UNFCCC`S success expected to boost tourists arrivals in Bali

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - Tourism agents have expressed optimism that the number of foreign tourists visiting the resort island of Bali in the coming years will increase following the success of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Nusa Dua.

"We are absolutely optimistic that the number of foreign tourists visiting Bali will rise in the years to come," Bali tourism agent Made Supatra Karang said here on Friday.

He said the optimism would become a reality following Bali`s success in hosting the United Nations conference on climate change in Nusa Dua tourist resort over the weekend.

"After the UN conference on climate change, the number of foreign tourists arriving at Ngurah Rai international airport has reached a daily average of 6,000," Made Supatra said.

He said a rise in the hotel occupancy rate to 80-90 percent ahead of Christmas and the New Year was a sign that the tourism sector in Bali would recover soon.

Meanwhile, Bali Hotel Melia public relations officer Nova Terita said the occupancy rate of the hotel whose guests were mostly from Russia had risen to 90 percent as Christmas and the New Year were approaching.

"The hotel`s occupancy rate this year has risen compared to the past few years," Nova Terita said, adding that Christmas and the New Year in Bali this time would be more lively than last year because Bali had successfully hosted the UN conference on climate change.

Besides Made Supatra and Nova Terita, Dewi Indah Banowati of Hard Rock Hotel with 418 rooms in Kuta said her hotel`s occupancy rate had also reached 90 percent.

"Domestic tourists have made reservations for December 20 until January 1," Dewi said.