"This is remarkable. As many as 142 thousand people came to spectate the Mandalika MotoGP," he remarked at the circuit in Central Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on Sunday.
He described the 2025 Indonesia MotoGP as a success, attributing this feat to the strong collaboration between various stakeholders, including the central and regional governments and industry players.
"This is a tangible achievement resulting from our solid collaboration to ensure that MotoGP remains a key agenda for promoting Indonesia’s tourism appeal," Thohir said, citing the significant contribution of the Ministry of Tourism.
However, the minister warned stakeholders against complacency and emphasized the importance of continuous evaluation to pursue further improvement.
On that note, Thohir underscored the need to upgrade tourism facilities and infrastructure, including accommodation within and around the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
To that end, he stressed that the central government would continue to attract more investment into the SEZ, adding that he had coordinated with Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstreaming Todotua Pasaribu to advance this objective.
"We hope that the number of hotels and the value of investments will increase. I am convinced that Indonesia will succeed in replicating the successful development of Nusa Dua (Bali) in Mandalika," he pointed out.
In addition to boosting Indonesia’s sports tourism, Thohir highlighted that the Mandalika MotoGP had generated Rp4.8 trillion (around US$280 million) in economic impact for the country.
Sharing a similar sentiment, NTB Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal confirmed that the Mandalika Circuit had brought concrete economic benefits to local communities, citing increased hotel occupancy not only within the SEZ but also in Mataram City.
He noted that this year’s Indonesia MotoGP empowered 120 local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), double the 60 recorded in 2024.
On Sunday afternoon, 142 thousand spectators witnessed Spanish rider Fermin Aldeguer (20) finish first in the 2025 Indonesia MotoGP, marking his name as the second-youngest rider ever to win a top-flight race behind compatriot Marc Marquez.
Meanwhile, having secured his seventh world title in the previous race in Japan, Marquez crashed out of the event after colliding with Marco Bezzecchi in the opening lap, extending his streak of never completing a main race in Mandalika since the circuit joined the MotoGP calendar in 2022.
According to an agreement between Indonesia’s InJourney Tourism Development Corporation and Dorna Sports, the Mandalika Circuit is expected to host the MotoGP through 2031.
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Translator: Nur Imansyah, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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