Tourism stakeholders hopes for 2013

Tourism stakeholders hope that Bali will see a brighter year of tourism this year, as the island will have better infrastructure and will host the Asia-Pasific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit that is expected to cause multiplier effects on the sector.

They also expect that Bali will remain safe and convenient for tourists during this political year, when, in May, the island will hold its gubernatorial election.

I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, deputy chairman of the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI), said that he predicted there would be a 10 percent increase in the number of tourists arriving on the island.

“For 2013, we are optimistic that Bali would be able to attract around 3.3 million tourists because the island remains the favorite destination in Asia,” he told Bali Daily on Wednesday.

Besides, infrastructure improvements, including the expansion of Ngurah Rai International Airport and the construction of a toll road, would help increase tourism in 2013, he said.

Read all: http://www2.thejakartapost.com/bali-daily/2013-01-03/tourism-stakeholders-hope-brighter-year.html