REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BINTAN -- Around 70 teams of cyclists from 40 countries will take part in the Tour de Bintan from April 1-3 this year, a district official said.

"There are 800 racers to take part in the Tour de Bintan," head of the Tourism and Culture Service of Bintan Luki Zaiman Prawira said in Lagoi on Friday.

The largest team came from Singapore reaching 30 percent in number, followed by those from Britain 19 percent, Australia 12 percent and Indonesia only 6 percent.

There are also teams from Hong Kong, Malaysia and other countries," Luki said.

He said Tour de Bintan has been held regularly in five years excepting in 2015 on haze of thick smokes from forest fires.

In the past years, the prologue route of the Tour de Bintan started Tanjungpinang, but in 2016, the 12 kilometer opening route would began from Lagoi Bay, he said.

Lagoi Bay is a new tourist object in northern coast of Bintan.

The change is a variation to promote Bintan as a tourist destination and to allow foreign tourists to enjoy the natural beauty of the island in the bay, he said.

A similar sport event will be held in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) with "Tour de Flores" (TdF)in May 16-26 to promote tourist objects in that region.

TDF is expected to draw 230 world-class cyclists, who have taken part in major international races such as the Tour de France or Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said TdF was organized to introduce the tourism riches of NTT to the world.

The government is building tourist facilities in Flores to transform the island into a global tourist destination like Bali with new modern hotels.

The TdF racers will cover a 661.5 kilometer route divided into five laps from Larantuka in the eastern end of the island to Labuan Bajo in the western end via Maumere Ende, Bajwa and Ruteng.

The cyclists are also expected to visit the Komodo island, where ancient giant lizards Komodo still live just across Labuan Bajo.

The Komodo National Park has been recognized as one of "Seven Wonders of Nature."

Labuan Bajo has also been developed to serves as a gateway for foreign and domestic tourists visiting various other tourist destinations in NTT.

Therefore, the preparations being made must focus on the main aspects of infrastructure, hotel facilities, health services, and human resources.

"The TdF would be held annually," a local organizer of the sports event said.

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