TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Organizers of Bali’s Tanah Lot Arts Festival 2020 slated for March 13 -15 at the Tabanan Regency is determined to attract tourists aimed at invigorating the local tourism amid the COVID-19 coronavirus global outbreak.

“[The Tanah Lot Arts Festival] will involve around 1,000 artists from seven customs at the Pekraman Village, Kediri District,” said Tanah Lot tourism manager, I Ketut Toya Adnyana on Sunday, March 8.

According to Toya, the global coronavirus outbreak has significantly reduced tourist visits to the region up to 30 percent, especially following the government’s temporary closure of flights from China. This region had always found itself to be the darling among Chinese tourists prior to the virus outbreak.

“With this festival, we will showcase that Tanah Lot still has its tourists,” said Toya.

This biennial event in 2020 is set to hold its third outing which will take the theme of Tirta Kamandalu, which means life source from the holy water at the bottom of the ocean.

The Tanah Lot Arts Festival 2020 will see numerous events held, such as the opening event “Okokan” that will be performed by 1,000 dancers on March 13, which will feature the Nangluk Merana dance choreography meant to drive away disasters. The Okokan itself is a tradition performed annually at the Pekraman Kediri Village in the Tabanan Regency.

Moreover, the Tanah Lot Arts Festival 2020 tourism manager hopes the event will be enough to sway people to visit the region and acts as a symbol representing the Hindu’s wish to see the global situation return to normal.

MADE ARGAWA