The sports event Nongsa Challenge 2017 held on Aug. 27 in Batam, Riau
Islands, showed a great partnership between the provincial
administration and Tourism Ministry.
“Held for the third time, this year's event [was supported by] the
Tourism Ministry,” said Sumantri Endang, the general manager of Turi
Beach by Nongsa Resort, where the event took place. “For next year, we
aim to make the participants stay longer and to bring their family to
explore Batam."
Riau Islands Tourism Agency head Boeralimar said the agency seeks to
achieve the ministry’s target of 15 million foreign tourists in 2017 and
20 million foreign tourists in 2019.
Among the sports events held in Riau Islands are Tour de Beleirang, Bintan Triathlon and Tour de Bintan.
The ministry's Archipelago Tourism Marketing Development deputy Esthy
Reko Astuti said that Indonesia has a huge opportunity to develop its
sports tourism.
The country is set to host 2018 Asian Games in August.
“There are so many studies discussing about the short- and long-term
correlation between a sports event with the economic growth of a region
or country, especially when it comes to infrastructure development and
employment opportunities. Sports tourism has a huge impact,” said Esthy
Source - TheJakartaPost
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