Tourism Minister Arief Yahya claimed the event which was held in conjunction with the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Indonesias independence had made a great success.
"Thank God, the carnival made a great success," Minister Arief Yahya said in Pontianak at the conclusion of the activity on Sunday.
He referred to the great number of people, particularly the residents of Pontianak City and people from outside the city, who came to enliven the carnival event.
"More than a half of the Pontianak City residents flocked to the Kapuas Square last night to enliven the folk festival," the minister said.
The Equator Carnival consisted of three events - land carnival, water carnival and folk festivity. Hundreds of decorated boats and cars took part in the carnivals.
Pontianak, the provincial capital of West Kalimantan, is the host of the Equator Monument which marks the division between the northern and southern hemispheres.
Among all countries in the world, only twelve straddle the Equator. While among the countless cities within those twelve countries, Pontianak is the only one which sits right on this invisible line that separates the earths southern from the northern hemisphere.
Therefore, the Equator Carnival is organized as part of the efforts to promote the tourism potential of West Kalimantan, Pontianak in particular.
Minister Arief Yahya hoped that the Equator Carnival would become a new tourism icon of the West Kalimantan which is able to generate economic development of the local people.
Yahya is convinced the Equator Carnival 2015 is able to boost the real sector business of Pontianak, even though it lasts only for two days on August 22-23.
West Kalimantan Governor Cornelis said the people of West Kalimantan recorded a great success in organizing the Equator Carnival, which was opened by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Saturday.
"I am very grateful for the success of the people of West Kalimantan in organizing the Equator Carnival. This success belongs not only to West Kalimantan but also to its people. The people contribute greatly to the success because the event proceeded in an orderly manner, secure, smooth and lively," noted Governor Cornelis.
The smooth organizing of the event is proof of the success of all sides - the central, provincial and city governments; and all of the people of West Kalimantan.
"Therefore, I thank for all parties who support the successful event," Governor Cornelis said.
He said that the enthusiasm of the local people to take part in the folk festival was very high. Tens of thousands of people thronged festival places.
The governor therefore asked the people to help maintain and preserve the river.
"This event has ended. But it does not mean that our tasks have also finished. I hope the people will join efforts to preserve the river by, for example, not disposing of garbage into the river. One of the aims of the carnival is to keep river clean," said Governor Cornelis.
He said that the Equator Carnival is expected to help increase the peoples awareness of the importance of appreciating and loving rivers as a support for the life of mankind.
"We all know the river conditions in West Kalimantan. Our rivers are still dirty and polluted because there are still many people who dispose of refuge to rivers," the governor said.
He said rivers should serve as a main pillar for the peoples economy. They can provide electricity and support tourism development.
President Jokowi who inaugurated the carnival also asked the people of Pontianak to preserve rivers as a source of human life and a lane of transportation.
Therefore, the carnival is expected to revive the water tourism in the country.
Thus, during its inauguration on Saturday, President Joko Widodo said the Equator Carnival should become an annual event, citing the positive impact it will have on local tourism development.
"This event has been organized very well and what it needs is a mere adjustment in the annual agenda of West Kalimantan. We, the central government, will extend full support for this event," he said.
President Jokowi said he believed the event, held to mark the countrys 70th independence anniversary, would have a good impact on the province.
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said he hoped that Pontianak and West Kalimantan would benefit greatly from the event.
"We hope this event proves beneficial for Pontianak and West Kalimantan, with regards to tourism development and boosting tourist arrivals to the region," he said on Saturday.
"I think West Kalimantan has a lot of tourism potentials, which can be developed in the future. Moreover, Pontianak has already been declared a river tourism city in the development plan for 2014 to 2019," Yahya added.
(A014/S012)
Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
