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 countrys 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 provinces tourism office.

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

Some 167 participants in the tour are indulged by the natural scenery of Nusrowi, Yoop, and Mioswaar islets, whose waters are among excellent diving spots.

Sightings of whales and dolphins are common in the waters. A pre-historic cave containing the skeletons of Wandau ethnic people is also found on Mioswaar Island.

"Tour de Cenderawasih Bay is not a race, but just a fun tour. The participants could cycle while enjoying the natural panorama," Yosef Matutina, head of the West Papua tourism office, said.

Chairman of the organizing committee, Senior Commissioner I Nyoman Suastra said the 167 participants are from Jakarta, Bandung, Bekasi, and Depok, in addition to Tangerang, Yogyakarta, Denpasar, and Manado. They are also from Makassar, Surabaya, Bukittinggi, and Jayapura, apart from Sorong, and Manokwari.

Earlier, the minister, Arief Yahya commended the organizing of the Toba Audax 2016 Cycling Race being held around North Sumatras Lake Toba from May 5-8, 2016.

The cycling event is part of the efforts to promote the beauty of Indonesian tourism, particularly Lake Toba, the minister affirmed.

The race for professional athletes covers a distance of 342 kilometers, with an uphill climb of five thousand meters in an area known as the "Monaco of Asia."

Toba Audax 2016 is the third annual championship being organized in Samosir District, North Sumatra. Cyclists from 14 nations, including the hosts Indonesia, are participating in this years race.

The race was flagged off in Tuktuk Sidong Samosir and will conclude at the Simalem Resort complex, Tanah Karo District.

The Gondang Naposo Festival is also being held on the sidelines of the championship to entertain athletes, and they would be able to enjoy the local culture and also experience the natural beauty.

Meanwhile, some 250 cyclists from more than 20 countries are expected to participate in the Tour de Barelang race in Batam, the Riau Islands Province, on May 14-15.

The participants will pass over six bridges connecting seven islands in the race covering a 135-kilometer-(km)-long route in the south of Malacca Strait.

"The cyclists will cover a route spanning some 135km, starting from the Sekupang international port, toward the Barelang Bridge, until the tip of the last islands connected by six bridges," Yusfa Hendri, head of the Batam tourism office, revealed.

The race offers a mix of sports and recreational activities as the participants will be able to enjoy the scenic beauty of Batams waters where several islets are found.

The race is divided into mixed individuals and female individuals, and the groups will compete in four categories: 40 km/h, 30 km/h, 20 km/h, and 15 km/h.

The event is organized as part of the region's efforts to meet its target of attracting 1.82 million foreign tourist visits to Batam this year.

Besides, East Nusa Tenggara is also gearing up for the Tour de Flores, which will witness the participation of some 250 cyclists from 30 countries.

"Two hundred and fifty cyclists from 30 countries have signed up. We are expecting 325 cyclists to participate in this event," the head of the tourism and creative economy office of East Nusa Tenggara, Marius Ardu Jelamu said.

This sporting event will positively impact the people living in the areas through which tour participants will cross, according to Jelamu.

The participants will visit among other things Lamalera village in Lembata District, where local inhabitants have preserved traditional whale catching. 

From Lembata, the participants will move to Larantuka via Adonara Island, and then to Larantuka, Jelamu said.

"Tour de Flores is an important event organized by the heads of districts throughout Flores. The event aims at introducing Flores tourism, especially to foreign tourists," he said.

Indonesia has intensified its tourism promotion as the country is hoping to attract some 12 million foreign tourists this year, from 9.7 million last year.

More than 915 thousand tourists visited the country in March 2016, up 8.79 percent compared to the same month last year, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said.

"The number of foreign tourists visiting the country in March reached 915 thousand, a 3.01 percent increase over February 2016," BPS Chairman Suryamin said at a press briefing recently. 

Some 817,339 of the 915 thousand foreign tourists visited Indonesia through 19 entry points, while 74,875 arrived through other entry points, the BPS chief said.

Nearly 22,805 of the tourists visited Indonesia to work for less than one year, he said.

Some 806,116 foreign tourists traveling to Indonesia via the 19 entry points were regular foreign tourists and 11,221 were special foreign tourists, according to him.

Singapore was the biggest source of foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia in March 2016 with 133,801 tourists, followed by Malaysia with 122,857, China with 102,116, and Australia with 92,142, in addition to Japan with 44,816 tourists, Suryamin said.

Cumulatively, the number of tourists visiting Indonesia in the first quarter of 2016 reached 2.54 million, up 4.66 percent compared with 2.43 million in the same period last year.(*)  

Source: ANTARA