The State Government has helped edge out international competition for Perth to win hosting rights for the world final of the 2016 Union Cycliste Internationale World Cycling Tour (UWCT).

Acting Tourism Minister John Day today announced Perth would host the final in 2016 along with qualifying events over the next three years.

“Perth has hosted qualifying events since the series began in 2011 and it is a great honour to be selected as the destination for the 2016 final, which is expected to attract hundreds of the world’s best amateur cyclists,” Mr Day said.

The tour is for the world’s best amateur riders and comprises 15 qualifying events which are held in cities around the world, culminating in the world final.

The Acting Minister said the State Government was proud to support the world final race which would have some of Perth’s best scenery as a backdrop and be broadcast on national television.

Perth will also host qualifying events from 2015 to 2017 as part of the annual Velofest event, which includes the Tour de Perth and the Telethon Freeway Bike Hike for Asthma.

“Cycling is a popular pastime in Western Australia with more than 500,000 people riding a bike at least once a week, so it’s great news that some of the world’s best will be competing in Perth,” Mr Day said.

“Cycling is also a popular sport in key tourism growth markets such as Singapore and Indonesia.”

The Acting Minister said visitors contributed $8.3 billion to the State’s economy last financial year and events like the UWCT World Final were a key part of the State Government’s strategy to grow that figure to $12 billion by 2020.