TEMPO.CO, Subang - Department of Culture, Tourism, Youth, and Sports of Subang District, West Java, is developing art and ethnic culture along with village tour to attract both domestic and international travelers.

The Subang culture department head Hidayat said that one of the attempts to attract tourists is by holding an art and culture event dubbed “2016 Alim Paido Festival”. “Other than to preserve the art and culture heritage, it’s also aimed to attract local, regional, national, and international tourists,” Hidayat said on Sunday, December 18, 2016.

Hidayat explained that there is a positive trend in the tourism sector since domestic and international tourists tend to look for ethnic-based travel destinations. “We want to use the opportunity,” he said.

The 2016 Alim Paido Festival shows a number of local arts and ethnic culture, which include traditional childhood games such as egrang, coconut shell egrang, sered upih, perepet jengkol, gatrik, spinning-top battle, and bedil jepret.

The current event was considered a success since it attracted thousands of local and regional tourists. Which is why local officials will involve junior-high and high school students to partake in the upcoming 2017 Alim Paido Festival.

NANANG SUTISNA