Central Lombok Residents Use Rice Fields As Bungalows For MotoGP Guests

LOMBOK - Maswan Turral, a resident of Sukarara Village, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, uses his rice fields to grow rice while building bungalows to be a place to stay for MotoGP spectators.

"The concept of this stage bungalow came on its own. After seeing the expanse of rice fields, I built a villa while planting rice under it," said Maswan Turral at the inauguration of Turrall Resto & Bungalow's in Sukarara Village, Central Lombok, Antara, Wednesday, March 16.

The inauguration of the Turrall Resto & Bungalow's, which is located on the side of the ByPass road at Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport, was carried out by the Regent of Central Lombok, Lalu Pathul Bahri, together with the Deputy Chair of the NTB DPRD, H Mori Hanafi.

Maswan, who works daily in Mataram City, admitted that initially he only built three bungalows with a traditional Lombok rice barn model. The inn room was made for a place to rest when returning home, in addition to being rented out if there were guests staying overnight.

However, after seeing the market for MotoGP spectators who were looking for lodging near the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, he again built four bungalows.

"Initially, I was just playing around, but because there was MotoGP, I continued again," he said.

He said all bungalow rooms have been booked by guests from March 16 to 22, 2022. The rental price per room unit offered by travel agents is IDR 2.5 million per night. But under normal conditions, IDR 500 thousand per night.

"Room prices are still held by travel agents, but the standard price for MotoGP is IDR 2 million to IDR 2.5 million, normally IDR 500 thousand per night," said Maswan.

In addition to comfortable rooms with refrigeration (AC) facilities, he said, guests can also enjoy panoramic views of the vast expanse of rice fields, and views of Mount Sasak.

It also provides a restaurant with a culinary menu typical of Central Lombok, such as pelecingan chicken, cloves, and garlic sauce with a distinctive aroma.

"We also provide shuttle transportation facilities for guests who want to travel," said Maswan.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Central Lombok, H Lalu Pathul Bahri, appreciated the courage of his citizens to invest in building luxury accommodation by utilizing rice fields.

"This is one of the multi-effects of the Mandalika MotoGP event, because many people come and need lodging," he said.