Powerboat Championship Becomes the Pride of Lake Toba Community

Formula 1 Powerboat race event on Lake Toba (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

Indonesia is set to host the upcoming F1 Powerboat racing event which will take place at the world’s largest volcanic Lake Toba in North Sumatra province.

Ahead of the racing event, the residents of North Sumatra, especially those who reside around Lake Toba show great enthusiasm.

Jisca, one of local residents also expressed pride in the cultural heritage of Lake Toba used as the venue of an international event.

“We saw the arrival of some visitors and government officials. We are so proud to be the Toba residents. I even got goosebumps all over my body because this is the first time an international event is held here,” Jisca said, adding that the event can also revive the prestige and beauty of Lake Toba.

“When I was in elementary school, many foreign tourists visited Toba, but why did the number of visitors decrease? The Government should do something to attract more visitors. We are so proud and happy the event took place here. If possible, please hold such events every year,” she added.

Another local resident Arta Sianipar came along with her husband to watch the event and expressed pride to have the opportunity to witness an international event.

“I was touched when I saw on TV and social media that the F1H2O was held here. It was such a big, global event. Balige is just a small town, but people all over the world could make it here, even government officials and the President came to Toba,” Arta asserted.

Sofian Sitorus, another Toba resident, said that the event significantly impacts the economy in the surrounding area.

He expressed hope that the Government can assume more international race events and the community can increase their hospitality so the F1H2O event can continue for many years to come.

“The impact is quite big. We see traffic jams and congestion, which means many people come. When many people come, indeed it has an economic impact on us,” he said.

“We hope the Government can better manage both the preparation and implementation since such events bring positive impacts. For local community, we need to improve our hospitality when we receive visitors as we often heard that the guests should be treated as a king,” he remarked.

The Toba residents have the same hope that the beauty of Lake Toba can be better known by domestic and foreign tourists.

“For those who might usually visit other tourist destinations like Bali and others, you could come here. We can assure you that we will be friendly in welcoming guests who visit us,” Jisca said. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN)