Tourist Attractions In Mandalika That Are Eligible For World-Class Sports

L'Etape Indonesia (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Mandalika, a tourist area located in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) will be in the spotlight for motorcycle racing lovers on the planet. This weekend, the second series of the 2022 MotoGP season will be held there.

The Mandalika MotoGP series will start on Friday, March 18, starting with the first free practice session. The new race will be held on Sunday, March 20.

It's not just MotoGP racing that will take place. The Mandalika Circuit will also hold races in other classes in the Grand Prix of Indonesia. Besides MotoGP, there are also Moto2, Moto3, and the 2022 Asia Talent Cup (ATC).

The Mandalika tourist area is truly a magnet. As stated by the Managing Director of ITDC (Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation) Abdulbar M. Mansoer some time ago, this area is very complete and can be prepared for any sport.

The following are some tourist areas in Mandalika that are worthy of becoming international sports venues. Quoted by VOI from various sources.

First, there is Tunjung Aan Beach. Before MotoGP, Indonesia had held a triathlon trial in The Mandalika area. This is a sports activity in the form of swimming at Tanjung Aan Beach for 500 meters, followed by cycling for 7 kilometers to West Gate The Mandalika and running for 2.5 kilometers to Kuta Beach Park.

Then, there is Kuta Beach Park. This area was once the location of the Trip of Indonesia (TROI) paragliding event at Kuta Beach Park. Then, the Seger Beach area is the host for motor cross (trabas), Mandalika Offroad Championship, and international surfing competitions.

It doesn't end there. L'Etape Indonesia by Tour de France, which was attended by 1,308 participants from Indonesia and 12 other countries, also took place in this region on February 20 yesterday.

The route covers the circumference of the Mandalika Special Economic Zone or Tourism SEZ, including on the circuit, by pass the newly built Lombok – Mandalika International Airport, the hills of Torok Aik Beliq. The racers then circled Kota Praya, then returned to Mandalika.