From 22-26 November, Lake Toba played host to the Aquabike Jetski World Championship, held for the very first time in Indonesia this year. The latest in a series of major events that includes football, basketball, marathons and motor racing, the Aquabike Championship demonstrated Indonesia’s growing reputation as a destination for elite-level sports tourism.
The five-day Aquabike Jetski World Championship 2023 was held in four districts in North Sumatra Province, namely Karo, Dairi, Samosir and Toba. A total of 22 riders from around the world competed in the endurance category at Tao Silalahi Beach, where the event attracted crowds of over 100,000 people.
“This figure far exceeded the government’s target of only around 14,000 visitors,” said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno on the last day of the competition. Speaking at the H2O F1 arena in Balige Port, Toba District, the minister went on to praise Toba as a top destination for international events and sports tourism.
Uno’s government is committed to developing the sports tourism sector, as outlined by their Grand Design of National Sports (DBON) agenda for 2021-2045. At the local level in Dairi, this position was supported by District Head Eddy Keleng Ate Berutu, who noted that the surrounding landscape is the perfect place for tourists to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, running and rock climbing.
Berutu went on to suggest that the Aquabike Jetski World Championship 2023 represented the beginning of a new chapter in the story of tourism in Dairi. With its credentials as host for international-scale events confirmed, he hopes his region will become a mainstay in the sporting calendar for many years to come.
The benefits of this tourism development can be seen in the surrounding area too. In neighbouring Samosir District, the local government has been active in funding, promotion and logistical arrangements for the event, including the use of Pangururan Waterfront City.
Moreover, officials have been training local communities to support the new influx of tourists with a range of services, covering everything from accommodation and tours to souvenirs and foods. The result is a fledgling new tourism ecosystem, supported by government funding and development and with the potential to make the Lake Toba area one of the top attractions in Indonesia.
Located in North Sumatra, Lake Toba is the world’s largest volcanic lake. Its stunning natural beauty, combined with the rich cultural traditions of the Batak tribes that surround it, make Toba one of Indonesia’s most popular and rewarding tourist attractions. In recognition of its high geological value, biodiversity and rich cultural heritage, the region was officially inducted into UNESCO’s list of Global Geoparks in 2020.
