Special rates for Bali holidays

DENPASAR, Bali: Bali Tourism Office head I Gde Pitana said on Wednesday that some travel bureaus in Singapore were offering up to a 60 percent discount for holidays in Bali in a bid to help revive the province's tourism industry.

Speaking after a meeting with 18 travel agencies and three airline companies from Singapore, Pitana said that the special rates included discounts on hotel accommodation, food and beverage in hotel restaurants and transportation to tourist attractions on the island.

"The special rates will be lifted gradually as soon as Bali's tourism industry recovers," he said.

Business has been sluggish in the island since the Oct. 12 bomb explosions that killed almost 190 people and injured over 300 others, mostly foreign tourists.

An average of 893 tourists are flying directly to Bali daily, down from around 5,000 before the terrorist attacks.

Before the bombings, a tour package from Singapore to Bali cost S$600 per person, but with the special package, the rate will drop to $250, effective Nov. 20 through Dec. 4. --Antara