Asian Games To Increase S Sumatra's Economic Transactions

JAKARTA, March 22 (Antara) - A member of the House of Representatives' Commission X Dadang Rusdian stated that the economic transactions in South Sumatra would increase as the area has been selected to host part of the 2018 Asian Games. "A sports event will surely involve a lot of people. In addition to athletes and officials, the event will also attract viewers from inside and outside the country," he said in a written statement received here on Tuesday. The visits will then result in economic transactions during the biggest sports event in Asia. "In the long run, people would surely be more familiar with Indonesia, especially South Sumatra, as a tourism destination," he noted. The Asian Games, also serves as an opportunity to promote South Sumatra to the world, because sports and tourism promotion goes hand in hand, he added. "It just then depends on how the provincial government would play its part as a host while promoting its tourism potentials at the same time," he reiterated. Furthermore, he believed that South Sumatra possesses enough experience as a host of a sporting event as it had previously hosted the SEA Games. He is confident that the area can also host more sports categories than the ones currently being offered by the government. The 2018 Asian Games will be held in Indonesia, involving both Jakarta and South Sumatra. It will feature 42 sports categories. Ten competitions will be held in South Sumatra, while the rest will be held in Jakarta.