Foreign Artists Join Nusa Dua Festival

The opening of the 9th Nusa Dua Festival (FND) at Nusa Dua, on Friday (9/9), was interesting for thousands of visitors either local people or foreigners. The Minister of Culture and Tourism Ir. Jero Wacik, was represented by The Head of Marketing, of Culture and Tourism Department, Thamrin B. Bachri who opened the festival symbolized by striking “tektekan” (traditional Balinese instrument)
In this festival visitors enjoyed the peed agung parade that presented many kind of dances, traditional costumes, greatness banners, royal tedung (Balinese umbrella), long flags, which involved more than a thousand artists. There were participants from Singapore and India that performed an Apsara Dance
The theme of this festival is “Art, Sport, Cultural Performance” which is the combination of all art and culture activities, sport and the superior products exhibition. In this festival also appeared art performances, handicrafts exhibition and competition that involved hotel employees, tourists, artists, and local people. The art performances, which perform at this festival mostly are the Balinese art (70%) and also from outside Bali. All hotels that are situated on BTDC area joined the festival.
The competition included a Nusa Dua run competition, of 10 km, was participated by the locals and foreigners, The Garden of Hope Peace And Harmony competition; Tennis Women’s Wismilak; Nusa Dua International Food and Wine Bazaar Festival, participated by food & beverage department from hotel that located in Nusa Dua area, penjor (bamboo pole decoration) festival, drawing and sculpt festival. There were also interesting games including beach soccer and singing birds.
According to, I Made Mandra, the head of BTDC, this festival is different with Bali Art Festival (PKB), held at the Art Center Denpasar. PKB is the art forum for society but FND, is more general that it does not only perform art and culture, but amusements for tourists who visit Bali and it hoped they will longer stay in Bali. He explained.
He hoped, this FND will become The Bali Tourism Festival because the aim is not only to develop the Nusa Dua area, but could attract visitors who use Bali as a gate way for tourism in Indonesia. “Hopefully this festival can be the same as those abroad, so it can attract tourists” said Mandra. He also added the festival is an annual event. (BTN/015)