Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia had been officially confirmed as the host of the MotoGP championship in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), through the signing of a cooperation agreement with Dorna Sports, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said.

"With the cooperation of all parties, God willing, March 18–20 (the main MotoGP event) will run successfully and smoothly,” he said at a weekly press briefing in Jakarta on Monday.

He lauded the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) provincial government for moving quickly to anticipate a significant increase in accommodation and transportation prices due to the MotoGP event.

Last Thursday (February 17, 2022), West Nusa Tenggara Governor Zulkieflimansyah issued Governor's Regulation (Pergub) Number 9 of 2022 concerning the Implementation of Accommodation Services Business to regulate the upper and lower limits of lodging rooms during international events, including international motorcycle racing events, he said.

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"(This is) so as not to harm tourists for the 2022 MotoGP event,” the minister added.

As per the governor's regulation, the accommodation zone closest to the MotoGP venue has been allowed to hike room rates by three times, he said.

For outer zones, the fare can be increased a maximum of two times and in the farthest zone, a maximum of one time, he informed.

In addition, in Gili Samena, NTB, 98 residential facilities have been built for tourism (sarhunta), which will later be equipped with sea and land shuttles to allow visitors to watch MotoGP at a very affordable price, Uno said.

"There is also a glamping facility (a type of tent) that I have reviewed, and the capacity of glamping will be increased to about two thousand people,” the minister added.

Earlier, the Directorate General of Land Transportation of the Transportation Ministry had allocated Rp21.2 billion to support the implementation of the Moto Grand Prix of Indonesia at the Mandalika Circuit.

"We have conducted a number of attempts in stages to provide supporting transportation and road safety facilities, with the budget reaching Rp21.2 billion," Director General of Land Transportation Budi Setiyadi said.

At least Rp5.4 billion of the budget has been used to provide 188 medium-sized shuttle buses which will serve seven routes, he informed.

Meanwhile, regarding the inter-mode bus services, Rp8.8 billion has been allocated for 278 buses serving six routes to the location of the former Selaparang Airport, Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, as well as several transportation hubs outside the circuit area, he said.

Furthermore, the directorate general will install four additional bus stops with a budget allocation of Rp1.5 billion, Setiyadi revealed.

In addition, Rp5.4 billion will be utilized for providing public street lighting along the Kuta-Kruak provincial road as well as directional traffic signs (RPPJ) around the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

"We have also been assigned to conduct traffic engineering management (MRLL) to anticipate jams due to the huge number of visitors at each transportation hub and in the areas around the circuit," he informed.

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Translator: M Baqir, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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