It’s likely that many MotoGP fans would have to make the small hop over from Bali to Lombok for the highly-anticipated Mandalika Grand Prix on March 18-20, tourism officials say, as the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) island is lacking in terms of hotel rooms.
The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry recently projected that the race will attract some 100,000 people — filling the new circuit to at least near-full capacity — comprising MotoGP fans from Indonesia and abroad. However, the island of Lombok has only 18,000 hotel rooms and around 5,000 rooms at homestays and tourist villages.
The NTB chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) today said it’s almost inevitable that the majority of spectators would have to find hotel rooms in Bali during the race weekend.
“We think that is acceptable, as long as here [in NTB] hotel rooms are filled up first. We hope that MotoGP will revive NTB’s economy,” PHRI NTB Chapter Chairwoman Ni Ketut Wolini said, noting that the island’s economy has been battered since the 2018 earthquake, which killed 563, and the pandemic.
Staying in Bali and going to the race in Lombok shouldn’t be too impractical for those who can afford to travel for the grand prix. After all, the two islands are merely a brief 40-minute flight away from each other.
Race organizers recently released the price list for tickets, which are going for IDR115K (US$8) for general admission and up to IDR15 million (US$1,047) for a three-day premier class hospitality suites package.
The Mandalika International Street Circuit opened in November 2021, and held its inaugural race that same month, hosting the World Superbike Championship.
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