After the mad rush of wedding preparations, and then the event itself, heading to a villa that is surrounded by lush green rice fields, high above Petanu River in Ubud, would be the perfect way to start life as a married couple.

The newly renovated Kamandalu Resort, built to resemble a traditional Balinese village, is offering special packages for honeymooners.

""Our major markets are Japan and the United Kingdom and a new promising market, Australia,"" said Darmawan P. Drajat, Kamandalu's general manager, adding that the company has set up representative offices in the two countries.

More and more young people plan to hold their weddings or spend their honeymoons in Ubud's resorts, he said.

Kamandalu, he said, comprises eight pavilions, five family pavilions, 19 garden villas, four Jacuzzi villas, eight pool villas, five deluxe pool villas and two double-bedrooms, with rates between US$300 and $800.

Darmawan said young Japanese executives and Australian tourists were starting to pick Ubud as a holiday destination, whereas before visitors had mostly been older Japanese couples or groups of middle-aged Europeans.

""Ubud has never been as energetic and lively as Kuta is. But, the fact that young visitors are now interested in this art village is expected to boost the tourism-related industry, which has suffered from global and regional influences over the last decade, including SARS and the Iraq war,"" he said.

Some resorts and villas in Ubud, like Kamandalu, are working with small and medium enterprises managed by local artisans and entrepreneurs. ""We procure most of our hotel amenities and spa ingredients from local artisans. We are very proud to promote their products while at the same time helping to improve their businesses,"" Darmawan said.

Kamandalu like other accommodation in Ubud is gearing up to prepare for the upcoming peak seasons in the months of July to August and November to December.

""We have received orders from our agents, particularly from Japan (60 percent) for the coming season, when occupancy usually reaches 80 to 90 percent,"" he said.

Ubud in Gianyar, 30 kilometer north of Denpasar, is home to many exclusive resorts such as Alila Ubud, Amandari and Maya Ubud.

Bali is teeming with world-class resorts. The once-barren hill of Jimbaran, 15 minutes drive from the Ngurah Rai International Airport, has become a favorite escape for the rich and famous.

Shanta de Silva, resort manager of Bali Intercontinental is optimistic about the hospitality industry on Bali. ""We had a very good year in 2004 with increasing number of visitors, the rich in particular, to the island. We are expecting a better year in 2005,"" he said enthusiastically.

The tsunami catastrophe, he said, slightly affected tourism in the Southeast Asian region including Bali. ""But only between January and February. Since early March, the market has picked up,"" he said.

Bali, he said, has always been one of the world's top tourism destinations. ""We opened The Club Intercontinental in July 2004 and the response has been very positive, particularly from the Japanese, European and Australian markets,"" he said.

Surprisingly, many domestic guests also use this facility. ""We have a strong market in Jakarta and Surabaya,"" de Silva said.

The Ritz-Carlton - Bali Resort & Spa, perched on a bluff overlooking azure Indian Ocean, embraces the mystique of Bali, its natural beauty and the inherent grace and hospitality of its people.

The resort, also located in Jimbaran, offers 375 guest rooms, suites, villas, 30 restaurants and lounges and a comprehensive spa complex, said Meutia Irataliana, the public relation coordinator

Meanwhile Bali Thalasso & Spa, located near The Ritz-Carlton, offers more than 60 different spa treatments and features one of the world's largest Aquatonic seawater pool.

The island's hottest destinations are no longer centered in Nusa Dua, Sanur, Kuta and Jimbaran but are found in the far-flung areas of Negara in Jembrana, Klungkung and Karangasem in East Bali, as well as the northern part of Bali.

""But, the market is not saturated because each area offers a different ambience and different natural surrounding,"" Darmawan said.

Hoteliers in Bali look forward to the opening of new hotels and villas including Bvlgari in the coming months.

Andrew Tan, Singapore Airline's manager in Bali, previously said that the airline is closely cooperating with numerous resorts, hotels and villas in Bali.

""We are offering significant discounts at numerous hotels and resorts including Melia Bali in Nusa Dua, Kupu-Kupu Barong villa in Ubud as benefit for SIA passengers,"" Tan said.

""It is our effort to bring visitors to Bali,"" he said.