"The One Thousand Bikers Tour was led by Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Mohammad," Head of the Wakatobi Tourism and Culture Office Tawakal said.
Sail Wakatobi-Belitong`s foreign participants also joined the tour, he added.
Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, Southeast Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam and Wakatobi District Head Hugua also took part in the tour.
"The Tour of 1,000 bikers cycling around Wakatobi competed for door prizes worth Rp50 million," he said.
After the tour, Minister Agung Laksono officially launched Sail Wakatobi-Belitong (SWB) 2011.
The main objective of the SWB is to make Wakatobi (Southeast Sulawesi Province) and Balitong (Bangka Belitung Province, Sumatra) national and international tourist destinations, according to Agung.
The event is also expected to promote marine tourism in the two provinces in order to help improve the people`s welfare.
Wakatobi is the world`s largest biodiversity as it hosts 85 percent of the world`s 700 coral reef species.
"Wakatobi is also known as the heart of the coral triangle, a marine national park and an international biosphere reserve. It is also an international marine tourism center with harmonious natural environment and has very diverse culture," the minister said.
The SWB`s theme is "Clean Ocean for the Future" which is meant to give a message that the cleanliness of Indonesia`s maritime must be protected, he explained.
The event`s main activities include Surya Baskara civic mission, a yacht rally and race, national and international seminars on marine issues, a cross-national marine youth gathering, small and medium scale business, fishery and maritime exhibitions.
(Uu.F001/H-NG/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
