In a concerted marketing effort focusing on developing tourism as Indonesia's largest foreign exchange earner, international exposure and trade missions are picking up speed.

Figures available from the Bali Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) indicate foreign visitor arrivals to the island were just over 516,000 people in Q1 of 2018. China topped the table with almost 24% of these, followed by Australia with almost 18% and India with 6%. South Korea, however, didn't even appear in the top 10.

There are a number of reasons for this including proximity and travel times of major competitors such as Vietnam, but Bali's Badung Regency hopes to create a change.

In collaboration with Singapore Airlines and the Embassy of Indonesia, the Badung Regency Tourism Office together with the Badung Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD) held a sales mission with 57 business representatives from Bali, including The Resort Seminyak, The Patra Bali and Samaya Villas who presented their respective properties to an enthusiastic response from buyers in Seoul, South Korea recently, focusing on the potential of the wedding and honeymoon markets.

Last year, Gapura Bali reported on the huge earning potential for weddings in Bali and this is something Chairman of BPPD Badung IGAN Rai Suryawijaya, hopes to capitalize on through the strategic marketing of the 'The Soul of Bali' campaign which was launched towards the end of 2017.

According to Made Badra, Head of the Badung Tourism Office, "the unique tourism potential of Badung, the beauty of nature, the culinary attractions and the dazzling underwater coral reefs, Balinese hospitality and a variety of cultural activities" become memorable experiences for tourists who want to come back to Bali again and again.

Speaking to reporters, Rai Suryawijaya, said he hoped to increase the number of visitors from South Korea by 50% by the end of the year and by a further 50% by the end of 2019.

The Soul of Bali campaign is being promoted offline and online through Facebook and YouTube among other social media platforms.

Sources: Bali Post, Nusa Bali, Bali Travel News, Badung Tourism Board

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