The festival on July 26 was designed to promote durian daun, a local variety distinguished by its relatively small size and long, sharp thorns, alongside Bintan’s natural scenery.
The event drew around 650 participants, including visitors from Malaysia and the Netherlands, Antara News Agency reported.
Festivities began with a hike up Mount Bintan before participants gathered for a traditional communal durian feast, sitting together in a circle on the ground to enjoy the fruit.
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Durians hang from a tree branch at a farm in Indonesia’s Aceh Province, on June 21, 2023. Photo by AFP |
Kurniawan said the enthusiastic turnout reflected rising interest in Bintan among both domestic and overseas tourists.
He expressed confidence that such events would boost the local economy by promoting tourism, supporting agriculture and creating opportunities for small businesses, Southeast Asia Daily reported.
Southeast Asian countries are diversifying their tourism offerings by introducing durian buffets during the peak harvest season to attract tourists.
Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia already offered similar feasts.