Jakarta (Antarasulteng.com) - Central Sulawesi Goverment hopes to attract foreign tourists by organizing a sport tourism event, Tour de Central Celebes (TdCC), from Nov 6 to 8, 2017.
Zalzulmida Longki Djanggola, wife of Central Sulawesi Governor and initiator of TdCC, said here on Wednesday that Poso has tried to emulate West Sumatra, which was successful in organizing the Tour de Singkarak cycling race.
"This is for the first time that we are organizing TdCC. We have conducted a comparative study with West Sumatra. We hope this event will be successful in attracting foreign tourists to visit Central Sulawesi," she stated.
The first TdCC will cover only three stages, but the next will have six stages, she added.
The TdCC will start from Ampana town and proceed to Toko Una-Una District, Tentena, Poso District, Parigi town, Parigi Moutong District, and finish in Palu, the capital city of Central Sulawesi.
As many as 150 cyclists from 30 countries will participate in the event.
"After visiting several regions, the participants will have beautiful memories that they can share with others," Djanggola noted.
She hoped that TdCC could also provide economic benefits to local inhabitants.
The three stages of TdCC will cover a total distance of 486.9 kilometers.
The first stage will cover a distance of 198 kilometers, with the start from Ampana at 10 a.m. local time, and the cyclists are expected to arrive in Lake Poso at 2:40 p.m. local time, on Nov 6, 2017.
The second stage will cover a distance of 135.6 kilometers, starting from Poso at 9 a.m. local time and finishing at 12:02 local time in Parigi on Nov 7.
The third stage will cover Parigi, Sigi, and Palu at a distance of 153.3 kilometers. The event will start at noon and finish in front of the office of the Central Sulawesi Governor in Palu at 3:34 p.m. local time on Nov 8.
"In Palu city, the cyclists will circles five times, covering a distance of 6.6 kilometers each, or a total distance of 33 kilometers, in the city's main roads to give a chance to local inhabitants to greet them," she remarked.
The organizing committee of TdCC will provide total prizes and bonuses worth Rp574 million to winners of every stage and the overall winners, according to Muchsin Pakaya, Secretary of the TdCC organizing committee.
Welcome ceremony
Areas to be traversed by the Tour de Central Celebes (TdCC) participants in Central Sulawesi will make preparations to hold a culture-based welcome ceremony and serve traditional culinary delicacies according to the local wisdom.
Central Sulawesi Tourism Office Chief Ardiansyah Lamasitudju remarked that the participants of the international cycling race, to be held on November 6-8, 2017, will cover a total distance of 487 kilometers and pass through the districts of Tojo Unauna, Poso, Parigi Moutong, and Sigi and the city of Palu.
"Each stopover area will organize its own cultural and art attraction and offer culinary delights to welcome the participants of the cycling race and to entertain them," Lamasitudju remarked here on Tuesday.
He reiterated that each district and city will hold a regional culinary exhibition, cultural performances, and dances to welcome and entertain the participants of the TdCC cycling race.
Lamasitudju said that until now, preparations for implementing the TdCC had reached 90 percent completion; hence, the Central Sulawesi provincial government is committed to ensuring the success of these activities.
He explained that 15 teams, comprising 10 teams from 30 countries in the world and five teams from Indonesia, will participate in the TdCC international cycling race.
Editor: Bustanuddin/Otniel/Rolex Malaha
