Agam District To Hold Various Tourism Events

Lubukbasung, W Sumatra, Jan 9 (ANTARA) - The local administration of Agam district, West Sumatra province, will organise a number of tourism events this year in an effort to boost tourist arrivals, an official said. "We will offer paragliding, Tour de Singkarak, Tour de Antoken, Trabas adventure trail and wild boar hunting, among other things, to attract tourists to our district," the district`s Culture and Tourism Office chief, Junaidi, said here Wednesday. "The main aim of these events, which will be held throughout this year, is to increase the number of tourist arrivals. Therefore, we are currently making various preparations," Junaidi explained. He stated that the local culture and tourism office had set itself a target to attract at least 200,000 domestic tourists and 2,500 foreign tourists to Agam by the end of this year. Junaidi noted that 187,204 domestic tourists and 18,668 foreign tourists visited Agam last year, up from 154,891 domestic tourists and 19,273 foreign tourists in 2011. In 2010, he added, Agam saw 151,000 domestic tourist arrivals and 8,623 foreign tourist arrivals. "Therefore, the culture and tourism office will cooperate with travel agencies, distribute promotional leaflets and conduct various shows across the province to promote tourism in Agam district," Junaidi said. He also expressed optimism that the local government would be able to achieve its tourist arrival targets and generate more revenue from the tourism sector.