Bali awarded top tourism destination

DENPASAR (indo.com): Representatives of the Bali tourism industry recently received an award from Time Magazine voting Bali as Asia's Favorite Holiday Destination. The award was received in Singapore on Wednesday, October 16, 2002, and the choice made on the basis of the results of a poll of the weekly news magazine's readers.

3,411 readers voted, with Singapore and Bangkok ranking as 1st and 2nd runners up respectively.

Traveling to Singapore to accept the award on behalf of Bali were Mr. Setyanto Santoso, Chairman of the Indonesian Culture and Tourism Board, and Mr. Anak Agung Gede Rai representing the Bali Tourism Board.

When Mr. Rai accepted the award, he invited everyone to come to Bali and expressed his hope that recent events would not put people off the fabled island.

Mr. Santoso added that Bali part of "the soul of the tourism industry" worldwide, also indicating his optimism that people would quickly return once the island emerges from its sorrow.