DENPASAR ~

The increase in the price of subsidized fuel has lowered the interest to travel to Bali, according to the tourism practitioners Dewa Rai Budi in Denpasar on Sunday.

Based on the data from Bali Provincial Tourism Office, during 2014 the number of domestic tourists visiting Bali is declining 8.37 percent to just 6.3 million people.

“In addition to rising fuel prices, the decline is also due to the presence of the minister decree which prohibits the activities of civil servants meeting in hotel,” he said. Dewa Rai hoped the regulation is temporary so that in the future the number of domestic tourists visiting Bali can be increased.

In 2010, the number of domestic tourists visiting Bali reached 4.6 million and in 2011 reached 5.6 million. The number of domestic tourists visiting Bali in 2012 reached more than six million and increased to 6.9 million in 2013 and in 2014 dropped only 6.3 million people. Domestic tourist market is very promising because, viewed from the purchasing power is not inferior to foreign tourists.

Reduced domestic tourist arrivals to Bali also resulted in occupancy rates that fell to just 57.7 percent in 2014 dropped from the previous year that reached 60.6 percent, while the non-star hotels only reach 30 percent, it is very unfavorable conditions for hoteliers.

The decline in hotel occupancy rate is seen from November 2014 since the enactment of the Decree to only 47.6 percent in which the month before it could reach 81 percent, while in December 2014 is only 51 percent.