Demak Regent: Central Java Provincial Games Boost Culinary and Hotel Sectors

Demak Regent Eisti’anah said the regency’s selection as host of four sports at the 2026 Central Java Provincial Sports Week (Porprov) has helped stimulate the local economy, particularly hotels and food businesses.

“With participants, officials and coaches arriving from various areas, they can also sample Demak Regency’s distinctive offerings. In addition, accommodation providers have seen a fairly significant increase in income,” Eisti’anah said after the opening of the wrestling event at Wisma Halim Demak on Wednesday.

She said the arrival of participants and their companions from districts and cities across Central Java offered micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) an opportunity to increase sales, particularly of Demak’s speciality food products.

As well as generating economic benefits for businesses, hosting the provincial sports event gives the local government an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to provide visitors with the best possible service.

“This is also an encouragement for us. Most importantly, we can do our best for the guests who come to Demak Regency,” she said.

Demak is hosting four sports at the 2026 Central Java Provincial Sports Week: sepak takraw, wrestling, drum band and badminton.

Eisti’anah said she hoped Demak’s athletes would perform at their best. The regency government has also prepared rewards for athletes who achieve success.

“We have prepared awards or rewards from the regency government. Now we are waiting for the athletes to achieve results,” she said.

Regarding financial support, she said sports development funding is allocated through the Youth and Sports Agency (Dinpora), while support for the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) is adjusted to the activities’ needs and the region’s financial capacity.

Dinpora’s budget for organising the 2026 Provincial Sports Week is around Rp600 million to almost Rp700 million.

Meanwhile, Sukarjo, head of the organising committee for the Porprov wrestling event, said 147 athletes and 37 coaches from 20 districts and cities that qualified through the Central Java Provincial Sports Week pre-qualifiers were taking part.

He said three styles were being contested: Greco-Roman, men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle. There are 18 weight classes, with 18 gold medals available.

“We have provided seven hotels to accommodate the wrestlers and officials,” he said.

He added that Demak’s appointment as host had also benefited local businesses, as participants’ accommodation and food requirements increased economic activity in the community.

The Porprov 2026 wrestling competition in Demak Regency runs from 27 to 30 October 2026.