Pangkalpinang Turns Destar Point into Premium Local Durian Hub

RRI.CO.ID, Pangkalpinang - Destar Point has been transformed into a premium culinary hub for local durians by the Pangkalpinang City Administration in Bangka Belitung Islands Province to challenge the long-standing market dominance of imported durians from Malaysia and Thailand.

Relying on superior varieties such as Cumasi and Tembaga, noted for their luxurious texture, the move is a tactical strategy to elevate Bangka Belitung’s local commodity to the international premium fruit market.

“We are making Destar Point a culinary tourism destination for durians,” said Pangkalpinang Mayor, Saparudin, in Pangkalpinang on Monday, 6 July 2026.

He said Destar Point, located within the Pangkalpinang integrated administration complex on Jalan Soekarno Hatta, is now officially designated as the city’s durian culinary center. The facility will market farmers’ produce from Bangka Regency, Central Bangka, West Bangka and South Bangka.

“Pangkalpinang is ready to become the primary marketing center for local durians in the Bangka Belitung Islands. This is driven by strong market interest in regional flagship varieties like Cumasi and Tembaga, which have outstanding flavors,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

He added that establishing a local durian culinary center at Destar Point aims to distribute tourism benefits more evenly. The initiative intends to reduce reliance on traditional culinary hotspots such as Merdeka Park Square, Dealova Hill, Wilhelmina Park and Taman Sari as the province’s main destinations.

“We will ensure that every durian season features a Cumasi durian bazaar and other local durian fairs at this culinary center,” he said.

Destar Point is also part of the city administration’s effort to promote Bangka Belitung’s local durian potential to wider audiences, nationally and internationally.

“We want local durians like Cumasi to gain wider recognition because they are just as good as durians developed in neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and others,” he said.

He expressed hope that the Cumasi durian bazaar at Destar Point, running from Sunday, 5 July 2026 to Sunday, 12 July 2026, will increase local awareness of the region’s distinctive durians.

“With this Cumasi bazaar, people will better recognize local durians. We must not only know durians from neighboring countries while ignoring our own local varieties, which often have superior taste,” he said. ***