Was Weakened By The Pandemic, Traditional Canoe Racing Festival At Lombok's Ekas Beach Boosts The Economy

One of the participants in the canoe race at Ekas Beach, East Lombok (Antara/East Lombok Regency Government Public Relations) (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Deputy Regent of East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Rumaksi expressed his support for the traditional canoe racing festival at Ekas Beach, because it can improve the community's economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We can see that the community's economy is rising, after being sluggish by the pandemic, it is extraordinary," said H Rumaksi when opening the traditional canoe racing festival in Teluk Ekas, Jerowaru District, East Lombok Regency, quoted from Antara, Sunday.

He was enthusiastic and appreciated the 2022 traditional canoe racing festival activities held by the Ekas Village Government. Activities like this, in addition to grounding ancestral traditions, also have an impact on improving the community's economy. In addition, these activities are in line with the spirit of restoration in reviving the people's economy.

"Macroeconomic stability is largely determined by purchasing power at the grassroots," he said.

This activity is also in line with the spirit of NasDem change to grow the people's economy. Therefore, he fully supports this event. The government of East Lombok is aware that the traditional canoe racing festival has great potential to attract tourists to visit East Lombok.

"Local governments will try to make this activity included in the list of regional or national tourism calendars," he said.

With the existence of the MotoGP Circuit in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Mandalika has grown to become a new magnet for world tourism. So, the government of East Lombok should not be fooled, all potentials must be maximized, including this canoe racing festival.

"This is very potential and we will try to be included in the national tourism calendar," he said.

The Head of Ekas Village, Ahmad Nursandi, thanked all parties, especially the Deputy Regent who had fully supported the implementation of the traditional canoe racing festival.

"This canoe racing festival is the eighth, but two years it has not been held because of the pandemic, only this year we can win the title again," he said.

He said the traditional canoe racing festival held by his party was the largest in NTB, and had a major impact on the economy and tourism growth in Ekas Village, so it would continue to be held every year.

"This traditional canoe race is the largest in NTB. This year's participants are 50 teams, the impact is extraordinary for the community's economy, and will continue to be held every year," he said.