JAKARTA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Surfers from 17 countries and regions have been competing in an international surfing championships in Lampung province of Indonesia, a minister said.

A total of 107 surfers have taken parts in the Krui Pro 2018 tournament taking place in Tanjung Setia, over half of the surfers are from Australia, Indonesian youth and sport minister Imam Nahrawi said.

Indonesia sent a total of 16 athletes in the competition, according to the committee of the event.

The sport event kicked off on April 15 and will end on April 20, it said.

"The event is not only expected to create talented surfers but is hoped to become a new destination which can boost surfing industry," Nahrawi was quoted by Tribun media as saying.

The Krui Pro 2018 stages World Surf League category of QS 1500 for men and QS 1000 for women, according to the committee.

Krui is a small stretch of quiet coastline on the southern tip of Sumatra Island, a large island in western parts of Indonesia.