Asian Games - AG Torch Relay Expected To Promote Bulukumba

ASIAN GAMES - AG TORCH RELAY EXPECTED TO PROMOTE BULUKUMBA BULUKUMBA, S Sulawesi, July 29 (Antara) - The Relay of the 18th Asian Games torch, which also passed through Bulukumba, is expected to help promote the tourism of the South Sulawesi province's district. "Bulukumba has great hopes for being one of the districts in South Sulawesi for the Asian Games torch relay to pass through," Bulukumba District Head Andi Muhammad Sukri Sappewali stated in Bulukumba on Saturday. Bulukumba residents, especially in Tanjung Bira area, are known to have expertise in designing, assembling, and building pinisi ships. Therefore, the Asian Games torch flame set sail on three pinisi boats from the Bontobahari Fish Market Port (PPI) in Bulukumba to White Sand Beach of Tanjung Bira. It symbolically promotes the name of the Indonesian pinisi boat to the world, the district head noted. In addition to the famous pinisi boat, Bulukumba district also has the Tanjung Bira Beach, which is located at the southernmost tip of South Sulawesi Province, precisely in Bonto Bahari District. Tanjung Bira is famous for its very soft white sand and crystal clear sea water, making it one of the favorite destinations for foreign tourists. However, the problem of connectivity becomes the main obstacle for Bulukumba District Government to increase the local revenue from the tourism sector. The Asian Games flame, which arrived in Makassar, South Sulawesi Provincial Capital, on Saturday morning form Sorong, West Papua, was taken to Bulukumba to be relayed around the district by the Asian Games Torch Marching Team. Sappewali received the torch at the Islamic Center. Thousands of residents and students, in their uniforms and the white-and-red flags, enthusiastically lined up on road sides to welcome the Asian Games flame. The Asian Games torch, which was carried by the AG Marching Team, arrived at Bonto Bahari Fish Market Port (PPI) at 5.30 p.m. local time. The Asian Games flame sailed from the Bonto Hahari PPI to the Pasir Putih Beach in Tanjung Bira in three pinisi ships escorted by 45 smaller pinisi boats carrying the flags of the Asian Games participating countries. Actor Mario Lawalata took part in highlighting the torch marching. He took the flame on board the pinisi ship. "This is an honor for Bulukumba as one of the districts in South Sulawesi where the Asian Games torch passed through and was taken around the city," Sappewali remarked.