Human Resource Development Key to Developing Indonesia's Tourist Destinations

The Mandalika MotoGP series has successfully attracted significant international attention, with economic turnover reaching Rp 4.9 trillion. InJourney CEO Maya Watono said the success of MotoGP Mandalika is not only economic, but also in terms of tourism and human resource development.

“Human resource development in Indonesia can occur through international events. One example: when we first held MotoGP, all the marshals and all the workers were from Dorna, Spain, and Italy — there was not a single local resident. But now all 3,000 are fully local residents,” Maya told CNBC Indonesia during the Danantara SOE Progress Update on Wednesday (26/8/2026).

Currently all workers for MotoGP are local workers from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Maya added that, even more proudly, Indonesia has also dispatched Indonesian marshals to participate in MotoGP Malaysia and Japan.

“So it is very proud that the elevation of our human capital can actually occur through knowledge transfer. So besides this being destination development with very significant economic benefits for NTB and nationally, it is also human resource improvement and mission branding,” Maya stressed.

For context, MotoGP has long proven capable of producing talented local Indonesian riders, from Doni Tata Pradita to Veda Ega Pratama. This is what makes MotoGP so popular and able to have a major economic impact when held in Indonesia.

Beyond human resource development, the Mandalika MotoGP also provides added value to the regional economy. Maya emphasised that the event’s presence makes NTB increasingly attractive to investors and does not stop at just one event.

“If you walk around Mandalika now, it is busy. From being quiet five years ago, it is now bustling and the economy is turning. Roads are better, foreign tourists are coming in. Connectivity is not yet optimal, but the growth there is clearly visible,” Maya said.