Around 2.88 million foreign tourists visited Bali in 2012

“The good news in 2012 was that arrivals from Japan increased, as they had significantly decreased over the last few years due to natural disasters and an economic downturn in the country. We hope this year to greet more Japanese tourists in Bali again,” Subhiksu said.

Subhiksu predicted that the top five countries for tourist arrivals to the island in 2013 would not be too different from the previous year. “We predict that Australia will still be at the top, as many Australians are still eager to have their vacation in Bali,” Subhiksu added.



Around 2.88 million foreign tourists and five million domestic tourists spent their vacations on the island of Bali in 2012, while in 2013 the expectation is for 3.1 million foreign arrivals, an official confirmed.

Ida Bagus Kade Subhiksu, head of Bali tourism office, told Bali Daily on Wednesday that the number of foreign tourists arriving in Bali in 2012 had exceeded the government’s target of 2.8 million.

Australian tourists, he said, were still at the top, followed by Chinese, Japanese, Malaysians and South Koreans.


Subhiksu added that he was optimistic that he could reach the target of 3.1 million foreign tourists in 2013, as the island would host many international events this year. This June, hundreds of Hindu leaders and high priests will be gathering at the World Hindu Summit.

In September, for the first time in Indonesia, the island will host the Miss World Pageant, bringing the most beautiful and brightest young women to the island.

In October, dozens of state leaders, hundreds of top diplomats and high-ranking officials from the Asia-Pacific region, including US President Barack Obama, are expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Nusa Dua resort complex. Another annual event will be the Bali Democracy Forum, scheduled for December 2013.

“Bali will also have better facilities with the completion of its toll road and underpass, as well as the expansion of Ngurah Rai International Airport. So, we are really optimistic,” Subhiksu said.

Separately, the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) Bali chapter chairman Cokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati predicted that the number of tourist arrivals to the island would increase by up to 15 percent from 2012.

Sukawati, popularly known as Cok Ace, said that many international events would have a positive impact on tourist arrivals. “Of course, participants of the international events would use many hotels rooms.

Around 2.88 million foreign tourists visited Bali in 2012 : Sources : http://www2.thejakartapost.com/bali-daily/2013-01-04/288m-foreign-tourists-visited-bali-2012.html