Tour de Flores 2017 Set to Start in July
Labuan Bajo. After a successful kick-off last year, the Tour de Flores international cycling event will return in July, sanctioned by the sport's world governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale, or UCI.
The inaugural Tour de Flores took place in May last year involving 100 cyclists from 16 countries. It was staged for five days in eight districts over a total distance of 661.5 kilometers.
"The East Nusa Tenggara [provincial] administration fully supports the Tour de Flores as it is an international event that incorporates sports and tourism in one package," Governor Frans Lebu Raya said during an event coordination meeting in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Friday (24/03).
"Our support is presented by providing funds taken from our tourism promotion budget, as it also has an end-purpose to attract tourists to our tourism sites," the governor explained.
The event enjoys the government's support as it is deemed to complement President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's Nawacita program, which supports tourism and sports that have an economic benefit.
In addition, the government has chosen Labuan Bajo as one of its 10 prioritized tourism sites.
"The event will support East Nusa Tenggara, which has been declared a new tourism destination, with the focus on Flores," Tour de Flores chairman Primus Dorimulu said.
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