Rp100bn Needed for Bali Tourism to Recover after Mt Agung Erupts
19 December 2017 06:56 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Denpasar - Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that promotional efforts that will cost at least Rp100 billion will be needed for Bali tourism to recover after Mount Agung eruption.
Selling is one of the promotional efforts being considered, Arief said. “Selling includes 40-50 percent discounts,” he said. Arief said that they would apply to both domestic and foreign tourists.
Arief explained that the target of tourist arrivals in Bali this year is not met. “I was targeting 6 million [foreign tourists] in Bali,” he said.
However, he said that at the end of 2017, there are 5.5 million foreign tourists visiting Bali.
Mount Agung activity during its eruption phase is unpredictable. Minister Arief, however, is determined to achieve a higher target of tourist arrivals next year. “Bali is targeting 7 million [foreign tourists arrivals] next year, it should not drop,” he said.
Arief said he is setting the target by comparing Bali to Bangkok. “Bangkok sees 18 million [arrivals], better than Bali. It’s a city, whereas [Bali] is an island. Bali is way better than Bangkok,” he noted.
BRAM SETIAWAN
