REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi have both expressed the view that sports tourism must be the mainstay of efforts to promote the ten priority tourist destinations.

At the close of the international cycling race, Tour de Flores, held from May 19-23, 2016 in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Monday, the two ministers underlined that sports tourism combines elements of fun and natural beauty, making these destinations very attractive to international tourists.

Sports such as cycling, marathon, triathlon and golf are very effective in promoting tourism.

The Tourism Minister revealed that the Tour de Flores 2016 attracted dozens of Chinese journalists from leading media houses in that country.