Koba, Babel (Antara Babel) - Sports tourism activities are viewed as being strategic in promoting the tourism potential of Central Bangka District, Bangka-Belitung (Babel) Province, according to Central Bangka District Head Ibnu Saleh.
"We are now focusing on developing sports tourism as a strategic way to promoting the tourism potential of Central Bangka District," Saleh remarked here on Friday.
He explained that Central Bangka District has organized several national championships of certain sports, such as rock climbing, beach takraw, marathon, and mountain biking, as events to promote the tourism potential of the area.
"The participants come from various regions in Indonesia, and this is certainly helpful in promoting the potential of tourist attractions in this area," he emphasized.
Saleh has requested the relevant agencies to continue to organize national-level sports activities in a bid to promote the potential tourist attractions in the area.
"In the next few years, we will make this area a tourist destination, and certainly, we have to intensify promotion through sports tourism, as one of the effective promotional efforts," he said.
The Central Bangka district head admitted that promoting the tourism sector was not an easy task but took a long time and involved a lengthy process.
"Advancing the tourism sector is not that easy since it takes time to apply the right process and strategy, as it is related to the interest and the number of visits of tourists," he said.
Tourism attractions on Bangka Island, especially in the Central Bangka District, must be supported by adequate facilities and infrastructure.
Ketawai Island in Central Bangka, for instance, is a stopover for yachts from various countries, attracting both local and foreign tourists.
Situated some 18 kilometers from the Babel provincial city of Pangkalpinang, this uninhabited island is known for its beaches and underwater landscape, filled with sea grass and coral reefs.
Both local and foreign tourists who had visited Ketawai Island acknowledged that it is an ideal location to go swimming, diving, and snorkeling, but it still needs adequate facilities and infrastructure.
