Jakarta, Nov 26 (Antara) - One of the sectors that contribute to a country's economic development is tourism, which is now being combined with working out as a lifestyle exercised to maintain health.
Tourism has included sports events to attract tourists. These two things are important for tourism development in any countries, including Indonesia and Timor Leste, in what is called sports tourism. Sports tourism, among others, covers running or marathon, biking and rock climbing events at specific tourism destinations.
As part of its efforts to promote and advance its tourism sector, Indonesia is now active in developing its sports tourism through the launch of various sports events such as running, cycling and rock climbing in its tourism destinations.
Especially in the cycling events, it has organized several cycling races in various regions such as the Tour de Singkarak in West Sumatra, Tour de Makassar in South Sulawesi, Tour de Siak in Riau, Tour de Borobudur in Central Java and even Tour de Indonesia, which was halted for five years and is now back again.
At the end of this month, Indonesia is planning to organize a cycling race to promote its tourism sector.
East Nusa Tenggara Province, which shares borders with Timor Leste, will be hosting the 2016 Tour de Timor cycling race championship from November 30 to December 4.
According to Secretary of Tourism and Culture Office of East Nusa Tenggara Province Wely Rohimone, the cycling championship is designed to combine a race with a touring event to promote tourism destinations.
"All preparations to hold the 2016 Tour de Timor are almost completed. We have set the date," Rohimone said in Kupang, the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara, on Monday (Nov 21).
The participating riders will start the race from MotaAin, Belu District. Initially, it was scheduled to start from Dili, Timor Leste, in the first stage and finish in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The schedule has been changed and moved backward several times.
The delay in the implementation of the Tour de Timor 2016 is because it has to be adjusted with the same agenda as in Timor Leste.
"There are foreign participants who will take part in the same race in Timor Leste. We have to adjust the schedule with that of the foreign participants. So, after taking part in Timor Leste, they (foreign participants) will continue the activities with the Tour de Timor," Rohimone pointed out.
Participants will be racing through challenging routes in the region and between the borders of Indonesia and Timor Leste.
The riders will be given opportunities to have a tour in the cities or districts they will be visiting in each stage to discover the tourism potential in the region, Rohimone reiterated.
International and national riders participating in the event are scheduled to arrive in Belu District of East Nusa Tenggara Province, which shares border with Timor Leste, on November 29.
The organizers said tens of cardiologists from Malaysia planned to take part in the Tour de Timor which starts in Mota'Ain, Belu District, which shares border with Timor Leste.
"Now, a total of 30 heart specialists from Malaysia have confirmed participation in the Tour de Timor. We are certain they will be taking part in the cycling sport championship," Rohimone added.
The organizers continue to promote and sell packages of the event abroad, so that cyclists from Australia, Singapore and Timor Leste will also contest in the race championship.
Of course, the government hopes that the event will attract many participants, because the touring event will pamper cyclists with tourism objects along the routes in Timor Island.
The organizers hope that the event would attract cardiologists not only from Malaysia but also from other countries. Moreover, the number of participants in the touring event is not restricted.
The heart specialists will share their knowledge and provide free health examinations for the local people residing along the cycling tour routes. "We have asked the health service office of each of the districts along the cycling route to provide assistance for the cardiologists because they will conduct heart examinations on the locals of the districts free of charge," he said.
The touring event is basically a good moment for East Nusa Tenggara to promote the Timor Island overseas. It could promote not only its tourism but also its diverse cultures and social potentials.
The Tour de Timor will start on November 30 in Mota'Ain of Belu District, an area that shares borders with Timor Leste. From Mota'Ain, the participants will head to Malaka District on December 1, to North Timor Tengah (TTU) District on December 2, and South Timor Tengah (TTS) District on December 3, 2017.
Participants of the touring event will depart to Kupang, the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggar (NTT) on December 4. ***4***(A014/INE/o001)EDITED BY INE
(T.A014/A/BESSR/O. Tamindael) 26-11-2016 13:34: |
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