0 Festivals hope to woo tourists

Bali is loaded with festivals until the end of the year, all of which are expected to attract more visitors to the paradise island. After the conclusion of Kuta Karnival, the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) and the Sanur Village Festival (SVF) last month, more festivals have been lined up, including the Batur Lake Festival in Bangli regency that lasts until Sunday, the Lovina Festival in Buleleng regency on Oct. 20-21, the Tanah Lot Festival in Tabanan regency on Nov. 1-3, the Nusa Dua Fiesta on Nov. 2-5, the Serangan Festival and the Denpasar Festival.

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s promotion director, Esthy Reko Astuti, said recently in Kuta, that the wide variety of festivals was aimed at exposing the uniqueness of each regency on the island for a more positive outlook of the country’s tourism industry. “Every region has its own uniqueness and excellence that serves as a magnet for tourists. Such events, festivals and carnivals are playing a major role in encouraging our tourism,” said Esthy. This year, the ministry is targeting to welcome a total 250 million of domestic visitors and 8 million foreign visitors.

She was optimistic the target would be met. Bali tourism agency head Ida Bagus Kade Subhiksu praised the government’s efforts in promoting as well as preserving the local culture. Aside from local, national and international meetings hosted around the island, the festivals also provide a place for Balinese artists to be recognized and appreciated. Bangli tourism agency head I Wayan Gobang Edi Sucipto said that the second Batur Lake Festival this year would take place at Kedisan village, next to the lake, and Mt. Batur, an area of which was recently declared part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Global Geopark Network.

Activities like traditional boat races, funbiking, mountain trekking and competitions to create penjor, gebogan and baleganjur would enliven the festival. Chairman of the Nusa Dua Fiesta (NDF) Ida Bagus Abdhi also said that the festival would mostly feature traditional arts and culture in the form of dance drama theater performances entitled Arjuna and Kebo Iwa, with the traditional dances of janger and kecak. Gus Abdi said that the NDF would also host coral reef plantation activities as part of the festival’s attention to environmental protection. International musician Frangky Raden will also perform in the event. Raden, with his world music concept, expects to turn Bali into a center for world music. Last year, he hosted Indonesia Music Expo, or IMEX, also in Nusa Dua, Bali.

source : bali post