MotoGP Mandalika 2026 Draws More Than 150,000 Visitors

MANDALIKA, JakartaWeekly.com – The 2026 Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, also known as MotoGP Mandalika, attracted more than 150,000 visitors.

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said the event further strengthened Indonesia’s position as a world-class sports tourism destination.

“MotoGP Mandalika is a national strategic agenda for the development of sports tourism in Indonesia. The successful staging of this world-class racing event would not have been possible without strong collaboration among ITDC (InJourney Tourism Development Corporation), MGPA (Mandalika Grand Prix Association), the central and regional governments, associations, industry stakeholders, and license holder Dorna Sports,” Widiyanti said in Mandalika recently.

Over its four years of operation, MotoGP Mandalika has shown positive development, reflected in an upward trend in spectator numbers each year. The event has also attracted growing international attention as a premier motorcycle racing competition held in Indonesia.

InJourney President Director Maya Watono and the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) estimated that the economic multiplier effect of the 2026 MotoGP Mandalika event would reach Rp5 trillion.

Based on a study by the Ministry of National Development Planning (PPN)/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) on the previous year’s MotoGP event, its nationwide economic impact was estimated at between Rp2.7 trillion and Rp4.7 trillion.

The economic benefits have reached various business sectors, including hospitality, transportation, food and beverage, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Increased tourist activity during the MotoGP event has provided benefits for businesses across these sectors.

“The multiplier effect extends across various sectors, including hotel occupancy rates reaching 100% in the Mandalika area and 90% in Central Lombok and Mataram City, an increase in air passenger numbers, and higher revenues for MSMEs,” Widiyanti said.

According to Widiyanti, these economic benefits demonstrate the role of international sporting events in creating opportunities for inclusive economic growth, particularly for communities around tourist destinations.

She said the success of MotoGP Mandalika should serve as an opportunity to ensure that the benefits of hosting international sporting events are sustained over time. These benefits should extend beyond the competition itself through increased tourist arrivals and economic activity among local communities in the long term.

Widiyanti explained that sports tourism has evolved into a global industry connecting sports, tourism, media, and the creative economy across countries. International sporting events consistently attract millions of tourists, both spectators and participants, who travel to watch competitions while exploring tourist destinations.

The Ministry of Tourism, Widiyanti said, would continue to support the development of sports tourism as a sector with significant potential to increase tourism’s contribution to the national economy.

This commitment includes collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to optimize sports tourism potential, improve the quality of international event organization, and expand economic benefits for the tourism industry and local communities.

“Sports is a highly promising tourism theme that should continue to be developed. Globally, sports have proven to be a highly effective tourism magnet. Therefore, we must continue to work together to ensure that sports tourism in Indonesia continues to grow,” Widiyanti said.