FIFTEEN COUNTRIES TO JOIN 'TOUR OF SINGKARAK' CYCLING RACE

Jakarta, April 2 (ANTARA) - Some 15 countries are expected to take part in a Tour of Singkarak 2009 cycling race to be held in West Sumatra April 29 to May 3, 2009.

Countries invited to the race include New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Iran, Australia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Qatar, Sapta Nirwandar, the culture and tourism ministry's director general, said here on Thursday.
"Around 85 percent of the construction works of new routes for the cycling race has been completed," he said.
Participants of the Tour of Singkarak will cover a total distance of 459 km and compete for a total prize of US$60,000.
The race route is to conist of four segments, namely Padang-Bukittinggi segment (92.3 km), Bukittinggi-Sawahlunto segment (85.1 km), Sawahlunto-Danau Singkarak segment (90.2 km), and Lake Singkarak- lake Kembar - Lake Singkarak segment (188 km).
The cycling race, which is aimed at promoting tourism in West Sumatra Province, will be lustered up by a music concert, a food festival, and a fun bike event.
West Sumatra Province was visited by a total of 1.4 million tourists, including about 100,000 foreigners, last year, he said.
The province has set a target of receiving at least 1.5 million tourists in 2009.