Jakarta (ANTARA) - At least 45 tourism villages in Lombok are ready to welcome tourists, both domestic and international, during the World Superbike (WSBK) event at Mandalika Circuit, West Nusa Tenggara, the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) has said.
"The President has encouraged villages to level up their economy through many potentials, including tourism," chief expert of KSP, Albertien Enang Pirade, said in a press release issued here on Saturday.
A field verification in Central Lombok has shown that the plan of supporting the local economy through tourism villages has been going well in accordance with the President's direction, he claimed.
Visitor arrivals in tourism villages have increased significantly, which will certainly drive the economy of village communities, Pirade informed.
Hence, KSP hopes that WSBK 2021, which is currently taking place at the Mandalika International Racing Circuit in Central Lombok district, will have a sustainable impact on the regional economy, especially on the people's economy, he added.
The MotoGP event next year at the same circuit is also expected to have some positive impacts on the local economy, he said.
Generally, tourism villages have received mentoring from the provincial tourism office, as well as from the district/city tourism office, he informed.
Head of Tourism Destination Development, West Nusa Tenggara, Ahlul Wakti, said that the economic impact of the World Superbike event has been significant.
Real movements have been seen in the tourism sector, after almost all tourist activities stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he observed.
"Hotels are full, and tourism villages are experiencing an increase in sales of products such as souvenirs and attractions," Wakti remarked.
He said he hopes that the effects of sport tourism are not only limited to the community in Central Lombok, but evenly experienced by other districts in West Nusa Tenggara.
WSBK is an international motorbike race that is taking place from November 19–21, 2021. Meanwhile, MotoGP is scheduled to be held in Indonesia in March 2022.