SAIL KARIMATA STRAIT 2016 TO INVOLVE FOUR PROVINCES by Fardah

  Jakarta, May 30, 2016 (Antara) - The annual international maritime event of Sail Indonesia this year is called Sail Karimata Strait 2016 and will involve four provinces located on Kalimantan and Sumatra Islands: West Kalimantan, Jambi, Bangka Belitung, and Riau Islands.

        Its peak event will be held in North Kayong District, West Kalimantan, on October 15 and is expected to be officially kicked off by President Joko Widodo.

        Besides the peak event, the main activities will include a national seminar on maritime affairs to be organized in Jambi on August 25, 2016; Belitung Festival on October 22; and Riau Islands Maritime Festival on October 28.

        A series of activities to welcome the Sail Karimata Strait, however, will begin on June 1, Safri Burhanuddin, deputy IV of the coordinating minister of maritime affairs, stated during a coordination meeting on the event held recently in Jakarta.

        The meeting was attended by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli and Industry Minister Saleh Husin.

        Rizal Ramli observed that the event, which is part of annual Sail Indonesia, must yield benefits for the community.

        "As requested by the President, we don't want it just to be another event. We want to see benefits before and after the activity, for the community. The development should also be more coordinated," he added.

WONDERFUL INDONESIA CAMPAIGN TO LURE MORE BRITISH TOURISTS by Fardah

Jakarta, May 30, 2016 (Antara)- Indonesia has been aggressively promoting its tourist destinations, arts, and culture in Great Britain over the past one year.  
      This year, Indonesia hopes to attract at least 300 thousand British visitors. The number of British tourists to Indonesia reached 230,315 in 2014 and increased to some 270 thousand in 2015.
       During the January-March 2016 period, the country received a total of 67,750 British tourists, or an increase of 28.54 percent from 52,708 people during the same period last year.

             The tourism ministry is optimistic that this year's target would be achieved through the intensified promotion of the Bali and beyond tourism program.
       Ten priority tourist destinations often referred to as "new Bali" are currently being promoted world-widely.

            They are Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands) in Jakarta, Borobudur in Central Java, Bromo-Tengger-Semeru in East Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Wakatobi in South East Sulawesi, and Morotai in North Maluku.

PRESIDENT JOKOWI SEES PEACE, STABILITY AS KEY FOR GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH by Fardah

Jakarta, May 27, 2016 (Antara) - A war is not only bloody, cruel and expensive but also detrimental to economic growth.

         The reality was highlighted by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in his key speech during the Outreach Meeting at the G-7 Summit attended by leaders of seven industrial powers - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, in Ise-Shima, Japan, on May 27, 2016.

         "In 2014, the economic impact of armed violence on the global economy in 2014 measured a staggering US$14.3 trillion, or 13.4 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP)," the president, who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi, said.

         Therefore, he urged regional and international conflicts must be settled peacefully.

         "Indonesia is ready to be motor in creating peace in Asia as  well as in the world," Jokowi affirmed in the meeting moderated by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

         It is time for the world to be aware of the importance of settling conflict without creating bigger conflict, according to him.

         "Settling conflict militarily or by force would lead to other forms of violence such as extremism, even humanitarian crisis," he said.

POLITICIANS, ACTIVISTS LAUD NEW GOVT REGULATION ON CHILD PROTECTION by Fardah

Jakarta, May 27, 2016 (Antara) - Politicians and child protection activists have lauded the issuance of Government Regulation No. 1 of 2016, which is the second amendment to Law No. 23 of 2002 on Child Protection, giving judges enough room to impose heavier punishment upon those guilty of raping and murdering children.

         President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) signed the government regulation on May 25, 2016.

         This Perppu is aimed at dealing with an emergency situation as the number of cases of sexual violence against children were on the rise," Jokowi said.

         He explained that the decree will regulate the enhanced sentence and additional sentences for such perpetrators.

         "These crimes have undermined the development of children, and have disturbed our sense of peace, security and public order," he pointed out, adding, "We will handle it in an extraordinary way."
    The increased sentence includes an additional one third of a  sentence for criminal charges, death penalty, or life imprisonment, or a jail sentence, with a minimum punishment of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years.

