TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) is proposing Bali to help solve the accommodation deficit ahead of the MotoGP race at the Mandalika Circuit in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara slated for March 18-20, 2022.

PHRI secretary general Maulana Yusran argues that in order to do this, the government should loosen its restriction on arrivals of international travelers into the tourism island. He proposes for international tourists to be permitted to travel domestically from Bali to Mandalika.

“Just for the MotoGP event, so they can travel to Mandalika which is not too far from Bali. This will also help revive Bali,” said Maulana on Wednesday, January 5, Bisnis.com reported.

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry projects the top-tier motorcycle prototype racing series will attract up to 100 thousand visitors. However, there are currently only 23,000 hotels, lodges, and homestays at tourism villages that are available.

The tourism ministry is adding tourist stay capacity using ships and boats in the Gili Tramena area that will have direct access to Mandalika.

“We are pursuing the accommodation needs of 70,000 spectators, this also has a positive impact on the economy in Bali and NTB. The quality of Bali hotels should not be doubted anymore and the capacity is also quite large,” said the PHRI secretary.

Moreover, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) governor Zulkieflimansyah said there are many investors that have shown interest to invest in the Mandalika exclusive economic area after the official announcement that the local international circuit will be hosting a MotoGP race.

However, he acknowledged that many investors are refraining from investing in the region he leads due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This, he argues, is one of the aspects why the hotel accomodations for the Mandalika MotoGP race this year is at a limited number.

Read: NTB Governor Speaks of Possibly Hosting Formula 1 at Mandalika

BISNIS.COM