Riau had three tourism events included in the national tourism calendar of events so far, Riau Governor Arsyadjuliandi Rachman said here, Tuesday.
The three tourism events are Bakar Tongkang, which is held in Rokan Hilir District, Pacu Jalur in Kuantan Singingi, and Bono Surfing in Pelalawan.
The governor also lauded the plan to extend the route of Tour de Siak up to Malacca, Malaysia.
"Hopefully, next year it could be materialized," he said.
He wished the sixth Tour de Siak this year a success. In the long term, he hoped that its route would also cover other regions in Riau.
Fahmizal, head of the Riau creative economic and tourism office, said the province had in fact proposed six events to be included in the national tourism calendar of events.
Of the six, three had been accepted last year, and three others hopefully could be included this year, he added.
The Riau governor, accompanied by Siak District Head Syamsuar and deputy chairman of the Indonesian Cyclist Association (ISSI) Beni Subaggia, officially kicked off the Tour de Siak, to be held until September 21, in Siak, Monday evening.
As many as 69 cyclists grouped in nine foreign teams and six domestic teams will take part in the annual sports tourism event.
The foreign teams are from Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia.
Reporting by Nella, Fazar
Editing by Fardah, Yoseph Hariyadi
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
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