T

he Indonesian government is currently working to promote the country as an international sports destination, a high-ranking official has confirmed.

Deputy Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sapta Nirwandar was speaking to journalists when hosting a special dinner for the New York City Marathon 2011 champion Firehiwot Dado Tufa, an Ethiopian national, in Kuta on Thursday night.

“The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry is now putting as its top priority the expansion of promotional activities at international tourism events, especially introducing Indonesia as potential sports destination,” the deputy minister explained.

As an archipelagic country, he said, Indonesia could become an extraordinary sporting venue for marine-based sports such as surfing, diving, sailing, marathons and cycling.

Indonesia has organized national and international-scale sports events such as world sailing and surfing competitions and the Indonesian 10K Marathon, which drew hundreds of participants.

The Jakarta Marathon has become a national and even an international annual sports activity, he said.

In Bali, the Bali triathlon has marked out the island as a respected sports venue.

“The visit of Ms. Tufa to several places in Indonesia is part of the government’s efforts to open the eyes of an international athlete to the country’s potential,” Nirwandar said.

Organizing a marathon competition would attract thousands of sports enthusiasts from all over the world.

New York City has made its annual marathon one of the greatest and most important annual events of the city. It draws at least 50,000 participants.

“Tufa was the winner of that marathon in 2011 in the woman’s category. Last year, the city did not hold the marathon because of the devastating Superstorm Sandy,” he said.

The world champion, he said, could act as Indonesia’s “tourism ambassador” in international sports activities, as she could spread information about the country.

“This invitation is part of our public relations activities. We can use the power of a champion’s words,” he added.

To introduce Indonesia to world sports organizations and sponsors, the country’s athletes have always participated in world sports competitions, such as the prestigious Tour de France.

Nirwandar said it was quite affordable to organize an international-scale sports event.

“It costs us around Rp 1.5 billion [US$15154,447] to Rp 2 billion to hold a sport event. The impact will be huge as international media will cover the event.
It will become an extensive and effective promotion for Indonesia,” he added.

Tufa, who was accompanied by her fiancée Abiy Nadew Shiferaw, expressed her delight.

Together with her fiancée, she visited Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Central Java. The young couple also visited the Prambanan and Borobudur temples.

In Bali, they stayed at a resort in Kuta before leaving for their country on Friday.

“I love Bali. Indonesia is very wonderful. I like the beach in Bali,” said Tufa, who wanted to spend their honeymoon here in Bali.

“The weather isn’t that different from our own country and in terms of the food, I like chicken and fish very much.”