Padang (ANTARA) - Cycling fever that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic was the perfect moment to revive the tourism and the international cycling race, the Tour de Singkarak in 2021.
"The popularity of cycling in this pandemic era has increased tremendously. This is the perfect moment to revive the Tour de Singkarak," said the Chairman of the Provincial Management of the Indonesian Sport Bicycle Association (ISSI) of West Sumatra Prof. Dr. Ir. H. James Hellyward, M.S., IPU in Padang, Wednesday.
He said that currently a lot of clubs and cycling communities. They have the potential to be involved to enliven the Tour de Singkarak in 2021.
Communities who are directly involved were believed to be able to revive the passion for the international cycling race of West Sumatra. Especially if it can have a direct impact on economic improvement on the community, especially MSMEs.
"Therefore the aim of implementing the Tour de Singkarak 2021 as a bicycle racing event can also be a locomotive for the revival of the tourism industry after pandemic can be realized," he said accompanied by the General Secretary of the ISSI West Sumatra, Budi Azwar.
Meanwhile, Head of the West Sumatra Tourism Office, Novrial said the idea of involving clubs and the bicycle community will be a consideration to be implemented in TDS 2021. It is possible that clubs and communities can participate at every start and finish of the TDS stage.
Besides that, the plan to expand the TDS stage to Jambi and Riau will also be a refresher for TDS 2021. This was in line with the TDS tagline, connecting Sumatra.
West Sumatra's geographical location which is right in the middle of the west coast of the island of Sumatra is considered to be very strategic as the grand start and grand finish of the TDS which routes can pass through various provinces.
The meeting also discussed the right time for implementation and also the series of TDS 2021 stage routes. It was agreed that the implementation of TDS in the future should be more better than before and could become an economic recovery based on sport tourism.
Transleted by: Mutiara Ramadhani
