KALIMANTAN PROVINCES PROMOTE TOURISM IN BALI

Kuta, Nov 21 (ANTARA) - Kalimantan provincial administrations are promoting their tourist objects and destinations in Kuta, Bali, in "Borneo Extravaganza 2008" from November 21 to 23, 2008, an official said.

An expert staff for economic, scientific and technological affairs of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Titien Soekarya, said here Friday that Bali was chosen for the promotion efforts with a view to introducing Kalimantan island to foreign tourists in Bali.

Moreover, Titien explained that the provinces in Kalimantan island, especially East Kalimantan had a relatively high economic growth. In fact, she said, the number of tourists visiting East Kalimantan was the fifth highest compared to those to the other provinces on the large island.

Meanwhile, Titien stated that the participants in this year's Borneo Extravaganza were only Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan.

On the same occasion, Chairman of the Central Kalimantan cultural and tourism agency Sadar Ardi hoped that the tourism promotion is effective in drawing foreign visitors to Kalimantan island.

"We chose Bali because it is known as an important entry point of foreign tourists coming to Indonesia," he said.

Borneo Extravaganza 2008 shows the public several arts of Kalimantan, like dances of various ethnic groups in Kalimantan island including Chinese, Malay and Dayak groups. The event displays locally made handicraft products.

This biennial event in Bali is the third tourism promotion of Kalimantan island after the one held in Jakarta in May 2004 and in November 2006, also in Jakarta.
Borneo Extravaganza supports the Visit Indonesia Year 2008 program to increase the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia.