VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

One of the WSBK racers during a free session practice at the Mandalika Circuit, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on November 19, 2021. (ANTARA PHOTO/AHMAD SUBAIDI/rst)

The Indonesian government is optimistic that the World Superbike (WSBK) racing event at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), will bring impact and benefit to the community.

"The WSBK event held in Mandalika, as one of the Super Priority Tourism Destinations, was a momentum that we must maintain to bring impact and offer benefits to the local community," Deputy for Tourism and Creative Economy Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Odo R. M. Manuhutu, noted in a written statement received here, Saturday.

The WSBK held on November 19-21 was projected to bring thousands of participants to Central Lombok and expected to have an impact on the tourism sector and Mandalika's creative economy, he remarked.

"This is a trigger for the tourism sector and the local creative economy to introduce Mandalika to the world," Manuhutu noted.

Meanwhile, Special Staff for State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister, Arya Sinulingga, noted that the WSBK event was supported through synergy between SOEs, including the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Aviata, Indonesian Construction SOE (PT PP), Pertamina, and State-Owned Bank Association (Himbara).

The Mandalika Special Economy Zone (SEZ), as the venue for the WSBK, is included in the Five Super Priority Tourism Destinations managed by ITDC.

"The Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit has become the new pride of Indonesians to hold international racing events," Sinulingga affirmed.

Furthermore, he pressed for optimizing the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit to encourage economic growth, especially in Central Lombok, NTB.

He also noted that related stakeholders must collaborate to maintain the Mandalika Circuit in an effort to maximize the use and facilitate economic growth for the surrounding community.

ITDC President Director Abdulbar M. Mansoer noted that the WSBK would attract tourists to visit Lombok and Indonesia as well as trigger the revival of Indonesian tourism.

Mansoer remarked that Mandalika was honored to host the closing series of the WSBK. The circuit has also cleared the homologation test by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).

"We believe that we will be able to prove that Indonesia is a credible host to organize international race events. We hope that in future, more similar events would be held at the Mandalika SEZ to accelerate Indonesia's economic conditions following the pandemic," he concluded//ANT