DENPASAR (indo.com): Efforts are underway to expand a parking lot at the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali to solve parking problem in the area as well as to ensure the comfort and convenience of visitors.

Proposed by local tourism industrialists, the Rp500 million parking expansion project also includes the construction of a sculpture in the middle of the forest where hundreds of monkeys live.

The current small parking space on the main road has reportedly caused traffic jams, especially when two or three buses are parked in the area or when passengers are crossing the road.

Ida Bagus Dipayana, Sangeh's chairman of the sub village or Bendesa adat, said that the new parking area is expected to be able to accommodate at least 55 buses. He added that every year the revenue generated from the retribution reaches Rp150 million on average. The fund is used to feed the monkeys.

The tourism spot has seen an increase in the number of travelers over the last two months, with a number of them being domestic visitors enjoying their vacation prior to the Idul Fitri and Christmas Eve.