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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

Indonesia Backs 2026 MotoGP for Economic Boost and National Branding

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Indonesia's Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir supports the 2026 MotoGP event, highlighting its economic impact and role in national branding.
  • The Mandalika circuit event has previously generated trillions of rupiah in economic impact and supported local businesses and workers.
  • The government aims to leverage sport tourism, like MotoGP, to boost the economy and develop motorsport talent.

Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir has thrown his full support behind the upcoming 2026 MotoGP Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, emphasizing the event's significant economic benefits and its role in bolstering the nation's brand.

Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia or MotoGP Indonesia is not just a sport, but a momentum to strengthen Indonesia's nation branding. Strengthening the position of The Mandalika, Lombok, and NTB as world-class sportainment destinations.

— Menpora Erick ThohirDuring a talk show session at the MotoGP event launch, highlighting the event's broader significance.

Speaking at the official launch in Jakarta, Thohir highlighted how previous MotoGP events at the Mandalika International Circuit have proven to be a powerful engine for "sport tourism," generating substantial economic effects. He pointed to the 2025 event, which attracted over 140,000 spectators and contributed Rp4.96 trillion to the national economy. The host region of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) saw an economic turnover of Rp2-4 trillion, with a multiplier effect that engaged over 600 SMEs and employed three thousand local workers.

Beyond the economic gains, Thohir stressed that MotoGP serves as a crucial platform for strengthening Indonesia's "nation branding" and solidifying The Mandalika, Lombok, and NTB as world-class "sportainment" destinations. The event also fosters the growth of the automotive sports ecosystem, nurturing local talent like racers Mario Aji and Veda Ega Pratama, who have achieved international success.

The growth of spectators has been proven, the economic impact has been proven, creating talent has also been proven. Now, it's just a matter of how we all here can continue to improve, so that events like MotoGP can truly continue to be successful.

— Menpora Erick ThohirDiscussing the proven success of MotoGP and the need for continued improvement.

With the fifth edition of the MotoGP Indonesia set for October, Thohir expressed optimism that the 2026 event will yield even greater benefits. He noted that sport tourism and athletic achievement are priorities within the national medium-term development plan, and MotoGP provides a significant vehicle for achieving these goals. The Ministry of Youth and Sports, through its Deputy for Sports Industry Development, is committed to supporting international events like MotoGP, ensuring their successful and continued execution in Indonesia.

Insyaaallah I as Minister of Youth and Sports will maintain and encourage these events to continue to be carried out well. We from the Ministry of Youth and Sports are once again very happy and support, and if there are any issues, we are ready to help.

— Menpora Erick ThohirReaffirming the ministry's commitment and support for international sporting events.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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