Tourists packing Bali for Idul Fitri festivity

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - Hotel occupancy rate in popular island resort of Bali had been high for the past few days after the government set Oct 12-19 a common leave for Idul Fitri holiday.

ANTARA News reported here Sunday many hotels in predominantly-Hindu Bali enjoyed 90-99 percent increase in occupancy rate notably on Sunday.

Basyunari, public relation officer of five starred-Putri Bali hotel which had 384 rooms, said occupancy rate increased from 50 percent on Friday to 99 percent on Sunday. However, it would decrease to 70 percent beginning Monday.

Sudani, a worker of five starred-Nusa Dua Beach hotel which had 351 rooms, said occupancy rate have been recorded at 92 percent on October 13-20, 2007.

Meanwhile, water tourism security body coordinator I Made Suparka said popular white sand-studded Kuta beach was swamped with domestic and foreign tourists on Sunday

At least 110 beach security guards had thus been tasked to be on duty in 16 posts in Kuta beach on Sunday, he said.

Other popular tourism site in Bali is Tanah Lot. Tourism site operational management I Made Sujana said number of holidaymakers increased from 1,500-2,000 to 3,000-4,000 in the past two days.

Tanah Lot tourism site, 15 km southwest of here, is an interesting place as it has a Hindu temple which was built on a raised rock overseeing Indian Ocean in 16th century. Tanah Lot area has been used as a place to enjoy beautiful sunset.

The Bali administration has set a target of bringing 1.25 million tourists into the resot island this year.