The 2022 MotoGP series at the Mandalika Circuit is having a positive impact on the tourism industry. After being hit by the pandemic, local tourist industry players are again smiling at seeing their turnover grow.
By
ISMAIL ZAKARIA
·6 minutes read
KOMPAS
Various preparations are being made ahead of the Mandalika MotoGP race, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) installed a sophisticated sensor that measures the speed of the riders connected to satellites via GPS which is also connected to all motorcyclists..
The pandemic dealt a major blow to Lombok’s tourism industry and businesses, which saw a slump for more than two years. Now they are smiling again because of the MotoGP at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit.
The clock showed 8:30 p.m. Central Indonesia Time (WITA) on Monday (15/3/2022) as Lalu Sukri was in the lobby of Lombok International Airport, busily scanning the passenger manifest for the plane that would land in half an hour.
Every now and then he would look back at the list while chatting with his colleagues to make sure that the car and driver were ready. His job that evening was important, so he could not afford to miss anyone.
Around 290 passengers were arriving from Jakarta on two charter planes. They were not just any passenger, but the drivers and officials from the MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, and Asia Talent Cup teams who were competing at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit on 18-20 March 2022.
That day might have been very tiring for Sukri and his fellow managers of the special transportation rental companies at Lombok airport. However, Sukri couldn't hide his joy.
"Now everyone can just smile. It means liquidity," said Sukri, laughing briefly, describing his excitement over the hundreds of cars hired out from four of the airport’s travel and tourism partners, all for use during the MotoGP.
According to Sukri, of the four car rental companies partnering with Angkasa Pura Lombok, the operator of Lombok International Airport, all of the companies’ combined fleet of 500 cars have been rented for the MotoGP. So it is natural that the agents are feeling excited and happy.
"We warmly welcome this evening. Our euphoria is great. As residents of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), we are very happy. This [MotoGP] will recover the economy following the pandemic," said Sukri.
AGUNG SETYAHADI
Tanjung Aan Beach, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Monday (14/2/2022), with rocky hills that store ancient geological history. This beach is one of the tourist sites that can be visited during the weekend of the Indonesian MotoGP series at the Mandalika Circuit, March 18-20 2022..
Just like Sukri and his peers, Hidayat Adiasih, 30, the owner of Frent Motor Lombok, is also happy. A total of his 23 rental motorcycles have been hired during the MotoGP.
“The people who have rented them are tourists who will be watching the MotoGP, including [visitors] from Jakarta and Bali. Some [rentals] are for three days, some are up to seven days," said Hidayat.
According to Hidayat, all of his motorcycles had been booked since January.
However, his phone has not stopped ringing until now, with the voice on the other end asking if he had any motorcycles to rent out.
"Now, we are busy turning down orders during the MotoGP. We’re not taking orders," laughed Hidayat, who uses Google's advertising platform.
He said that apart from customers who wanted to rent his vehicle during the MotoGP Indonesian Grand Prix from 18-20 March 2022, his business was still receiving new orders. The last on Tuesday was from Asia Talent Cup racer Gun Mie from Japan. “He rented for two days. The motorcycle was picked up right away. Very happy," said Hidayat.
According to Hidayat, despite the high demand, he has not raised his rate for renting motorcycles. He still charged Rp 70,000 per day for a small automatic motorbike and Rp 80,000 per day for large motorbikes.
“This is our way of maintaining customer relations. If we raise our rates like the other [rental companies], we are afraid customers won’t rent from us anymore,” said Hidayat.
Apart from keeping his regular rates, said Hidayat, he was also maintaining his service quality, from fast response to vehicle quality.
Hidayat said he was now able to smile after the pandemic’s devastating impact on his business. During the pandemic, he usually received only six orders in a single month. In some months, he had zero orders. He even had to sell five of his motorcycles to make ends meet.
According to Hidayat, the MotoGP was having a positive impact on his business since the pandemic struck, as were other events like the World Superbike in November 2021. During that motor event, his company still saw a rental motorcycle booking frequency of at most 50-60 percent.
AGUNG SETYAHADI
A child learns to surf at Selong Belanak beach, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Monday (14/2/2022). Surfing is one of the tourist activities that can be done during the weekend of the Indonesian MotoGP series at the Mandalika Circuit, March 18-20 2022..
He therefore hoped that the current rental trend would continue, and that it was not only during times when there was an event.
"Of course, this must be supported by easing the regulations for tourists. Like now, for example, the departure requirements and quarantine requirements have been abolished. But there should not be any more changes," he said.
Aside from transportation rental companies, other small and medium businesses are also excited about the MotoGP. Nutsafir Cookies Lombok, a bakery, for example, had to increase production to fulfill large orders for the MotoGP.
According to Sayuk Wibawati, the owner of Nutsafir Cookies Lombok, production had been doubled from the usual 50 kilograms to 100 kilograms per day ahead of the MotoGP. Sayuk also had to hire more workers.
"We’re feeling the impact of the MotoGP. During the 2021 World Superbike, our monthly turnover was Rp 299 million. Our hope is that this will double during the MotoGP," she said.
Sayuk hoped that the MotoGP would have a maximum impact on the future of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
"The local administration is also expected to be more optimal in arranging accommodation and transportation, so there is no need for visitors to stay outside Lombok. When there are a lot of visitors in Lombok, of course, gift shops have a greater opportunity to increase their turnover," said Sayuk.
Like Sayuk, another local business owner, Remul, 44, who manages Edo Cafe in the Gerupuk area to the east of the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ), has been also affected by the positive impact of the MotoGP. Remul manages homestays with a capacity of around 100 rooms that have been booked for the motor racing event.
“It’s not only the ones I manage, but the other homestays are also full. I really feel the impact of this MotoGP," said Remul, clearly happy.
MotoGP’s Pertamina Grand Prix opens in two days. The event’s racers, crew and officials have arrived. Various preparations are also being accelerated. Among these is clearing the circuit, installing the sponsors’ billboards and other promotional materials for the Mandalika MotoGP at a number of locations, and preparing the tribune and the event venues.
All of these preparatory activities are, of course, to ensure that the event that has been awaited for 25 years will run as expected and that its positive impacts will continue into the future to make more people smile.