INDONESIA, SOUTH KOREA ENTER NEW STAGE OF BILATERAL RELATIONS by Fardah

Jakarta, May 25, 2016 (Antara)- Bilateral relations between Indonesia and South Korea have entered a new stage as the two nations celebrated the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership agreement this year.

          The new stage was marked by the signing of several economic cooperation agreements, and various efforts were discussed to ensure mutual support in foreign, political, and global security affairs, according to South Korean President Park Geun-hye.  
     "The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation, especially in the fields of creative industry, maritime, and environment. Today, several memoranda of understanding were signed to create synergy in the cooperation," Geun-hye stated in Seoul, recently, after holding a bilateral meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who had made a state visit on May 15-20.  
    South Korea is a strategic and key partner of Indonesia in Asia, President Jokowi stated, adding that bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy and industry had been proceeding smoothly.

          "Trade and investment between the two countries has been going well. Just now, we spoke about making investment in Indonesia. South Korea is interested to invest in the development of toll roads, harbors, railway tracks, power plants, and maritime infrastructure, among others," he noted.

OPENING WIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG INDONESIANS TO BECOME ENTREPRENEURS by Fardah

Jakarta, May 25, 2016 Antara)- The Indonesian government needs to carry out bureaucratic and economic reforms to provide facilities and improve the business climate that will enable several young people to become entrepreneurs.

         The measures are needed to respond to President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) concern over the shortage of entrepreneurs in Indonesia, which is only 1.6 percent of its total population.   
    Jokowi believes that Indonesia still needs millions of new entrepreneurs to be able to reach two to five percent of the country's total population.

         "We still need 1.7 to 1.8 million, or even up to 5.8 million entrepreneurs more to reach four percent," Jokowi stated in his opening remarks at the Jamboree of the Young Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association of ASEAN universities in Bandung, West Java, recently.

         The number of entrepreneurs in Indonesia currently only reaches some 1.6 percent of its total population; while in ASEAN, the figure averages at four percent; Singapore, at seven percent; Malaysia, at six percent; Thailand, five percent; and Vietnam, three percent.

         "The change we need to bring about is to offer wider opportunities to the younger generation to do business," the president affirmed.    

RAPISTS-CUM-MURDERERS DESERVE HARSH PUNISHMENT by Fardah

Jakarta, May 25, 2016 (Antara) - More and more horrific and brutal rape-cum-murders have been reported across the country lately even as the public and the government continue to debate harsher punishments that should be meted out to the criminals.

        Among the latest rape-cum-murder cases were the brutal killing of 18-year-old Eno in Tangerang, Banten Province, on May 13, 2016, and the tragic death of two and a half year old Laela Nurhidaya in Bogor, West Java Province, on May 8, 2016.

        The Metro Jaya Jakarta Police recently arrested  RAL (16), RA (24), and IH (24), suspects in the Eno murder case.

           The three had allegedly brutally raped and killed Eno in a rented house in Kosambi, Teluknaga Sub-district, Tangerang.

IDB TO SUPPORT HALAL TOURISM IN W NUSA TENGGARA By Fardah

Jakarta, May 23, 2016 (Antara) -  President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al-Madani last April had a privilege to visit West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, which is known for its white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and scenic views.          Some 65 percent of the 4.7 million population of NTB lives in Lombok and up to 93 percent of them are Muslims.           Lombok, one of NTB's main islands, was adjudged the best halal tourism and honeymoon destination during the World Halal Travel Awards 2015 held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, in October last year. The event was held in conjunction with the World Halal Travel Summit 2015.     The awards have instilled a sense of pride and optimism in the NTB administration to promote its tourism attractions nationally and internationally to lure more domestic and foreign  tourists, particularly Muslims, who want to enjoy halal or Shariah tourism.        The NTB tourism office has improved facilities and services for Muslim tourists, for instance, by providing halal food and easy access to facilities for Islamic prayers and other activities in accordance with the Islamic laws (Shariah).          Located not far from Bali and having scenery not less beautiful than Bali, NTB attracted 2.25 million tourists in 2012, 2.49 million in 2013, and 2.51 million in 2014.         The NTB administration has set a target of attracting three million tourists in 2016, and is expected to generate Rp750 billion in revenue from tourism.         Al-Madani said IDB strongly supports the halal tourism concept being developed in Indonesia and in NTB in particular.

