Thriving spas draw tourists to Bali

Spas have become a magnet drawing international tourists to Bali — and a thriving part of the island’s tourist economy.

Lulu Susiana Widjaja, chair of the Bali Spa Association, said that Bali has turned into an attractive destination for spa tourism, thanks to its natural landscape, abundant local ingredients for spa products and the skills of its local therapists.

Bali was chosen as the best spa destination by an international magazine’s survey in 2009. The island also received the Asia Spa Capital Award in 2008 and 2010.

An array of spas on Bali offer services at various prices. Besides offering different treatments and products, spas also offer outdoor treatments with a “back to nature” concept.

“Besides indoor treatments, spa operators now offer services by the sea, in the middle of rice fields, even by rivers. This is the uniqueness of Bali’s spas, where customers can enjoy both treatments and nature,” Lulu, who also manages Mandara Spa, said.

Spas, which began to expand in 2000, declined after the terrorist attacks in Bali but have since rebounded.

“Spas have now become an inseparable part of Bali’s tourist economy. Spas are easily found in hotels and along the streets with different kinds of treatments to cater to different levels of customers,” Lulu said.

The industry has seen rapid growth thanks in part to the local potential market and changing public perceptions of spas as no longer licentious.

Spas continue to attract an increasing number of customers, 30 percent of whom come from overseas.

Domestic tourists are also interested in spas, although most Indonesians opt for treatments with cheaper prices.

Lulu added that spa visits have become part of people’s lifestyles for the purposes of wellness, healing or simple relaxation.

“In places with panoramic views, spas offer a different sensation — and most people have become repeat customers,” Lulu said.

Most of Bali’s spa tourists came from Japan, Taiwan, China and India. Indonesia’s competitors in the spa business were Thailand and Philippines, according to reports.

Bali Tourism Agency head IB Kade Subhiksu said that spas have become a main tourist attraction on the island.

Lulu said that most customers liked Balinese traditional treatments and products made of local herbs, tropical flowers and fruit.

“They also love the way the therapists treat them — in terms of skills and hospitality,” she added.

Anak Agung Putra Adi, an official with Bali’s Manpower Agency, said that demands for spa therapists from Bali continued to come in from hotels around the world.

source from :http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/02/12/thriving-spas-draw-tourists-bali.html

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