In Indonesia, an 11-year-old boy's 'boat dance' boosts attendance at the traditional Pacu Jalur race

Approximately one kilometer long, the Pacu Jalur race is very famous in the Indonesian archipelago, where it was held until Sunday on the Kuantan River, in Riau province, on the island of Sumatra (west). It traditionally draws crowds of spectators, mainly Indonesian. But this year, organizers were expecting up to 100,000 additional people from around the world.

The reason for such enthusiasm? The dance of Rayyan Arkan Dikha, an 11-year-old Indonesian, standing at the front of speeding boats, captured in a twenty-second video that went viral around the world in June.

Last year, Pacu Jalur attracted 1.4 million visitors and generated more than $2.5 million for the local economy, according to the tourism ministry. This year, organizers expected 1.5 million spectators and hoped for revenue of up to $4.6 million, according to Roni Rakhmat, director of the Riau Tourism Agency.