JAKARTA: Bali will bank on a month-long annual festival to revive its tourism and creative sectors, as part of efforts to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said this at the opening of the 2022 Bali Arts Festival recently, as reported by the Antara news agency.
The festival which ends on July 10, has entered its 44th edition and is expected to be a hit among visitors.
"This really drives the economy, reinvigorates and restores the tourism sector, especially the creative economy," Sandiaga said in Denpasar, stressing the event has his full support as it can help speed up recovery in the tourism and arts sectors.
"On behalf of the central government, we really appreciate the festival after two years of the pandemic. We see that people's enthusiasm is extraordinary," he said.
The festival this year is themed "Danu Kerthi: Huluning Amreta", which is interpreted as water is the source of life.
"I am very proud, and hopefully, this can open more business opportunities and accelerate employment which was badly affected due to the pandemic," he said.
As many as 16,150 artists and 200 creative studios, groups, and art communities are involved in the festival.
Artists and creative actors from Yogyakarta, Papua, Lombok, Batak, and Betawi, will also participate in the event.