VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOI, Jakarta - Indonesia's Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno has said that the 2023 MotoGP race, held from October 13–15 in Mandalika, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, gave a boost to the local economy.

"We were able to collect the temporary data and Mandalika MotoGP reaped good results. The estimated turnover of money and ticket sales was very high and exceeded our target," Uno informed in a statement released here on Tuesday.

Based on the temporary results of research conducted by the ministry, 90 percent of the 102,929 spectators at the 2023 MotoGP showed interest in returning to the Mandalika area and its surroundings, he said.

"They were satisfied with the MotoGP event, the accommodation, and the public transport," he said.

The ministry's deputy for strategic policies, Dessy Ruhati, said that based on temporary data, the creative economy actors and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) around the Mandalika area recorded a 36.54–percent increase in income.

"Business actors agree to participate in this activity again in the future. They also stated that the Mandalika MotoGP had a good impact on increasing their turnovers," she added.

She further informed that the hotel occupancy rate around Mandalika reached 100 percent, even though hotel rates during the event were two to three times higher compared to normal days.

However, there are some aspects that need to be evaluated, such as toilet cleanliness and the availability of prayer rooms, as well as facilities for children, the elderly, and breastfeeding mothers.

"The supporting facilities are good enough but not that clean, and the number and quality of prayer rooms need to be added and improved," she said.

Nevertheless, she expressed optimism that the MotoGP 2024 will run better to support inclusive and sustainable tourism and creative economy.  (Antara News)