River rafting in Merangin

Jambi province has many river tourist attraction, it is very interesting. One of the tourist attraction is rafting. Rafting objects potential tourism in Jambi found in the two districts, namely, Sarolangun and Merangin. Potential tourist rafting in Sarolangun found in the River Batangasai, Subdistrict Batangasai. Then the potential rafting in Merangin found in the River Batangmerangin, Air batu village. This potential long time tends to be ignored.

Tourists interest enjoy the natural charm is still low. This event looked tranquil from the tour rafting rivers in both the upstream Batanghari river. River rafting in Batangasai once newly held a glorious race through 2005. After that tour objects being neglected .

River rafting in Batangmerangin also the same. Since the tour River rafting Batangmerangin introduced nationally in 1997, the tourist attraction at the mountain's slope of Kerinci it
such forgotten. The enthusiasm of nature tourist lovers to challenge the violence of Batangmerangin river as if extinguished in line with the dejected of Jambi's tourism recently.

Seeing the large tourism potential in the River rafting Batangmerangin to stimulate tourism visits to Jambi, rafting tour is back in business. District Government (Pemkab) Merangin and the Provincial Government (province) Jambi, in cooperation with the Federation's of river rafting Indonesia (FAJI) recently opened a National Championship (Kejurnas) River rafting in Batangmerangin, Air batu village, Batangmerangin subdistrict, Merangin regency, about 300 kilometers (km) from the city of Jambi.

Chairman of the river rafting National Championship Committee Batangmerangin,
Marzuki Yahya said, sports and nature challenge simultaneous has a dual purpose. In addition to establish the successful of program Visit Indonesia Year 2008, National Championship is also
intended as a place of rafting athletes achievement. Rafting's National Championship is a selection of rafting athletes for the Asia-Australia international rafting championship in Japan, December 2008.

The enthusiastic national rafting group race was quite high. National championship was followed 90 male and female athletes from 15 rafting teams of eight provinces. Among the rafting team from Jakarta, East Java, West Java, Central Java, Banten, South Sumatra, Jambi, and Aceh.

Rafting's National Championship is also able to attract the local and national tourists. Thousands of tourists witnessed the largest rafting activity which first held in the region. National Championship are able directly to stimulate the return of Jambi's tourism , especially tourism in Merangin regency. Governor of Jambi, H Zulkifli Nurdin said, national championship is one of the media tourism campaign. Rafting's national championship is expected to continue to encourage the regular rafting tour, which is worn out lately. Tours rafting can still be held a similar return in the River Batangasai, Sarolangun District. The high enthusiastic tourists witnessed rafting national championship is also need to take seriously. District Government expected to increase attention on tourist's development, especially nature tourism.

Currently, tourists tend to be more interested in the natural and cultural tourism. Objects natural and cultural tourism of Jambi, which is very rich and must be managed professionally in order to increase tourism visits. "Development of nature tourism and cultural areas with a serious need to be managed as one business to generate economic. If a visit to Jambi increased tourism, people will also participate to increase the economic business. This can be seen in the implementation rafting national championship in Merangin," he said. Jambi's Sub Head of Marketing Office of Culture and Tourism, Risnal Mawardi mentioning Batangmerangin river, selected as the location of rafting national championship which has it own class. Based on the recommendations FAJI , Batangmerangin river is eligible for the national championship
rafting area.

The difficulty of river rafting crossing in the reaches of 4.5. While the pathways rafting reach 15 km. Batangmerangin water river relatively stable or not become shallow when the dry season. However, in the rainy season, rafting can not be held in the river because it often overflow. See the enthusiastic sports lover and rafting tours on this national championship, the comittee will return to run the open rafting championship. Both in the Batangmerangin river, Batangasai, and in other rivers. The rafting Championship is planned next year, held back in order to Visit Jambi Year 2009. Through these rafting activities, the region is trying to satisfy the taste of adventure tourism's lover thirst and promote local tourism all at once.

"World rafting's lover will be invited. The presence of their activities on rafting in the region is very useful in order to promote Jambi's tourism to the international. The dreams that we can reach for the athletes usually make rafting packages for adventure tourism," he said.