Gianyar, Bali (ANTARA) - State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir said that Bali Province has a greater chance to attract tourists in health and sports tourism since the province will be supported by facilities developed by the government and the private sector.

"Besides health tourism, we can also offer sports tourism. This is a joint effort to build Bali carried out by the government, regional government, and private sectors," he conveyed at Purnama Beach, Gianyar District, Bali, Sunday.

According to the SOEs minister, the government is building a health Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sanur, Denpasar consisting of a combination between healthcare service and tourism.

The area is currently in term of finalizing international standard hospital facilities and revitalizing the Inna Grand Bali Beach hotel which is managed by state-owned hotel chain PT Hotel Indonesia Natour (HIN), he continued.

The Sanur Health SEZ is located on an area of 41.26 hectares with a total development budget estimated at Rp1.4 trillion, Thohir continued.

The topping out for the building which marks the stage towards completion for the construction of the hospital --in collaboration with a health facility from the United States-- is expected to be carried out on July 31, 2023, he noted.

"The health facility will operate in April next year while the hotels in November 2023," he said.

He addressed that the health facility in Bali is expected to divert Indonesian citizens who have been seeking treatment abroad. It is estimated that two million people per year with potential foreign exchange earnings of up to Rp165 trillion seek health treatment in foreign countries.

Meanwhile, Thohir informed that the private sector also built a soccer training facility in the Purnama Beach area for the soccer club, Bali United.

The owner of the football club, Pieter Tanuri, explained that currently the training area covering a total area of around 30 hectares has a fitness center, four practice fields and will be equipped with four more fields.

Tanuri added that his party also plans to build a hotel to attract domestic and international tourists.

However, he was reluctant to mention the sports facility development budget.

Translator: Dewa Ketut S W, Resinta S
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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