TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Government of Padang city, West Sumatra, will turn the Indonesia-Malaysia Culture and Economic Festival (Malindo), scheduled from December 3 to 5, into an event to boost the tourism sector in the area.

"We expect visitors from Malaysia and other South-East Asian countries to participate in the festival, so that Padangs tourism and culture can be introduced to the people of the world," Head of Padang Cultural and Tourism office, Medi Iswandi, said in Padang, West Sumatra.

The festival, initiated by Malindo MBCC Asia, will showcase a number of products crafted by small-medium companies from Padang, Malaysia, Jambi, South Sumatra, Riau, Java Island and other countries in the ASEAN region.

This will open investment opportunities for the city, especially in the tourism sector, he added.

In his agenda, Iswandi said that there are a number of activities involved in the sector, including watching the Dayung Palinggam festival, officiating a playground and visiting the beach.

"Although the festival bears cultural and economic themes, the local government will also be targeting the tourism sector," he pointed out.

For the three-day agenda, guests from Malindo arrived in Padang on Friday, and they conducted a meeting in preparation for the festival.

The festival will open tomorrow in Kyriad Bumi Minang Hotel, where the activities will happen for the next two days.

Other than the festival, a city tour is also included in the agenda for guests from Malindo.

ANTARA