UBUD ~ Chinese New Year (Imlek), which falls on January 26 this year, has pushed tourist numbers up in Bali, including in Ubud, an official said.

“Over the week of Imlek, hotel reservations are up 70 percent. Tourists are coming mostly from Taiwan, Japan and China as well as domestic tourists from inside Indonesia,” manager of the Royal Pita Maha Resort Ida Bagus Alit said.

Alit said that even five-star hotels such as his, with room rates between US$450 to $2,000 per night, have been filling up.

He said room occupation in other areas was also up, with many hotels in tourist-thronged Kuta fully booked.

The latest holiday comes after a bumper tourism season during the Christmas and New Year period, tourism officials said.