NTB Governor: MotoGP Mandalika Trigger National Economic Recovery

MATARAM - West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Zulkieflimansyah said the MotoGP world motorcycle racing event at the Mandalika Circuit was the trigger for the national economic recovery.

"If every month we can organize an event in Mandalika, then NTB will become the center of economic growth in Indonesia," said the Governor of NTB in a public dialogue held by the Bali-Nusra PKC PMII in Mataram, reported by Antara, Friday, February 25.

In a dialogue with the theme "Success of MotoGP in the Context of National Economic Recovery", the Governor of NTB invites the community to collaborate in making activities that are able to bring tourists.

"I always remind my friends to always make events. When they finish in Mandalika, all tourist sites in NTB will be visited," he said.

With many post-MotoGP activities later, tourists and spectators are not in a hurry to leave Lombok. The audience will enjoy the tour in NTB. This of course must be accompanied by many activities that are able to make the audience stay in Lombok.

"Like yesterday, when the WSBK event was over, many spectators stayed at Sembalun. I am sure that with this MotoGP, it will revive the economy in NTB," he said.

According to him, the series of activities in Mandalika also made President Jokowi often come to Lombok. In fact, in the next few days the President will come to inaugurate the Jokowi Statue in Mandalika.

"With this MotoGP, Pak Jokowi comes to NTB more often and tomorrow, Tuesday, Pak Jokowi will come to inaugurate the Statue of Pak Jokowi riding a motorbike," he said.

Jokowi's arrival in Lombok certainly has a positive impact on development. Jokowi frequently visits locations in NTB and urges ministers to build infrastructure.

Besides Jokowi, said Zulkieflimansyah, the MotoGP racers introduced Lombok through their social media. Like Marc Marquez who posted a destination in Lombok. Of course this will lift as well as free promotion of Lombok tourism in the world. Moreover, the racers have a lot of fans.

"Marc Marquez came to Lombok and posted photos about Lombok. Thus, Lombok is increasingly known to the world," he said.

The Governor of NTB also reminded the public not to be jealous if the presence of MotoGP would bring blessings to other regions in Indonesia.

"We want NTB to be a trigger for international events. Let's just let the audience use hotels in Bali. Bali is part of Indonesia. We are happy, other people are happy that we live," he said.

The chairman of the Bali Nusra Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PKC PMII) Branch Coordinator, Aziz Muslim said the presence of international events in NTB, whether MotoGP, MXGP in Sumbawa or plans to hold Formula 1, became a turning point for the recovery of the national economy which had been sluggish due to the pandemic.

"If I make an analogy that Indonesia needs NTB because all countries in the world are familiar with NTB, it means that we must push for this economic recovery from NTB," he said.

ITDC party, Wahyu, in the dialogue said that the series of events in Mandalika will have a multiplayer effect on economic growth, especially related to tourism.

"There are three keys to tourism development. Attractions, accessibility and amenities. ITDC itself is making improvements to accessibility," said Wahyu.

He said that not everyone who came to Lombok would later watch MotoGP, but they liked the crowds, so a series of events had to be prepared to pamper them.

"Those who don't watch MotoGP but they are happy with the crowd, we have prepared the event set, namely music, DJs who will fill the event," he said.