Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The provincial government of Riau has designated the riverside venue of the annual Pacu Jalur boat race in Teluk Kuantan, Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regency, as a conservation area reserved exclusively for the traditional event.
“This site will be conserved, no other activities will be allowed here, only Pacu Jalur,” Governor Abdul Wahid said during a visit to the Narosa Riverside on Thursday, where he oversaw the installation of conservation signage, as reported by Antara.
Wahid stressed that the area will be strictly protected, noting that the Pacu Jalur is no longer just a local tradition but has evolved into a cultural attraction with global recognition.
“This reflects the strong enthusiasm and sense of ownership the community has for this tradition. In the past, most spectators were locals, but now visitors come from other regions and even from overseas,” he said.
This year’s Pacu Jalur Festival is expected to draw record crowds, fueled in part by its rising popularity on global social media platforms, boosted by the viral “aura farming” trend.
The 2025 edition will take place over five days from August 20–24 at the Narosa Riverside in Kuantan Tengah District, Riau.
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To prepare for the event, the Kuantan Singingi Regency Government and the 2025 Pacu Jalur organizing committee have begun upgrading Taman Jalur, the park that will host the festival’s opening and closing ceremonies.
The move was carried out as the President Prabowo Subianto or Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka is expected to attend.
Following guidance from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, all official ceremonies will be held at Taman Jalur, located next to the Narosa Riverside race venue.
The local public works department is continuing preparations at the site, while the festival committee is finalizing spectator arrangements to ensure a more organized and comfortable viewing experience.
(Raidi/Agung)
