Popularly known as ‘Island of the Gods’, the tropical island of Bali has become a go-to destination for travelers, not just in Indonesia but all around the world. Beautiful beaches, wonderful natural sites, and colorful ceremonies together create the achingly beautiful scenery of Bali. But Bali is far beyond just a holiday destination. It has its unique vibe; something authentic; related with the Balinese culture and their warm and welcoming hospitality, which has inspired both leisure as well as business travelers from all over the world since decades.
Spiritual Center
The real Bali, with its exquisite rituals, ceremonial processions, otherworldly music and ancient culture, has everything connected with a spiritual meaning. Bali is sketched with over 10,000 religious compounds. Bali temples are iconic landmarks and are great places to experience magnificent centuries-old architectures set against exotic backgrounds. The must-see temples include Tanah Lot – on the coast of Beraban village in the Tabanan regency; Uluwatu Temple – on a southwest cliff top, 70 meters above the hurling waves; and Besaikh Temple - on the south-western slopes of Mount Agung, 1,000 meters above sea level.Topography
One of the most significant features of Bali is its unique topography. While it’s surrounded by Indian ocean on all sides, the central Bali is dominated by active volcanic peaks - Mount Agung (3,142m), and Mount Batur (1,717m). Southern Bali boasts of some of the most beautiful white sandy beaches, i.e. Sanur Beach, Kuta and Nusa Dua. Bali beaches are ideal for water sports like diving, snorkelling and surfing. The region is also home to four lakes - Lake Buyan, Lake Tamblingan, Lake Beratan, and Lake Batur.Fun Factor
If your day starts when the sun sets in the west, then you’ll love your time in Bali. Kuta, Seminyak and Legian become the epicenter in Bali after dark. From pulsating bars, pubs and nightclubs to live DJs, rooftop bars and simple sunset dinner cruises, Bali caters to a wide range of crowds, styles and budgets. Ku De Ta on the Seminyak coast, and the Rock Bar at Ayana Resort attract a steady flow of night owls. Alternatively, if you prefer tranquillity and want to get away from the crowd, head towards Nusa Dua, Sanur or Ubud.Ideal MICE Destination
Bali’s infrastructure and public services have undergone major improvements in recent years. The island is home to a range of hotel and accommodation options, restaurants, and world-class meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) facilities. The rapid growth in infrastructural facilities has helped Bali to become a popular MICE destination not just in Asia-Pacific, but globally. It’s estimated that more than 8,000 hotel rooms will be added in Bali by the end of 2019. While branded, future hotel supply in Bali is concentrated on the upscale and midscale segments, the island’s hotel market will see a surge in the luxury and midscale segments*. Furthermore, Bali is gearing up development of the Ngurah Rai airport to successfully welcome delegates of IMF and World Bank for their annual meeting in October 2018. Over the past few years, Bali has witnessed increasing number of international and regional events. If you want to know what makes Bali a preferred MICE destination, read our next blog in this series!*Source: Indonesia Hotel Watch 2017 Publication by HVS Singapore
