JAKARTA - The Pacu Path tradition is part of Indonesia's cultural heritage, which now gets wider recognition through its appointment in the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2025 program.
This strategic program from the Ministry of Tourism aims to highlight leading cultural events from all over the archipelago, as well as strengthen the promotion of tourism based on local cultural wealth to the global level. The determination of Pacu Paths as part of KEN emphasized the historical, artistic, and social values of traditions that have lived for hundreds of years in Kuantan Singingi, Riau.
The Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, explained that support for the implementation of the Pacu Line had been running long before the festival received great attention on social media. He dismissed the assumption that the Ministry had only given attention after the viral phenomenon of "aura farming" related to this event.
Since the beginning, we have seen the cultural potential of Pacu Line as a unique tourist attraction. Our support is not a temporary reaction, but part of a cultural wealth-based tourism promotion strategy," he said as quoted by ANTARA.
The viral phenomenon of Pacu Line, according to Widiyanti, shows that traditional Indonesian culture can remain relevant in the digital era if it is packaged creatively. The visual attraction, community spirit, and strong local values are the keys to why this event can steal the attention of the global public.
This year, Pacu Path is one of four events from Riau selected in KEN 2025. This program is a form of curation from the Ministry of Tourism to select and support quality events that highlight Indonesian cultural identity, with promotional support and infrastructure development.
The ministry's support includes digital promotions through official channels such as MAY Indonesia, Pesona Indonesia, and Event by Indonesia. Special content is made to expand the reach of information through social media, including interactions on large accounts that upload about Pacu Paths and the aura of farming.
In addition to promotions, the ministry is also actively collaborating with local governments to ensure the quality of the event. This includes technical coordination, improvement of facilities and infrastructure, assistance in event management, and monitoring to evaluate its impact on tourism and local economy.
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To support the commercialization and tourism aspect, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy also collaborates with industry players such as the online travel agent Atourin, through the Open Trip With (OTW) KEN program. This program combines promotion of events and tour packages to Pacu Line, targeting domestic and foreign tourists.
"With the entry of the Pacu Line into the KEN, this event has gone through a rigorous selection process and has priority promotion and development support from the center," added Widiyanti.
The positive impact of this event looks real. In addition to being a means of cultural preservation, Pacu Jalan also encourages local economic growth. The Chairperson of the 2025 Pacu Organizers, Werry Ramadhana Putera, estimates that the circulation of money during the festival could reach Rp75 billion. Meanwhile, PHRI Riau noted the potential for increased occupancy of hotels and homestays, especially in Pekanbaru and Kuansing.
According to data from the Riau Provincial Tourism Office, the number of tourist visits this year is estimated to increase by 30 percent compared to the previous year. This surge is believed to be the direct impact of massive promotions and increased attention to Pacu Line as a cultural attraction.
Historically, Pacu Path is a tradition that has existed since the 17th century, starting from the habit of the people of Kuantan Singingi using large boats to transport crops. On the way back to the village, people competed for each other early, and this habit developed into a traditional boat competition or Pacu Line.
Now, the Pacu Path Festival is recognized as an intangible cultural heritage, and combines elements of water sports, community cohesiveness, and authentic local cultural expressions. This attraction not only presents entertainment, but also creates a distinctive cultural tourism experience.
The 2025 Pacu Line is scheduled to take place on August 20, 2025, located in the Narosa Bank, Teluk Kuantan City, Riau Province.
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