Erick Thohir: Empty Houses Will Be Turned Into Homestays Ahead Of The Mandalika MotoGP

Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of SOEs)

JAKARTA - To make the Indonesian MotoGP event a success at Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Lombok, the government has prepared 63,000 homestays as an alternative to hotels.

SOE Minister Erick Thohir said the homestay had been directly reviewed by President Joko Widodo and according to the plan, if it went well, the number would be increased to 100,000 units.

"The existence of the circuit and the MotoGP event will attract tourists to visit and stay at homestays as an alternative to hotels," Erick said at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, Wednesday, February 9.

The Ministry of SOEs is also collaborating with the Ministry of PUPR to fix homestays so that they become livable for future tenants. Not only that, the existence of this homestay can also improve the economy of the community around the Mandalika circuit.

"We will also empower empty houses so that later they can be rented out," he said.

The 2021 MotoGP event will be held at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in March. In addition to attracting foreign tourists to Indonesia, this event will also have an impact on MSMEs in the Mandalika area and its surroundings.

The 2021 MotoGP event which will be held at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in March is predicted to attract foreign tourists to Indonesia

Previously, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno said that ahead of the 2022 MotoGP, the homestay business in the area was growing.

According to predictions, the international racing event will bring in more than 100 thousand visitors. This, continued Sandiaga, will be able to revive the community's economy, especially for homestay owners, in an area that is one of the 5 Super Priority Destinations.