites.

"The government and the people should pay better attention to minimize the damage inflicted on these cultural sites," he remarked.

The UNESCO will, certainly, popularize these sites worldwide as a number of them seem to be included in the list of top ten tourist attractions, including Penelokan Kintamani, Taman Ayun, and Tirta Empul.

Newest data reveal that the number of foreign tourists in Bali rose by 14.78 percent year-on-year to 3.41 million in the first 11 months of 2014.

In addition, data from the Bali office of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) show that most holidaymakers fly to Ngurah Rai International Airport to reach Bali, while others travel aboard cruise ships.

The number of tourists exceeded the target of 2.9 million set for the entire year.

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