Luxury hotel boosts Bali confidence

A NEW luxury hotel to open in Bali will help restore the resort island's tourism arrivals after two terrorist bombings in the past four years, the Bali tourism board says.

Rejuvenation ... Bulgari, an Italian brand famous for jewellery, has opened a luxury hotel on the cliff hills of Bali's southwest

A NEW luxury hotel opening in Bali will help restore the resort island's tourism arrivals and lift the economy following two terrorist bombings in the past four years, the Bali tourism board says.

Bulgari, an Italian brand famous for watches and jewellery, has opened its second luxury hotel in the world on the cliff hills of Bali southwest.

The company's chief executive officer believes in Bali's resilience.

"I believe that the bombings will hurt only for a short time, but eventually the tourism figures will go up again," Francesco Trapani said.

The 2005 suicide bombings at Kuta and Jimbaran killed 23, including four Australians, and badly affected tourism. Eighty-eight Australians were among 202 killed in attacks in Kuta in 2002.

Last year's tourism arrivals in Bali were down 26.77 per cent compared to the previous year.

Australian tourist arrivals, ranked third after Japan and Taiwan, dropped 57 per cent.

The Balinese tourism board sees the opening of the Bulgari hotel as an example of international confidence in the island's drawing power.

"I think it will bring the tourism market to a higher segmentation," tourism board executive director Wiwin Suyasa said.

"It proves that Bali can achieve that target level, and adds to our pride and confidence as a main tourist destination," Suyasa said.