According to reporting from Tempo, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment said that the upcoming F1 Powerboat (F1H2O) World Championship, which is slated to be held in Lake Toba, North Sumatra from March 2 to 3, 2024, will have a constructive effect on the local economy and tourism infrastructure and serve as a platform to showcase local Batak cultures and customs.
“It is important for the Batak people as it is a continuous movement that will draw many spectators and a big economic [impact],” Luhut said at the F1 PowerBoat Lake Toba Conference at the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs’ Building in Jakarta on Wednesday (7/2/24.)
This year’s F1H2O World Championships will feature eighteen international racers from ten countries again.
Luhut expressed optimism that the event would have a significant economic impact on Indonesia, particularly in the tourism sector. Aiming to replicate the success of the 2023 event, he hoped that F1 Powerboat 2024 could again generate a turnover of more than IDR 1.68-trillion and attract 100,000 tourists, says Tempo.
Donny Oskaria, the director of the state-owned tourism holding company Injourney, said this year’s event would feature more Batak cultural traditions, and the organizing committee had prepared some side events, such as a traditional Batak Toba rowing boat race called Solu Bolon, cultural festivals, and MSMEs exhibitions for the public.
“We will have many side events to promote Batak culture blended with the beauty of Lake Toba,” said Donny.
Source: Tempo
Stock image by Michael Kauer from Pixabay
