DENPASAR ~

Denpasar Government will launch a package of urban cultural tourism or ‘Heritage City Tour’ next March and the plan already gain positive response from tourism component.

Vice Chairman of Cultural Affairs and the Environment of ASITA (Tour and Travel Agency Association) Bali I Ketut Ena Partha in Denpasar, on Thursday said the package of ‘Heritage City Tour’ initiated by Denpasar Government is very positive to promote attractions in Denpasar city.

“This ‘City Tour` program is very appropriate to introduce attractions in Denpasar, besides it also can provide more varied selection of tourist objects and this kind of program is also necessary for ASITA as this is a positive program,” he said

He acknowledged that the City Tour package has been existed since long time ago, but the security, comfort and cleanliness need to be improved. To succeed this program, safety and comfort of tourists has to be assured.

“If security and comfort can be guaranteed by local government, we are sure that the package will succeed,” he said.

For the success of “Heritage City Tour”, he said that ASITA is also committed to support by providing tourism transportation so the package can run smoothly.

However, he suggested Denpasar government to follow the patterns of “City Tour” package that exist in other major cities.

“Because, urban tour package in foreign country is packed in a great way.  Heritage City Tour package in Denpasar surely can compete with tour package from abroad, it just need better package,” he said.

Meanwhile Dr I Nyoman Madium, a Senior Lecturer in Hospitality and Tourism Marketing strongly support the package of “Heritage City Tour”.

To him, this program should be supported because it is very beneficial for the development of tourism in Bali,

He said, “Heritage City Tour” package should be promoted to the people who contribute to the safety and comfort of tourists. For realizing security and comfort, all parties involved in the development of the package such as schools, merchant, tour guides and so on should be given the right concept.

For merchants should be given an explanation of the package “Heritage City Tour”, so they are not regarded as distracters but can make a major contribution.

“To promote it all tourism stakeholders should be invited to participate to promote this program,” he said.

Members of Parliament Denpasar Ida Bagus Ketut Kiana supported this program to attract tourists to Bali.

He expected the program needs to be setup in order to meet the standards of tourist facilities, so that international tourists feel comfortable in Bali.

“The program is good, but needs to be balanced with adequate facilities, the tourist object has to be laid out, both the beauty and security,” he said.

Kiana exemplified if traditional market tour as one target, then it needs to be controlled in a matter of hygiene, access and safety of the market.

“We are aware that traditional market is not fully able a hundred percent clean. But we have to make tourist feel comfortable,” he said.

Regional Director (PD) Market of Denpasar I Made Westra has prepared various programs to support the program of “city tour”. Maintaining the cleanliness and comfort of the tourists become important in Pasar Badung and Kumbasari as well as adequate parking facilities.