Sandiaga Confirms Government Will Not Accept MotoGP 2022 In Mandalika Threatened To Cancel Due To Quarantine Rules

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno said the government would not accept being threatened by certain parties who were ready to cancel the 2022 MotoGP event in Mandalika if quarantine obligations were still imposed for foreign travelers.

"I want to say here that we are a state of law. Indonesia is a legal country that has implemented the control of the COVID-19 pandemic by the best rules, and we have become the best practice", said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, at the Weekly Press Briefing, Jakarta, quoted by Antara on Monday, January 17.

Some time ago the CEO of Dorna Sports, Carmelo Ezpeleta, planned to cancel the MotoGP event if he continued to enforce mandatory quarantine rules for participants and crew.

According to Sandiaga, Indonesia is currently focusing on dealing with the pandemic and economic policies.

Therefore, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy stated that the government would not accept threats from those who claimed to be ready to cancel the MotoGP event due to the government's policy of handling the pandemic.

"We will complete our obligations (handling the pandemic and economic revival)", said Sandiaga Uno.

Sandiaga Uno said that the travel bubble was a scheme that was implemented during the quarantine period for MotoGP crew, racers, and official organizers.

The quarantine provisions regulate MotoGP crews, racers, and officials to stay at a special hotel.

All officers involved in the hotel and at the Mandalika Circuit, such as drivers, hotel administrators, cleaners, and local crews, are not allowed to physically interact with parties outside the bubble.

So that MotoGP racers, crew, and officials can still make the necessary preparations even though they are in quarantine.

"This travel bubble scheme will be implemented since the arrival of all drivers, crew, and officials in Malaysia for a pre-season test before leaving for Mandalika in February (2022)", said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Sandiaga Uno.