Mandalika WSBK must become health protocol benchmark in international events

Sabtu, 13 November 2021 15:04 WIB

President Joko Widodo (front) driving his motorcycle on a test drive at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in Mandalika Special Economic Zone, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara on Friday (Nov 12, 2021). ANTARA PHOTO/Setpres/Agus Suparto/Handout/sgd/wsj.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The national COVID-19 Task Force expects the enforcement of health protocols during the 2021 World Superbike (WSBK) championship at the Mandalika Circuit, NTB, on November 19-21, to become a global benchmark in international sporting events.

"We are optimistic that the COVID-19 health protocol measures implemented during the event would serve as a benchmark for other countries looking to hold international sporting events during the pandemic," the national COVID-19 Task Force Public Communication Sub-department head Troy Pantouw told ANTARA in Jakarta on Saturday.

The government and task force have urged race spectators, participants, committees, other individuals relevant to the event, and local residents to continue to adhere to the COVID-19 health protocols enforced by the authority to prevent the spread of virus infections during the event, the department head stated.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency has also launched a mask car movement to distribute free masks and educate residents on the importance of health protocols and wearing masks during the pandemic, the official expounded.

The program is aimed at supporting the enforcement of health protocols, especially during the WSBK championship event, he added.

The WSBK championship is the first international sporting event hosted by Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the event holds potential to boost tourism recovery efforts currently being promoted by the government, Pantouw stated.

Meanwhile, Central Lombok District Tourism Office Head Lendek Jayadi also called on residents to consistently comply with health protocols despite the recent decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in the region.

To support the regional tourism recovery, especially during the WSBK championship and succeeding international events hosted in Mandalika, the tourism office has implemented various measures to promote vaccination among tourism industry actors within the super-priority tourism area ecosystem, the office head stated.

“All tourism industry actors, particularly within the super-priority tourism area ecosystem, have been vaccinated. We have also held training to enhance the workers' hospitality and tourism competence," Jayadi informed.

The authority has performed CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, Environment Sustainability) assessment of tourism establishments in the region, including hotels, restaurants, homestays, and tourism villages, he added.