SAIL BOAT RACE IN KARIMUN REGENCY

Sail boat race is one of the people's game lasting from generation to generation in Karimun Regency, Riau Islands Province, Indonesia, and became one of mainstay attractions in attracting domestic tourists visit and abroad.

Karimun Regency Tourism Office made the race as a tourism agenda every year, especially in the celebration of the independence day of the Republic of Indonesia each year.

The activity was held in the coastal areas, such as the Village Pongkar, Tebing District or in Parit Island and Tulang Island, Karimun District.

Competition was a party full of people with joy and offering hospitality to foreign tourists.

RIAU ARCHIPELAGO

Its waters are the backyard of native seafaring nomads who fish and trade for a living. Their traditional wooden sailing craft, called 'pinisi' still do the forested channels of these islands, along with other indigenous craft, fishing vessels and cargo ships which call at the archipelago's main town and Tanjung Pinang port.

Tanjung Pinang lies on the largest island of Bintan archipelago. Once known as Riau, it was the heart of an ancient Malay kingdom. Today, Bintan is the latest hot spot of development in Indonesia's surging economy.

A master plan is underway to turn it into a major tourist destination. Barely an hour away from Singapore by ferry, tourist accommodation has begun to appear to take advantage of its gateway from it all appeal. It consists of Riau Archipelago, Natuna Islands and Anambas Archipelago.

Originally part of Riau Province, Riau Archipelago was split off as a separate Province in July 2004 with Tanjung Pinang as its capital. Anambas Archipelago, located between mainland Malaysia and Borneo were attached to the new province.

By population, the most important Riau islands are Bintan, Batam and Karimun. Size wise, however, the sparsely populated Natuna Islands are larger.