DENPASAR ~ Bali’s most popular southern tourist spots have been packed with domestic and foreign visitors over the recent week-long national holiday for Lebaran at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan.

Crowds have ignored rough seas and scattered rain to frolic at Kuta Beach and also have thronged to Tanah Lot Temple. Hotel resorts in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran and Nusa Dua have reported 90 percent occupancies with some luxury properties achieving 100 percent.

Visitors have been especially drawn to Kuta Beach for its famous sunsets and have maximised use of flattened areas of the beach for sports. “This is great for minor sports like jogging,” said one tourist from Jakarta.

Figures from Ngurah Rai International Airport show that an average 7,000 foreign tourists a day have arrived in Bali through August and September compared to the previous average of 5,200.

Industry observers are hopeful the recent death of terrorist Noordin M Top, who was shot dead this month when he was cornered by police in Central Java and refused to surrender, will create even more confidence in Bali as a tourist destination.