VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno spoke of the authority prioritizing the provision of accommodation for tourists visiting the Mandalika International Street Circuit, West Nusa Tenggara, in March 2022 to spectate the MotoGP championship.

The ministry has begun coordinating with regional governments, industry actors, and tourism village operators in the province to ensure accommodation preparedness, he remarked.

"The MotoGP championship is our opportunity to innovate regarding the provision of homestay for tourists as President Joko Widodo has instructed us to develop an equitable tourism industry. Hence, we also support local homestay operators in operating their establishments, particularly homestays in tourism villages," Uno noted in his press statement in Jakarta on Friday.

The minister is sanguine that the development of new accommodations and conversion of local houses into rented homestays would offer more choices for tourists visiting the Mandalika Circuit.

The ministry will operate transportation modes for tourists as shuttle transportation from their accommodation to the circuit and other locations in Lombok Island, he noted.

The ministry has also collaborated with industry actors for the provision of accommodation facilities, Uno noted, adding that local capsule hotel company Bobobox and natural recreation apparel company Eiger will develop camping accommodations in the region.

"Hosting the MotoGP championship requires not only coordination between ministries and government institutions but also necessitates collaboration with all stakeholders, including the local community,” the minister remarked.

Apart from ensuring the provision of tourists’ accommodation, the ministry is committed to empowering the local economy in Lombok Island and the surrounding islands of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, he remarked.

The MotoGP championship hosted at the Mandalika Circuit will also create new job opportunities and boost employment in the local tourism sector and creative economy, he added.

"We are optimistic that economic activities, human resources, and the level of employment in the region will soar because we expect the MotoGP championship to offer long-term sustainable benefits to the locals," Uno remarked. (Antaranews)