INDONESIA SEES IDB AS IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT PARTNER by Fardah

   Jakarta, May 21, 2016 (Antara)- The 41st Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, organized successfully in Jakarta on May 15-19, was attended by the finance and economy ministers of the 57 IDB member countries.

        The participating countries, including Guyana, the newest member of the IDB, are all member nations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

        In line with its slogan - "Providing Resources, Fighting Poverty and Restoring Dignity" - the IDB has been financing programs aimed at improving social  welfare, particularly in underprivileged Muslim majority countries.

         IDB Group President Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali explained that the Bank has accomplished significant achievements, and launched important initiatives, such as its contribution to the Trans-Sahara Road, the resilience and food security program for the African Sahel countries, and energy and roads projects that contributed towards ending the isolation of remote areas in Africa and Central Asia.

        Indonesian Vice President M Jusuf Kalla, in his opening remarks, said cooperation between Indonesia and IDB remained the focus to strengthen economic growth and address inequality.

ANNUAL TOUR DE FLORES HELPS PROMOTE NTT INTERNATIONALLY by Fardah

Jakarta, May 20, 2016 (Antara) - The ongoing Tour de Flores (TdF) is being organized for the first time this year, yet it has surprisingly attracted cyclists from several countries.

         The cycling race was flagged off by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli in Larantuka, East Flores District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, on May 19.

         The coordinating minister was pleased to witness several foreign and domestic cyclists participating in the TdF. Ramli has supported the plan to organize TdF annually to promote NTT's scenic charms worldwide. 
   NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya has planned to organize TdF annually.

         "I just discussed it with Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Resources Affairs Rizal Ramli, and the minister has agreed to make TdF an annual event," he noted after the minister flagged off the participants. 
    "This year, the preparations were made on a short notice, so there might be several shortcomings. We hope that next year, the implementation would be better," he added.  
     He urged the local residents to support the event and help ensure that the cycling event would run smoothly and peacefully, and the participants are able to enjoy the journey.

           Chairman of the Indonesian Cycling Federation Raja Sapta Oktohari lauded the implementation of Tour de Flores.

         "When its proposal came, I thought Tour de Flores would be a national event. However, in reality, it is an international event and was immediately included in the calendar of UCI (The Union Cycliste Internationale). We are very proud to be able to organize this event," he added.

INDONESIA, RUSSIA KEEN ON BOOSTING ECONOMIC TIES by Fardah

 Jakarta, May 20, 2016 (Antara) - Before attending the ASEAN-Russia Summit, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a bilateral meeting to discuss efforts to expand cooperation in various fields, particularly to increase trade between both nations.
        "Our talks with the president of Indonesia have been substantive and constructive," Putin stated in connection with the bilateral talks held at the Russian president's residence in Sochi on May 19. 
    The meeting was certainly cordial as President Jokowi was present at Putin's residence from 6:10 p.m. to about 9 p.m. local time for the meeting and signing of five memoranda of understanding.
         "I have fond memories of my visit to your country and the positive atmosphere created for our delegation during that visit. I hope that we will be able to reciprocate (this gesture) with our Russian hospitality during your visit," Putin noted.  
    Sochi has held special significance for the two countries, since Indonesia's first President, Soekarno, was a close friend of Russia and had visited this city 60 years ago, remarked Putin.

