Mandalika Should Be Well Prepared for Surge in Tourists

KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

President Joko Widodo listens to an explanation from the President Director of PT Indonesia Tourism Development (ITDC) Abdulbar M Mansoer regarding the progress of preparations for the Pertamina Mandalika Highway International Circuit for the MotoGP event during a working visit to the Mandalika Special Economic Zone, Pujut, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Thursday ( 13/1/2022).

PRAYA, KOMPAS - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has paid attention to the preparation of the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in West Nusa Tenggara to welcome the world class motorcycle racing event, MotoGP, which will be held in March. One of the most important preparations is to anticipate a large surge in the number of tourists amid the threat of the newly emerged Covid-19 variant Omicron.

For the second time in the last two months, Jokowi and a number of ministers visited Mandalika. Last November, Jokowi visited Mandalika to check and inaugurate the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit.

"We come here to check the latest development on the preparation for MotoGP in March," said Jokowi regarding his visit to the Mandalika SEZ on Thursday (13/1/2022).

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The President also checked various facilities and infrastructure to support the race, from Lombok International Airport and the Lombok International Airport Bypass Road (BIL) to Mandalika and accommodation facilities prepared by residents.

The Mandalika Circuit, which was used for the Superbike World Championship motorcycle racing event last November, is scheduled to hold the Indonesian MotoGP series I on 18-20 March. Mandalika will host the second MotoGP series in the 2022 season after Qatar.

KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

President Joko Widodo listens to an explanation regarding the construction of the Sanggung Roundabout or the Welcome Roundabout at Mandalika in the Lombok-Mandalika International Airport Bypass Road area during a working visit to the Mandalika Special Economic Zone, Pujut, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Thursday (13/1/2022) .

If it passes the International Motorcycle Racing Federation (FIM) homologation, the Mandalika Circuit will become the first circuit in the country to hold the world’s leading motorbike race after the Sentul Circuit in 1997. Inevitably, the enthusiasm to watch the race is quite high.

The number of hotel and other lodging reservations in Central Lombok, especially in the Mandalika SEZ, have reached 95 percent for March 17-20, 2022. The rate for staying during that period has also increased sharply. The surge could reach six times that of a normal day. The room rental rate for a hostel on Kuta Mandalika Beach, for example, has reached Rp 1.19 million (US$85), far higher than the normal rate of Rp 197,500 per night.

The most expensive ticket to watch the MotoGP race at Mandalika, which are worth Rp 15 million, sold out in a matter of hours. There are only 900 of the most expensive tickets.

Based on data from the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, MotoGP can attract at least 100,000 tourists.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, who accompanied Jokowi in Mandalika, said the number of MotoGP spectators in Mandalika was estimated to be much higher than the previous Superbike event, where there were 60,000 people. Based on data from the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, MotoGP can attract at least 100,000 tourists.

Therefore, there are two anticipatory steps that will be taken, both for racers and team officials as well as spectators from within and outside the country, to ward off Covid-19. The bubble system, for example, will be applied to racers, officials and the organizing committee.

"Strict health procedures for racers should not be ignored. If there are Covid-19 cases, we must be firm that those who test positive cannot participate," he said.

Commuter flights

To prepare for the surge in visits to Lombok, according to Budi Karya, his party has prepared a schedule for commuter flights from Lombok to Bali and vice versa. Given the limited amount of accommodation in Lombok, some of the spectators have to stay in Bali.

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President Joko Widodo visits and enjoys the view from Bukit 360 in the Mandalika SEZ, Thursday (13/1/2022). From this hill, views can be circulated 360 degrees to the circuit.

"A wide-bodied plane has been prepared to make a commuter trip from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. from Bali to Lombok to serve around 4,000 people," he said.

The passenger terminal at Lombok Airport has been expanded to 43,501 square meters with a capacity of 7 million people per year. The President also checked the airport's readiness, including body temperature checkpoints and the Electronic Health Alert Card (e-HAC) application.

"We are checking the readiness of the event organizer to hold MotoGP, [especially] related to difficulties they face, including accommodation,transportation, hotels and planes. God willing, everything is ready," said Jokowi, wearing an Indonesia G20 Presidency jacket with the slogan "Recover Together, Recover Stronger" on it.

The President emphasized that Mandalika was not only about motorcycle racing. He hoped that the international racing event would be able to help boost the country’s economic recovery amid the pandemic.

Jokowi offered a reminder that the improvement of infrastructure facilities in the SEZ Mandalika and the Mandalika Circuit should be completed in February. On 11 Feb. Mandalika will host the 2022 MotoGP pre-season test to see the strength of the racing teams in welcoming the new season as well as to review the readiness of the committee and the circuit.

The deputy director of the Mandalika GrandPrix Association (MGPA), Cahyadi Wanda, said the President had advised that all good things from the Superbike event last November be maintained while the weaknesses found during the event should be improved and resolved.

As an example, Cahyadi said, starting from February, the MGPA would bring in 50,000 seats according to the standards of the best MotoGP and Formula 1 circuits in the world.

An improvement has also been made in the drainage system considering that there had been a puddle in the circuit area when the Superbike was held. “That is one of our main focuses. Now, 90 percent of the drainage has been connected," said Cahyadi. (INA/CAS/ZAK)

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).