Date:06/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/06/stories/2006100621040200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bali drawing tourists in droves

Special Correspondent

The culture of the island is influenced by Hindu religion

CHARMING: A Balinese dance performance

Bangalore: It is one among the 17,000 islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago.

But Bali has much in common with India, especially south India. The tiny island of 5,632 sq.km. has a culture and food habits we can easily feel at home with.

Ngurah Ambara, here for a Bali Government Tourism roadshow says: "Balinese culture is influenced by Hindu religion, and our art forms centre around the characters and episodes in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. We view our culture as functional, living and evolving."

Since their life is connected with various art forms, the people in Bali express themselves through dance, drama, painting and crafts and all these have something to do with their faith. The living culture, natural beauty and friendliness of Balinese people attract tourists in thousands.

Tourist inflow

"Indian tourists started coming to Bali in large numbers only during the past four years. Between 2004 and 2005, there was an increase of about 47 per cent in the arrivals from India,'' says Mr. Ambara.

To reach Bali from Bangalore, one can take a flight to Singapore, from where four daily flights operate to Bali, taking about 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach there.

Not exactly a long or tiring journey for most of us. The warm welcome there can make up for any strain of international travel. Once can visit beaches, temples, and two active volcanoes on the island, watch traditional dances.

Seafood and other local delicacies suit the Asian palate.

Bali cannot be separated from tourism, they say. From the socio-cultural aspects, education, environment and natural resources or development in general, tourism is important to the island.

Job opportunities

A local study indicated 38 per cent of job opportunities and 51 per cent of people's income in Bali are directly associated with the money spent by tourists and investment on attracting tourists. This is one place where a foreigner will be more than welcome.

Mainstay

Since the island has no major natural resources, the Government of Bali largely relies on tourism and since the 1970s it has always been a high priority, along with agriculture and small-scale industry.

They take great care to preserve Bali's ancient structures and natural beauty.