After Cycling de West Java in Cirebon, Acting Governor: Tourism Agent Cyclist

Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin hopes that Cycling de Jabar will increase West Java tourism.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Participants took a photo with their bicycles ahead of the Cycling de Jabar 2024 event at the Mayor's Office in Cirebon, West Java, on Friday (24/5/2024). Themed "Sumanget Jawara", Cycling de Jabar 2024 is ready to be held on Saturday (25/5/2024). Participants will travel a route of 213 kilometers from Cirebon to Pangandaran, West Java.

CIREBON, KOMPAS — A total of 202 cyclists Cycling de Jabar started driving from Cirebon City Hall, West Java, towards Pangandaran Regency a distance of 213 km , Saturday (25/5/2024). Acting West Java Governor Bey Machmudin hopes that cyclists will become tourism agents.

The cyclists were released Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin, Acting Mayor of Cirebon Agus Mulyadi, and Chief Editor of the Daily Kompas Sutta Dharmasaputra, Saturday at 05.00 WIB. Also present were the Head of the West Java Youth and Sports Service Asep Sukmana and the Director of Main bjb Yuddy Renaldi.

Bey and other officials released the cyclists in the light rain. However, the participants remained enthusiastic about taking part in the bicycle racing event held by the West Java Provincial Government and the daily Kompas. Cyclists will cross two cities and five districts in the north and south.

Also read: Coming from various regions, participants in cycling in West Java are increasing

The area in question is the city of Cirebon, Cirebon Regency, Kuningan, Majalengka, Ciamis, Banjar City, and Pangandaran. During the journey, cyclists will pass through several green rice field landscapes, such as those in Kuningan and Ciamis. There are also tourist spots at Waduk Darma and Pangandaran Beach.

"The Jabar Cycling event is a platform to boost tourism in Jabar. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for becoming our tourism agents," said Bey who asked the cyclists to take selfies at attractive spots. By participating in this event, the participants become more familiar with the beauty of the region in Jabar.

He said that this was evident in two editions of the Cycling de Jabar (CdJ) race in the southern part of Jabar. In 2022 and 2023, the event's route started from Geopark Ciletuh, Sukabumi Regency, to Pangandaran. Bey believes that during the event, tourism in southern Jabar was also lifted.

"For the past two years, (CdJ) has been held in southern West Java, and now it's in the north. We want to showcase all of West Java, including the north, south, east, and west, as always beautiful with its tourism," said Bey. Moreover, the infrastructure in North West Java is already adequate with the presence of toll roads and airports.

Kompas Editor-in-Chief Sutta Dharmasaputra said, this time CdJ is helping develop tourism in West Java. This can be seen from the increase in the number of participants by up to 24 percent compared to last year. "This cannot be separated from the Acting Governor's strategy of making Cirebon the starting point," he said.

In fact, the agency noted that participants did not only come from West Java, but also from 13 other provinces. For example, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java, Lampung, and even West Nusa Tenggara. The participating areas were from 54 districts/cities in Indonesia.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

An aerial photo of the floating cube dock at Waduk Darma in Jagara Village, Darma District, Kuningan Regency, West Java, taken on Thursday (2/5/2024). The revitalization of Waduk Darma, which began in 2019, cost more than Rp 30 billion. The revitalization includes the construction of pedestrian routes, parks, gazebos, and culinary areas. The West Java Provincial Government has aimed to make the 425-hectare reservoir, which has been operating since 1962, an international tourist destination.

"Hopefully next year more cyclists will participate. "West Java is also a repository for national cyclists," he said.

Sutta assessed that the theme of Cycling in West Java, "Sumanget Jawara," symbolizes a message for the community to not easily give up like the athletes did.

"We learn from the mentality of athletes who never give up. If they fail, fall, they rise again. The champion spirit of these athletes becomes a mental spirit for Indonesia," he said.

Also read: Becoming a place to start cycling in West Java, Cirebon City Hall has a long history