Antara News, Thursday, October 7, 2010 17:07 WIB
Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung (ANTARA News) - Bangka Belitung province Eko Maulana Ali called on district administrations in the province to prepare themselves for Sail Belitong 2011.
"I called on the district administrations to prepare themselves for Sail Belitong 2011 as various activities will be held in different districts in the province in support of the upcoming international event," the governor said here Thursday.
He said however greater scale activities were expected to be held in Bangka as it provides better accommodation and transportation facilities.
"Several activities will be held in Pangkalpinang city and Sungailiat, Bangka. Meanwhile, and the event was expected to be recorded in the Guiness Book of Records," he said.
According to him, an under-water chess game is now being prepared and also expected to be recorded in the Guiness Book of Records.
"Supporting activities for Sail Belitong will have been promoted early in 2011 to make people aware of the international event whose peak program will take place in November next year," he said.
With Sail Belitong 2011, more foreigners are expected to visit Bangka Belitung, he added.
"If more foreigners visit Bangka Belitung, the local economy would grow further because the visitors will include businesspeople who would invest their capital in the province," he said.
He cited as an example the Visit Babel (Bangka Belitung) Archi 2010 has attracted investors in star-rated hotels.
"Hotel Novotel is the only five-star hotel in Bangka Belitung a proof that investors are confident in investing big capital there," he said.
After Sail Belitong 2011, Eko said his administration would think of other programs in 2012 so that Bangka Belitung will continue holding international events.
"Sail Belitong is expected to attract more tourists and investors so that Bangka Belitung could hold more international events in 2010," he said.
