Bali’s tourism budget has been slashed this year, with a large share of funds allocated to the gubernatorial elections, despite the lack of interest in the Governor’s position.

The budget has been slashed by more than half, from approximately US$240,000 in 2012 to US$115,000 in 2013, the Jakarta Post reported.

“We proposed a higher budget, but not all the programs listed in our proposal could be approved, because the provincial administration has other more urgent matters,” Bali Tourism Office head of marketing Nyoman Wardawan said.

Mr Nyoman said a huge share of the provincial budget would go towards the Governor elections, as well as other priority matters such as the abolition of poverty and infrastructure expansion.

Yet the upcoming gubernatorial elections are expected to be quiet, with few candidates likely to run for the post, according to Udayana University legal expert I Dewa Gede Palguna.

“The governor’s post is no longer attractive,” Palguna said.

“A governor is only acting as a coordinator, with less power than in previous period, especially during the centralized government system of the New Order.”

The budget reallocation means the intensity and reach of Bali’s tourism promotions will be increasingly diminished this year.

“With this slashed budget, we have no other choice than to use it as efficiently as possible,” Mr Wardawan said.

“Although this year’s budget is not as high as last year’s, we will continue to carry out various promotional programs, mainly by joining tourism-related events and exhibitions in Indonesia and abroad.”