DENPSAR (indo.com): The Nusa Dua Festival, held from August 24 to September 1, 2001, will showcase artistic works from Bali and beyond, providing the opportunity for travellers to view Indonesia's diverse ethnic culture.

On the list of participating provinces beyond Bali are Central Java (Magelang and Semarang), East Nusa Tenggara, Lampung (Sumatera), Central Kalimantan (North and South Barito) and West Papua (Irian Jaya). The respective provinces will also display handicrafts and souvenir items.

The Bali Tourism Development Corporation's (BTDC) President Director Made Mandra has expressed the hope that the Nusa Dua Festival will promote Nusa Dua as a tourism destination in Bali.

With its crystal clear water and stretches of white sandy beach, Nusa Dua is well known as a haven of luxurious resorts. As Bali's only fully-integrated tourism resort destination, the peninsula is the perfect backdrop for this marvellous blend of performances, entertainment and activities.

Made said in a press conference here that the week-long festival would offer the opportunity for Balinese cultural groups to perform in the Nusa Dua area and other regions in Indonesia and display their cultural attractions in Bali. "We hope this will further encourage foreign visitors to stay in the Nusa Dua area," he said

The festival, which is costing some Rp 6 million, will involve the local tourism community, art groups and associations as well as handicraftsmen and small-scale industries in Bali and beyond.

Made said that the festival would also present a baleganjur competition, which in last year's festival was presented one month ahead of the event. The competition is held by the local village community, he said.