Location Far From The Mandalika MotoGP Circuit, Gili Trawangan Can Still Be Blessing

A number of spectators at the Mandalika MotoGP took a speedboat from Gili Trawangan to Teluk Nara Harbor, Lombok (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia MotoGP performance at the Pertamina International Street Circuit, Central Lombok, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, March 19-20, the impact was felt by many local residents, including Gili Trawangan, which is located quite far from the race venue.

This was acknowledged by the Chairman of the DPC of the West Lombok Indonesian Tour Guides Association, Taufik S at the Teluk Nara Harbor, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Sunday.

"Here there are three Gili (islands). Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. These three Gilis are one village, Gili Indah. All of them are starting to become active now after a decline due to the pandemic," Taufik said as quoted by Antara, Sunday.

According to him, the Mandalika MotoGP event made the Gilis in the Lombok Strait receive many guests or tourists after lodging and hotels in the Kuta and Mataram areas were full of tourists who wanted to see the race.

"Many stay on Gili Trawangan. The information we get is that many hotels and inns have special guests to see the race at Mandalika. Including groups from Federal Oil," he added.

Although he admits that many guests stay on Gili, Taufik cannot confirm the number in detail. He only confirmed that there was an increase. Likewise with rising rental prices.

"The government has set three zoning. Gili Trawangan is in the third zone. So the rent increase is not as high as in zone one (Kuta) and zone two (Mataram)," he emphasized.

The increased activity on Gili Trawangan was also acknowledged by one of the speedboat operators, Hamdani. According to him, quite a lot of guests came and even he and other operators had to serve guests to cross until midnight.

"In fact, someone came at five in the morning and at seven in the morning asked to be picked up because they wanted to watch MotoGP at Mandalika," he said.

The journey to Gili Trawangan from Pertamina International Street Circuit, Central Lombok is quite far. If using a large bus between one and a half to two hours. Then connected by speedboat or other scheduled ship.

"To rent a large speedboat, it is between Rp. 350-400 thousand. For a small one, it is between Rp. 300-350 thousand for one way. There is also a cheaper one. Take a ship that is not a speedboat like this," concluded the man who is familiarly called Dani.