Besides promoting Malaysia as a beautiful tourist destination to the world, Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi also helps boost the economy in all the states that the race visits each year.
The economic spillover created by the event is clear to see in each stage of the race as riders, team officials and crew, personnel from the organisers, their family members and cycling fans travel with the race.
In Langkawi for example, which hosts the first stage of the tour this year, flights and ferries going into the island have been heavily booked.
The addition of the Domestique by Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi event this year has also brought hundreds of amateur cyclists and their families to the Mystical Island.
Domestique is an event that gives amateur cyclists from all walks of life the opportunity to experience what it is like to race on the actual Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi race route.
Hotels have enjoyed a substantial increase in bookings as have taxies and e-hailing drivers on the island. Rental of cars and motorbikes have also increased as those following the race look to further explore the island.
This has boosted ticket sales at tourist attractions on the island including the Langkawi cable car, also known as Langkawi Skycab, which offers tourists the chance to experience the beautiful panorama from the peak of Gunung Machinchang.
Visitors to Langkawi Skycab can also experience the 3D Interactive Art Museum as well as ATV rides on nearby trails.
Hungry visitors brought in by Le Tour de Langkawi have also been able to experience the many different types of restaurants in the island, including the very fresh seafood Langkawi is famous for.