BANYUWANGI IJEN, BARELANG CYCLING EVENTS LIFT INDONESIAN TOURISM by Fardah

Jakarta, May 18, 2016 (Antara)- A number of Indonesian regions such as Banyuwangi, Batam, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sumatra, and Papua have followed the step of West Sumatra that has successfully organized Tour de Singkarak since 2009, to promote local tourism.          The sport tourism has helped support the government's Wonderful Indonesia program which is expected to receive some 12 million tourists this year.          Tourism Minister Arief Yahya lauded the successful implementation of the International Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen (ITdBI) in Banyuwangi District, East Java Province, from May 11-14 this year.          "It was a successfully organized world-class event. It succeeded in reviving the tourism industry and also helped promote new destinations at a global level," Minister Arief Yahya said in a statement on May 16.          Banyuwangi, located on the eastern tip of the Java Island, is an exemplary district that accords priority to developing tourism, according to him.          "Foreign teams were happy and enthusiastic about the event," he noted.           Esthy Reko Astuti, deputy in charge of Nusantara Tourism Marketing Development, said flights to and from Banyuwangi, as well as hotel rooms in Banyuwangi City were full during the ITdBI.          At least 99 cyclists from 29 countries participated in the International Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen (ITdBI) 2016.         The participants hailed from Spain, Italy, San Marino, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, China, Laos, and Indonesia.

SCENIC LAKE TOBA ALSO STEEPED IN HISTORY by Fardah

 Jakarta, May 18, 2016 (Antara)- Lake Toba and Samosir Island, which is located in the middle of the huge lake, offer a complete tourism package encompassing beautiful scenery, unique Batak culture and traditions, and intriguing history.

        Located in North Sumatra Province, Lake Toba is indeed not just an ordinary lake but is the largest volcanic lake on Earth.

        The ancient lake has been formed by a steep-walled caldera produced during the Toba volcano's eruption, the largest known volcanic eruption on the planet in the past two million years.  The powerful eruption, an extremely rare event, is called a supervolcanic eruption.    
   When viewed from space, the Toba caldera is one of the most striking volcanic craters on Earth, measuring 100 x 30 kilometers.

    The lake's history was recalled during the Wonderful Toba Fun Walk organized in Jakarta on May 15, 2016, and some 10 thousand people took part in it.   
     To promote the lake, a Wonderful Toba Fun Walk was organized in Jakarta on May 15, 2016 and participated by some 10 thousand people.

WHALE SHARKS MUST BE PROTECTED FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN GORONTALO by Fardah

     Jakarta, May 17, 2016 (Antara) - Regular sightings of some 17 whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are a blessing for tourism in Gorontalo Province, but the presence of tourists and boats should not endanger the lives of the gentle giant fish.

         The whale shark sightings in the Botubarani waters, Kabila Bone, Bone Bolango District, Gorontalo Province, have attracted many domestic as well as foreign tourists who come visiting Gorontalo, also known for its amazing under-water biodiversity which some divers term "one of Sulawesi's best-kept-secrets."
     After diving in the Botubarani waters and personally interacting with several whale sharks, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti urged the residents of Botubarani village to protect and to not over exploit the mammals. 

     "I appeal to you to not destroy the phenomena of 17 whale sharks in Gorontalo. Because as we intensify tourism, we must not injure the whale sharks while we watch, approach and appreciate them," she said in Gorontalo, May 14.

        She urged visitors and locals to keep a distance from the whale sharks. Under Decree No. 18 Year 2013 of the maritime affairs and fisheries ministry, whale sharks are a protected species.

       The minister expressed her concern over whale sharks that are wounded when they bump into boats carrying tourists. 

TEN MILLION WATER CONNECTIONS IN PIPELINE TO DELIVER SOCIAL JUSTICE by Fardah

Jakarta, May 14, 2016 (Antara) - Safe drinking water is crucial for health, and the Indonesian government is trying to ensure that most citizens have access to clean water.          The government has planned to allot new water connections to 10 million households by 2019, thanks to Rp70 trillion worth of budgetary support.      The 10 million-clean water pipe connections program is aimed at ending social injustice, as it is mostly the poor who lack access to clean water.         Families with low income and without access to piped clean water have to spend more money on buying this basic provision.          Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla had recently urged that priority should be given to providing clean water connections to low-income families to reduce their living costs.          "Homes of those with low income should be prioritized, so their living cost comes down," Kalla noted in his opening remarks at the Indonesia Water and Wastewater Expo and Forum (IWWEF) 2016, held in Jakarta, on May 3-4.          He explained that every household usually spent Rp300 thousand per month for clean water, or Rp40 thousand per can, making it more expensive than clean water supplied by the PDAM.          The state-owned Water Supply Company (PDAM) has so far installed clean water connections in three million households.       According to data provided by the company, only 10 million households in Indonesia have clean water connections, and the number is expected to double by 2019.

