WEST SUMATRA'S DISTRICTS EAGER TO PARTICIPATE IN TdS 2017 by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept 16, 2017 (Antara) - Nearly every district and city in West Sumatra is keen to be involved in organizing the Tour de Singkarak (TdS) annual sporting event scheduled on Nov 18-26, as part of a tourism promotion initiative.

         Part of the Union Cycliste Internationale race series, the 9th edition of the TdS will involve 18 of the total 19 districts and cities of the province.

         Eager to be part of the international cycling race, the cities and districts are offering accommodation and transportation as well as showcasing their natural scenery, in addition to organizing traditional art performances to entertain foreign and domestic participants of the TdS.

         Nasrul Abit, the deputy governor of West Sumatra, has lauded the eagerness demonstrated by the cities and districts to be involved in the implementation of TdS.

         "This is a sports tourism event aimed at attracting tourists to visit this province. Hence, the race should cover every city and district here," he emphasized.

         "The schedule of the event has been agreed upon. Matters related to the technical implementation of the cycling event will be discussed further by the local tourism service," Abit revealed.

        He said the schedule and budget for the event faced no further problems.

         Covering a total distance of 1,150 kilometers (km), the TdS 2017 will be divided into nine stages, with prizes worth Rp2.3 billion up for grabs, according to Oni Yuflian, head of the West Sumatra tourism office.

        Yulfian said his office will still conduct a survey of the route on Oct 21-28 to ensure the safety of the TdS cyclists.
   The nine stages will include Tanah Datar-Padang Panjang City covering 107 km; Painan-Sawahlunto, 166 km; Muaro Sijunjung-Pulau Punjung, 100 km; Lake Singkarak-Payakumbuh, 135 km; Lembah Harau-Padang Panjang, 101 km.

         The cyclists will continue to the following stages of Solok City-Padang Aro Solok Selatan covering 140 km; Pariaman-West Pasaman, 157 km; Padang Pariaman-Agam, 101 km; and Pasaman-Bukittinggi Sirkuit, 90 km.

        The grand start will be from Batusangkar, Tanah Datar District, and the grand finish in Bukittinggi City, West Sumatra. The official launch will take place in Jakarta on October 15, 2017.

        As for the fifth stage, the location of the finish line will be in the Padang Panjang City, which has been waiting for years to be part of the race.

         After crossing the finish line, the participants of TdS will stay overnight in the city to enjoy the cool, fresh air, Dalius, secretary of the Padang Panjang tourism office, said recently
   Local hotels and restaurants are gearing up for the annual cycling race, he revealed.

        The fifth stage will start on November 22, 2017, from Lembah Harau, Limapuluh Kota District, which is 112 km from Padang Panjang.

         Speaker of the Padang Panjang Legislative Council Novi Hendri expressed hope that the event would have a positive impact on the local economy, in particular, and the welfare of the people, in general.

         Meanwhile, South Solok District will organize a long house festival called One Thousand Gadang House (SRG) to highlight the TdS 2017.

        "We will improve it every year, so that it matches up to the Banyuwangi carnival and Lake Toba festival," Muzni Zakaria, district head of South Solok, said in Padang Aro.

        The SRG festival will be held in the SRG area located in Nagara Koto Barum Sungai Pagu Sub-district, South Solok District.

        Various local arts and traditions and a fireworks display will be showcased during the festival to be held to coincide with the arrival of TdS participants in the district.

        Zakaria expressed hope that the festival would help to promote tourism in his district, in general, and the SRG area, which is an icon of the district, in particular.

         The world-class TdS event takes renowned international cyclists on an exciting tour across the picturesque West Sumatra countryside's scenic landscapes comprising beaches, blue lakes, and numerous hairpin bends, as they climb up to the foot of the volcanoes.

         Inspired by the 119-year-old Tour de France, the TdS was first organized as part of the recovery program following a powerful earthquake that had devastated West Sumatra in 2009 in a bid to boost the tourism industry through a sport-based promotional activity.  
   Indonesia has intensified its tourism promotion, as the country is expecting to attract some 12 million foreign tourists this year as compared to 9.7 million last year.

        Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya noted that Indonesia has organized several sport tourism events that have gone global, such as TdS, Tour de Banyuwangi, Tour de Ijen, Tour de Bintan, and Tour de Flores.

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(f001/INE/a014)
EDITED BY INE

(T.F001/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 16-09-2017