Jakarta, March 3, 2016 (Antara)- Indonesia will, for the first time, organize an international cycling race Tour de Flores in East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT) on May 19-26, this year, to promote tourism attractions in its eastern region.
Tour de Flores is aimed at attracting domestic and foreign tourists, which will help to boost the tourism industry in NTT and to improve the welfare of the local community, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs' Deputy, Safri Burhanuddin, stated recently.
Initially, the government had planned to hold an international event to exclusively promote Laboan Bajo, a small town located on the westernmost tip of the Island of Flores in NTT.
Laboan Bajo, which faces the isles of Rinca and Komodo, the world's only habitat of Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), or giant lizard, has been designated as a priority tourist destination by the central government along with nine other regions across Indonesia.
The nine priority tourist destinations are Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Seribu Islands (Jakarta), Tanjung Kelayang (Bangka Belitung), Tanjung Lesung (Banten), Borobudur Temple (Central Java), Mandalika (West Nusa Tenggara), Wakatobi (Southeast Sulawesi) , Morotai (North Maluku) and Mount Bromo (East Java).
The central and provincial governments have, however, decided to expand the promotion to cover other tourist attractions, in addition to Laboan Bajo, in NTT.
NTT has innate beauty and offers several tourism attractions such as the Komodo National Park, the sparkling sand beach of Pede-Labuan Bajo in the district of Manggarai Barat, and Tanjung, which is part of the 17 islands of Riung in the district of Nagekeo.
NTT has innate beauty and offers several tourism attractions such as the Komodo National Park, the sparkling sand beach of Pede-Labuan Bajo in the district of Manggarai Barat, and Tanjung, which is part of the 17 islands of Riung in the district of Nagekeo.
The province is also known for whale watching tourism in Lembata beach and the three-colored crater lakes in Mount Kalimutu called Lake Kalimutu in the district of Ende, Lake Ranamese in the district of Manggarai, and the Maumere bay in the district of Sikka.
Some 200 cyclists from 16 countries have confirmed their participation in the Tour de Flores, which will start in Larantuka, East Flores District, on May 19.
"Each country will send some 13 to 15 cyclists," Welly Rohi Mone, spokesman of the East Nusa Tenggara tourism office, stated in Kupang, the capital of NTT, on March 1.
Twenty teams from Europe, America, Asia and Australia will compete in the event, which has a total prize of Rp 8 billion.
Tour de Flores combines a cycling competition with a tour of the area to promote tourism destinations in East Nusa Tenggara.
The race will be organized under the supervision of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body for international cycling races and the Indonesian association of cycling sport (PB ISSI).
Tour de Flores combines a cycling competition with a tour of the area to promote tourism destinations in East Nusa Tenggara.
The race will be organized under the supervision of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body for international cycling races and the Indonesian association of cycling sport (PB ISSI).
The organizing committee will meet the participants in Banyuwangi, East Java, where they will join Tour de Ijen Banyuwangi, on May 11-14, 2016.
From Banyuwangi they will fly to Maumere, the district of Sikka, and later will proceed to Renha town, Larantuka, and thereafter to Lewoleba.
Prior to the race, the participants will join a tour on May 16 to Lewoleba, Lembata District, which is famous for whale watching.
From Banyuwangi they will fly to Maumere, the district of Sikka, and later will proceed to Renha town, Larantuka, and thereafter to Lewoleba.
Prior to the race, the participants will join a tour on May 16 to Lewoleba, Lembata District, which is famous for whale watching.
"On May 19, all participants should be in Larantuka and begin the event on bicycles to Labuan Bajo," he explained.
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, to be accompanied by East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya, will officially kick off the event that will last for a week.
Bearing the tagline "Explore the Amazing Land," the Tour de Flores will cover a distance of 743 kilometers divided into five laps: Larantuka-Maumere, Maumere-Ende, Ende-Bajwa, Bajwa-Ruteng to Ruteng-Labuan Bajo.
The starting point would be Larantuka, in the eastern tip of the island of Flores to finish in Labuhan Bajo, 661 kilometers away in the western end of the island.
The starting point would be Larantuka, in the eastern tip of the island of Flores to finish in Labuhan Bajo, 661 kilometers away in the western end of the island.
The cyclists will start from Larantuka and head to Maumere. On May 20, they will leave Maumere for Ende in Ende District. On May 21, they will proceed to Bajawa town in Ngada District, and later to East Manggarai, Ruteng town in Manggarai District, and finally finish the last leg of their race in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai District.
The people of Labuan Bajo will greet them with various traditional art and cultural performances and a bazaar.
During the launch of the Tour de Flores promotion in Jakarta, last January, Minister Arief Jahya stated that the ministry would also start promotion campaigns in countries participating in the race mainly Malaysia, Singapore, China, some European countries, and the United States.
He said NTT is set to transform itself into a major tourist destination in the country.
"With the motto 'New Tourism Territory,' the NTT even saw itself as a major tourist destination in the world," he emphasized.
Jahya expressed hope that the tourism sector would become the engine for economic development and modernization in NTT.
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 03-03-2016 12:47:09
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(f001/INE)
EDITED BY INE
(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 03-03-2016 12:47:09
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