Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism has added the traditional Pacu Jalur boat race from Kuantan Singingi, Riau Province, into its national tourism agenda of the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) calendar 2025, reinforcing its commitment to promoting local culture.
The move by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism is also part of a broader effort to promote the country’s tourism on the global stage. Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana emphasized that the ministry had supported the tradition even long before it went viral on social media.
“It’s inaccurate to say we only began supporting Pacu Jalur after it gained traction online,” Widiyanti said, as reported by Antara.
Earlier this month, on July 11, the ministry hosted Rayyan Arkan Dhika, a Pacu Jalur dancer whose performance recently gained global attention along with Kuantan Singingi Regent Suhardiman Amby, at the Ministry’s Sapta Pesona Building in Jakarta.
Widiyanti noted that global enthusiasm for Pacu Jalur reflects the distinctive charm of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. “Traditional culture remains highly relevant when presented effectively in the digital age,” she added.
The Pacu Jalur Festival is one of four events from Riau selected for inclusion in KEN 2025, a flagship program by the Ministry of Tourism to support high-quality events that reflect Indonesia’s cultural identity.
The ministry has supported the traditional boat race through KEN since 2022, working with tourism industry partners, including online travel agency Atourin, to promote the festival and offer curated travel packages under the Open Trip With (OTW) KEN initiative.
“Inclusion in KEN means the event has passed the ministry’s curation process, qualifying it for promotional support and funding incentives,” Widiyanti said.
This year’s Pacu Jalur Festival is scheduled to take place from August 20 to 24 along the Narosa River in Teluk Kuantan, Riau.
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Dating back to the 17th century, Pacu Jalur originated as a community tradition in which locals raced large wooden boats while transporting their harvests home. Over generations, this practice evolved into an annual cultural spectacle.
Now recognized as an intangible cultural heritage, the festival showcases a unique blend of traditional sport, communal unity, and local wisdom, offering a vibrant display of Indonesia’s living traditions.
(Raidi/Agung)
