Every year the beaches of Bali grow in popularity. The crowds swell like the tides, millions of tourists from around the world flood Indonesia in search of the best waves for surfing, the aquamarine waters for paddling, the best dive sites for viewing colourful coral and exotic marine life and the most stunning beaches. While it caters to the upmarket traveler looking for a luxury hotel, Bali also offers homestay and backpacker options for the budget tourist. In recent years: the mushrooming of beachfront resorts, restaurants, shopping malls, and nightclubs has gained Bali the reputation of being Asia’s top party destination.
The Nusa Dua Fiesta is a festival that shows Bali has more to offer. The annual, weeklong event was started in 1996 by the Bali Tourism Development Corporation to show the world Bali’s culture and talent. A number of art competitions and exhibitions are held on opening day at private beaches of participating hotels that line the Peninsula. The InterContinental Bali Resort lies at the heart of the action. The following days delve into Balinese arts, culture, sports and music. Diving tours that show off the island’s natural beauty, cultural performances, musical shows and other displays are lined up on the itinerary. The festivities also include carnivals and other activities for younger visitors. A festival of such grandeur would not be complete without shining a spotlight on the fine local cuisine; special gala dinners with live entertainers and a charity component are also scheduled during the week.
The aim of the Nusa Dua Fiesta is to improve tourism. It has given rise to other annual events of a similar nature taking place on neighbouring beaches like the Kuta Karnival, Sanur Village Festival, Bali Ubud Festival and other festivals across the country. 2015 will mark the sixteenth installment of Nusa Dua Fiesta.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.