New harbor to built in Bali to lure tourists

DENPASAR (indo.com): Bali will reportedly construct a new harbor in Tulamben, East Bali in a bid to lure more tourists.

The harbor is expected to provide a quicker way of reaching Karangasem in East Bali from Denpasar. Commonly, it takes more than two hours to reach Karangasem from Denpasar by land and this has made many foreign tourists reluctant to visit Karangasem because they do not have enough time, especially following the government's recent move to issue new visa policy that cuts the maximum allowable stay from 60 days to 30 days.

"With the harbor, tourists can reach Karangasem by sea more quickly. It will take only 30 minutes by cruise," Ida Bagus Nyoman Djelantik, chairman of Karangasem's Tourism and Culture Board, was quoted by Bali Post as saying.

Tourism circles in Karangasem, East Bali have hailed the plan, expressing the hope that the idea will be soon materialized.

A plan is also underway to develop a golf course, Tirta tourism object in Tulamben and to renovate a unique floating palace in Sukasada Ujung in East Bali.

According to Ida Bagus, despite the gradual increase in the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Bali, the hotel occupancy rates in Karangasem areas, East Bali remains low.

Travel warnings issued by several countries had also contributed to the low hotel occupancy rates in East Bali, he said.