BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's local travel agencies and hoteliers were urged to bring in more tourists to the country to witness a annual national boat race.

According to local daily the Borneo Bulletin on Wednesday, the traditional boat race - Brunei Darussalam Regatta 2018 will be held on Aug. 12 at the Brunei River.

The event is a great opportunity and platform for travel agencies and hoteliers to help promote the country and boost the number of tourists to not only witness the boat race but to have a closer look at landmarks, especially within the capital where the regatta is held, said acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali.

He added that this year the event has attracted participants from Malaysia, China and Indonesia who will compete with local boat race teams.

Brunei Darussalam Regatta is an annual event organized in conjunction with the birthday celebration of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. Some 30,000 people are expected to attend the event this year.