KUALA LUMPUR: Ticket sales for the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship (MotoGP) scheduled to take place from Oct 21 to 23 has not reached 50 per cent yet.
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) Chief Executive Officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif said it could be due to the absence of Malaysian riders this time.
"In addition, the factor of 25 per cent entertainment tax imposed by the Selangor state government has also affected ticket prices which have doubled," he said when met by Bernama.
He said that although ticket sales, which started in April, has shown an increasing trend over the past three weeks, it has not yet reached 50 per cent.
In this regard, he said the SIC is holding talks with the Selangor government to reduce the entertainment tax in an effort to increase ticket sales.
"Last year we had discussed (the matter) with the Menteri Besar of Selangor but so far we have not received any final word yet.
"Previously we got an exemption until last year, but this year there is no exemption.
"So if the tax imposed can be reduced, we expect ticket sales to move faster. For those who have already bought tickets, SIC will refund them (the difference)," he said.
He informed that this year's ticket prices start from as low as RM90 to more than RM500.
"Actually, it is very different from the last edition which started at RM40 after the state government gave an exemption on entertainment tax," he said.
Azhan Shafriman at the same time is optimistic that the race at SIC will still be a grand affair after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.--BERNAMA
