When it comes to tourism, Lombok has forever played second fiddle to the seductive wiles of its closest neighbor Bali. That may be coming to an end, however, with major facilities upgrades and the recent announcement that the Indonesian Island will play host to the Mandalika MotoGp in 2021.
The rise in prominence of Lombok on the world sporting calendar has been, to some degree, under the radar until recently. The idyllic island in the East of Indonesia has always been on the map for tourists to the region. Until now, though, it has mostly been the world class surfing, stunning beaches and amazing waterfalls and mountains that have been the main attractions.
2021 Mandalika MotoGP Announced
The announcement of the 3 year deal with Dorna Sports and the right to host a MotoGp event came as a surprise to many outside of the region itself. Having been announced back in 2018, the planning stage is virtually over and construction is now well under way. Local streets around the once quiet and secluded West Nusa Tenggara region have slowly taken on a new look. Beach goers and locals are becoming used to the diggers and dozers that now work away in the background as they themselves continue about their normal lives.
For the locals themselves, their lives are about to be subject to an upheaval that even they are probably not expecting. The region of Kuta Mandalika has always been a quiet place. Tourists and backpackers rave about it for a reason. It’s a place where life has always moved at a slower pace, and the most stressful part of the day is making the decision on which deserted idyllic beach you are going to lose yourself on this morning.
This is all in danger of being lost now. The arrival on their doorstep of the MotoGP has brought with it the developers, investors and high rollers. A submission from Indonesia to host the 2032 Olympics means the world has arrived, and Lombok had better begin preparing.
New And Upgraded Facilities
With the MotoGp itself being a street circuit event, it was obvious that the streets of Mandalika were about to be upgraded. Motorcycles are not raced on dirt and gravel after all. At least, not these types of Bikes. A circuit featuring 19 corners and 4.3 km of track takes up a fair piece of land. Also take into account that it will require space for over 40 garages and a grandstand that can sit 93,200 spectators, and a sizable portion of West Lombok has now become a construction zone.
The local populace are still eking out a living the best way they know how. The incursion of the developers is taking it’s toll on them and their lifestyle, as is inevitable. The Indonesian Government has not left them out in the cold however. Massive upgrades to housing in the region under the banner of the Self Help Housing Stimulant Assistance Program. This will affect over 240 houses, nearly 200,000 units, and the construction of 8000 new units. For locals who have been residing in houses that are generally regarded as unlivable, this is a huge boost.
Roads into and out of the region have also been targeted for massive upgrades. Anyone who has visited as a tourist will tell you about the quiet, meandering road from the International Airport down to the Kuta coast. The arrival of the expected influx of tourists, competitors and officials would reek havoc on the two lane thoroughfare that was only ever built for local traffic. It has now been targeted for a massive upgrade, due to start shortly.
Gili Mas port will also benefit from upgrades, with a cruise pier and container terminal slated for construction. With all of this work also comes employment for locals and then upgrades to local facilities such as schools and other training institutes. Water and Electricity supplies will need to be upgraded and made more reliable. Any visitor to Kuta in recent times will tell you that on any given night the electricity will cut out on at least half a dozen occasions before kicking back in again. These situations that are common in this part of the world will need to be rectified before the high rollers arrive in town.
And believe me they are coming.
The Race circuit itself is set to host 11 hotels with approx 1900 rooms, a new hospital and shopping mall, as well as a convention and exhibition building. These are a type of facilities never before seen in the region, but are all part of the plan under the Jakowi governments Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ) initiative that was inaugurated in 2017. The region is set to expect growth, and this is just the beginning.
As far as the racing facilities go, the government has stated that a large part of them will only be temporary. As host to a MotoGP and Superbike championship race each year, in effect that only constitutes two weeks out of the calendar. One would expect that the statement means that when the circuit is not in use, then the beach and surrounding island will remain as close as possible to what it is now. An idyllic tropical destination.
Maybe just not quite as peaceful and undiscovered as it used to be.
How To Get To Lombok
The big question for many people who are interested in the “new” Lombok, or would like to attend the MotoGp is simply, “How to get to Lombok?”
The answer is simple really.
As mentioned earlier in this article the International Airport at Lombok has recently had an upgrade. Flights in and out are regular, and will only become more so with the introduction of new hotels and resorts. Demand will increase, as will the options when it comes to choosing flights. Already, flights to and from Bali arrive and depart several times a day, operated by Garuda, Lion and Air Asia.
For those that don’t wish to fly, there is also the option of catching the Fast Boat. These depart from several locations in Bali throughout the day and take a couple of hours to do the crossing to Lombok. For those that like to go at an even slower pace, or would like to bring the car or bike with them, Bali Ferries are another option again. These depart from Padang Bai in East Bali.
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