VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The number of Chinese tourists to Bali reached 1.37 million people during the January-November 2017 period, up 467,292 people, or 51.52 percent during the same period last year. Adi Nugroho, Head of the Bali statistics office, said in Denpasar, Bali, on Thursday, most of them arrived at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport by direct flights, and only 164 Chinese came by cruise ships. China is the number one source of visitors to Bali. The significant increase of Chinese tourists to Bali was thanks to the sound bilateral relations between the Chinese and Indonesian Governments. Besides, Garuda Indonesia has also served direct flights connecting the Bali provincial capital of Denpasar with Chinese cities. I Made Badra, head of the Bali tourism office, earlier expressed his please that the Chinese Government has revoked its travel warning concerning the eruption of Mount Agung in Bali, following the Indonesian Government's assurance that Bali was safe for tourists despite the increased volcanic activities. He hoped that more Chinese tourists would spend holidays on Bali Island during the Chinese New Year celebration in February 2018.//ROL