AFTER HOSTAGE CRISIS GETS HAPPY ENDING, SECURITY BECOMES PRIORITY by Fardah

Jakarta, May 14, 2016 (Antara) - The hostage crisis in which 14 Indonesian sailors were held by Abu Sayyaf group finally ended peacefully as they were released safe and sound.

         The hostages were released in two stages, and came as a big relief to the Indonesian government as also to the  families of hostages.

         Ten Indonesian boat crew members were released on May 1 after being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group since March 26, 2016, while the four others held captive since April 15, 2016, were set free by the same group on May 11.

         "Thank God, the four Indonesian citizens, who were held hostage by the armed group, have been released," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated at a press conference on May 11.

         They have been released, thanks to good cooperation between the Philippines and the Indonesian governments, according to the president, with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Gatot Nurmantyo flanking him.    
    President Jokowi revealed that both formal and informal approaches were deployed to secure the release of the abducted Indonesians.

         Following the release of the first lot, Indonesia initiated a trilateral meeting, together with Malaysia and the Philippines, to discuss security measures along maritime borders of the three neighboring countries.

INDONESIA CONTEMPLATING SEVERE PUNISHMENT PLUS CHIP IMPLANT FOR SEXUAL OFFENDERS by Fardah

Jakarta, May 13, 2016 (Antara)- The news of a 14-year-old girl Yuyun, who was gang raped and murdered in Bengkulu Province, was followed by similar horrific incidents being reported from various regions in Indonesia.

         Many of the sex crimes had initially been ignored or almost forgotten, but information about them has surfaced due to public outcry following Yuyun's case.

         The gang rape and murder of the eighth grader took place in Bengkulu village on April 2 as 14 men aged between 16 and 23 years abducted the girl while she was heading home from school.

          The schoolgirl's bound body was found two days later in a ravine in a rubber plantation. Yuyun is believed to have died while being raped by the accused, who were said to be in an inebriated state.

          In East Lampung District, Lampung, a 10-year-old girl identified by the initials MS was gang raped and strangled to death by two men in an empty hut away from her home, on April 14, this year, though some reports claim that 10 men were part of the crime.

          MS's body was found in the hut on April 17 after her parents had reported her missing.

INDONESIA LIKELY TO CARRY OUT THIRD WAVE OF EXECUTIONS THIS YEAR by Fardah

Jakarta, May 13, 2016 (Antara) - Drug trafficking has become Enemy Number One of Indonesia, as some 30 to 50 people, mostly young men, die of drug abuse daily in the country.

         The Indonesian government has declared an all-out war against drug crimes and has imposed the severest punishment of death sentence against drug offenders.

        Recently, Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo hinted that executions of drug traffickers would resume once his office is through with completing statistics of death-row inmates.   
  He emphasized that the third wave of executions will be carried out in the near future, but did not reveal the number of death row inmates on the list.

        "We have not compiled the final number," Prasetyo noted, adding that drug offenders will be the ones who will be executed.

        He declined to disclose the names of death row inmates who will be facing the firing squads, but he confirmed that inmate Freddy Budiman, a drug kingpin, will be among the convicts scheduled to die in this third wave of executions this year.

PORNOGRAPHY, ALCOHOL USAGE ENCOURAGING SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN RI: MINISTER By Fardah

Jakarta, May 12 (Antara)- The death of 14-year-old Yuyun after being raped by 14 teenagers in Rejanglebong District, Bengkulu Province, has sparked a public outcry across the country, and demands for a death penalty for the perpetrators.

         On May 4, at least 200 people gathered in Jakarta to protest the violence against women, as the Yuyun murder case is being compared with opening a `Pandora's Box' on the increased number of sexual assaults against women and children in the country.

