TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia has decided to extend his Bali vacation for three more days. King Salman was originally scheduled to stay up to March 9, 2017. However, following the extension, the King will continue to stay in Bali until March 12, 2017.

The King's plan to extend his vacation was made public after the Bali Police received a letter from the Saudi Arabian embassy through the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The news received positive responses from Bali's tourism businesses. "Having the King's group place their trust in extending their vacation has also increased people's confidence towards Bali," said Chairman of the Bali Associations of Indonesian Tours and travel Agencies (ASITA) I Ketut Ardana on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.

"For us tourism businesses, this is thrilling," Ardana said.

Ardana argued that there is a personal satisfaction in having the King and his group having a vacation in Bali.

Ketut added that the King's confidence in Bali has become a major talking point for citizens of their country.

"I think the Saudi Arabian people who tuned to their television or reads the media concluded that the King has put much confidence [in Bali] by extending their vacation time. This is good for Bali," Ketut concluded.

BRAM SETIAWAN