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JAKARTA – Tourism Minister Arief Yahya together with West Sumatera Governor Irwan Prayitno and Chairperson of PB ISSI (Indonesian Cycling Federation) Rajasapta Oktohari launched the international cycling race Tour de Singkarak (TdS) 2016 in Soesilo Soedarman Hall of Sapta Pesona Building Jakarta, the office of Tourism Ministry, on Monday evening (25/7). The event was festive and enlivened by various art and cultural performances from West Sumatera.

The international sport tourism event is held again for the eight times and taken place in West Sumatera on 6-14 August 2016. It is expected to improve the local economy especially from tourism activities, accelerate the infrastructure development of West Sumatera, as well as support the program of Pesona Indonesia and Wonderful Indonesia in achieving this year’s target of 12 million foreign tourist visits and 260 million domestic tourist visits.

Minister of Tourism (Menpar) Arief Yahya appreciates the implementation of TdS 2016 as an effective momentum for promoting West Sumatra tourism potential as Pesona Indonesia and Wonderful Indonesia that will bring in tourist arrivals as well as improving the economy directly for regional communities.

Arief Yahya explained that TdS has experienced much improvement since its first implementation in 2009. In 2013, Amauri Sport Organization (ASO) – the official organizer of Tour de France – recommended TdS as one of major races listed in UCI Road Calendar Asia Tour with the biggest number of spectators after Tour de France (12 million), Giro A Italy (8 million), Vuelta A Espana (5 million), Santos Tour Down Under (750 thousands) and TdS (500 thousands). “This means that TdS is effective promotional media for improving the number of tourist arrival and awareness as well as provide direct impact and high media value,” said Minister Arief Yahya.

The direct economic impact of TdS 2016, which is followed by 23 teams; 18 international teams (Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, Laos, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Philippine, Hong Kong and Kenya) and 5 national teams with a total participants of 230 people plus officials. There will be expenses for accommodation, transportation and meals.

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“Active media coverage of TdS 2016 will have high media value,” said Arief Yahya. Moreover, he said said that direct impact and high media value are one of the reasons for Tourism Ministry to encourage international sport tourism activities in Indonesia such as TdS, Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen, Tour de Bintan (TdB), Tour de Flores (TdF), Musi Tributon, Jakarta Marathon and hosting Moto GP 2017 and Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta and Palembang.

West Sumatera Governor Irwan Prayitno said that the implementation of TdS provide big contribution to the acceleration of regional and tourism development in West Sumatera and districts/cities in the province. “Over the past eight years, the development of infrastructure and tourism business and facilities in various areas in West Sumatera has experienced significant improvement. Likewise, the number of tourist visit to the province increases from 6.9 million domestic tourists and 78,274 foreign tourists in 2015 to 7.4 million domestic tourists and 85 thousands foreign tourists in 2016,” said Irwan Prayitno.

TdS 2016 is already listed on the UCI Road Calendar Asia Tour 2016. The annual international sport tourism event organized by Indonesian Ministry of Tourism in cooperation with the Provincial Government of West Sumatera and 18 district or city governments in West Sumatera, Indonesian Cycling Federation, and promoter of event, will increase the total prize to Rp 2.5 billion from Rp 2.4 billion in 2015.

TdS 2016 will start from Solok and finish in Padang. As many as 23 teams will compete through 8 stages as long as 1102.7 kilometers and pass through various natural, cultural and man-made tourist attractions of Minangkabau as tourist attraction and main destinations in West Sumatera. (*)

Source : http://www.tourdesingkarak.id/about-event/press-release/#