         The gang rape and murder of the eighth grader took place on April 2 as she was snatched by the 14 men aged between 16 and 23, on her way home from school.

         The schoolgirl's bound body was found two days later in a ravine in a rubber plantation. She is believed to have died while being raped by the accused, who were said to be in an inebriated state.

JAKARTA BAY RECLAMATION PROJECT HAS POTENTIAL TO WIDEN SOCIAL GAP by Fardah

Jakarta, May 12, 2016 (Antara) - The pros and cons related to the implementation of the Jakarta Bay reclamation project have continued to surface, despite the government's decision to impose a moratorium on it.            Nine developers, including major private real estate and state-owned companies, had received permits to build a total of 17 islands in Jakarta Bay, with an estimated investment of Rp150 trillion, or US$11.4 billion.          Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) has frequently cited Dubai and Singapore as successful examples of reclamation work, stating that the Jakarta Bay reclamation would make the city as advanced as them. Super blocks are planned to be built on the new islands.         The reclamation of the northern coast of Jakarta is expected to transform the area into a hub for economic growth.         The Jakarta Bay reclamation project has become controversial after a bribery case concerning the mega project came to light, and demonstrations against the project were staged by the affected fishermen and the urban poor.          The Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI) pointed out that the project had reduced the income of the local fishermen by some 40 to 50 percent.          "Obviously, it has had a huge impact on the economy of traditional fishermen as their income has dropped by 40 to 50 percent," KNTI chief patron Chalid Muhammad remarked recently.          The reclamation project has affected some three thousand fishermen and has resulted in the eviction of 3,579 families during the 2000-2011 period.           Last April, the Jakarta authorities had given instructions to relocate some 1.7 thousand families comprising over 4.9 thousand residents of the Luar Batang area, northern Jakarta. The forced eviction has been resisted by some of the residents, mostly traditional fishermen.

ULEMAS GATHER IN JAKARTA TO PROMOTE ISLAM AS MIDDLE PATH by Fardah

Jakarta, May 10, 2016 (Antara)- Islam is believed to be a religion of middle path and religion of peace.

         There is no radical Islam nor liberal Islam.

         However, there are two groups of extremists who misinterpret Islamic teachings in radical way or, on the contrary, in liberal way.

         To counter the two extreme groups, some 400 ulemas (Islamic clerics, scholars) and leaders are expected to voice the moderation of Islam during the first International Summit of Moderate Islamic Leaders (Isomil) being held in Jakarta, from May 9 to 11, 2016.

         The participants of the conference being hosted by the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), one of Indonesia's major Muslim organizations, are from 33 countries among other things Malaysia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Europe.

         Ma'ruf Amin, a leader of the NU, said the two contradictory extreme groups - radical and liberal - are both dangerous and must not be followed.

INDONESIA OFFERS SCENIC CHARMS TO CYCLING ENTHUSIASTS By Fardah

Jakarta, May 7, 2016 (Antara) - Several Indonesian regions will organize sports tourism events for cycling enthusiasts in May by offering them exotic routes passing through rural greenery with scenic charms and nice weather.

         The cycling plus tourism events include Tour de Cenderawasih Bay to be held in West Papua from May 5-8; Toba Audax 2016 in North Sumatra, also from May 5-8; Tour de Ijen in Banyuwangi, East Java Province, from May 11-14; and Tour de Barelang in Batam, the Riau Islands Province, on May 14-15; apart from and Tour de Flores in East Nusa Tenggara, from May 18-26, 2016.

        Tourism Minister Arief Yahya has lauded the holding of those sport tourism events aimed at promoting the country's wonderful culture and destinations.

        "This event is a very good opportunity to promote the scenic charms of Cenderawasih Bay National Park. It can be compared with the wonderful Indonesia greeting around the world," Minister Yahya said in Jakarta May 6, referring specifically to Tour de Cennderawasih Bay.

        Tour de Cenderawasih Bay is being organized by the West Papua Police and the province's tourism office.

        The cycling tour covers a 272-km-long exotic route stretching from Manokwari to Bintuni, West Papua.