THE INDONESIA government has gazetted a 1,200-hectare area in Mandalika, southern Lombok as National Tourism Special Economic Territory, as part of plans to develop tourism infrastructure in West Nusa Tenggara province.
The move precipitates the implementation of the Master Plan on Acceleration and Expansion of the Indonesian Economic Development 2011-2023, where Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara provinces have been grouped under the national tourism and food support corridor.
Meanwhile, the new Lombok International Airport (LIA), which is expected to start operations on October 1, will be the main catalyst for tourism and economic progress in West Nusa Tenggara, according to coordinating minister for the economy, Hatta Rajasa.
The minister, who visited the airport development project last weekend, was quoted by Antara News Agency as saying: “(The development of) Lombok International Airport will (foster) West Nusa Tenggara to become a new special economic growth area and an international tourist destination at the same time.”
Panorama Destination managing director, Rocky Praputranto, said: “The government should shout to the world about the new facilities, entice airlines to fly to Lombok, and optimise the investment made.”
TransNusa Airlines CEO, Juvenile Jodjana, said: “The opening of the airport will not only benefit Lombok but also East Nusa Tenggara, which (consists of many islands and) relies a lot on air transportation.
