"This event has been successfully completed, namely the qualification round and the race. We want to give additional race to the Toba people but the weather was not friendly to us," InJourney Director Dony Oskaria said on Sunday.
The F1 Powerboat on Lake Toba was scheduled for two races at 12:00 local time and 15:00 local time. However, strong winds and high waves forced the second race to be canceled.
Besides racing, Oskaria addressed that the success of the F1 Powerboat event impacts the society economy starting from lodging, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and others.
"This is our target in preparing every event. By broadcasting F1 Powerboat on 15 international television stations and being watched by hundreds of millions, Lake Toba will become more famous to the world," he remarked.
According to him, an event like the F1 Powerboat is part of creative marketing in promoting Lake Toba to the Indonesian people and to the world with its exposure.
"Marketing with this model is the most effective method," he continued.
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However, he did not deny several shortcomings that needed to be corrected in the next event.
"After all, we InJourney is not an event organizer. We are learning and will make improvements for the next event," he said.
Lake Toba was chosen by President Joko Widodo as one of the five Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP) areas. The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is also supporting infrastructure development at the location starting from the arrangement of areas, roads, bridges, provision of raw water and clean water, waste management, sanitation, and repair of residential areas (Tourism Residential Facilities).
A number of developments have also been completed, such as the arrangement of Ulos Huta Raja and Huta Siallagan Villages in Samosir District, the Sidikalang Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Dairi District, the Parapat Wastewater Treatment Plant (IPAL) in Simalungun District, and the construction of the Lake Toba toilet.
As the host of the F1 Powerboat racing event, Indonesia has an excellent opportunity to enhance the image and attractiveness of Lake Toba tourism at the global level.
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Translator: Muhammad Ramdan, Resinta S
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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