WEST Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is churning out a series of infrastructure and facility developments as well as cultural and sporting events as the destination gathers steam towardsTambora Greets the World 2015.
The campaign includes cultural events, cruises, MICE events and sporting activities such as cycling, trekking and diving.
Tambora Greets the World 2015 commemorates the 200th year of Mount Tambora’s eruption. Designed to promote tourism to NTB, it aims to draw some two million domestic and international arrivals by 2015 (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 17, 2013).
Said NTB Regional Tourism Promotion Board chairman, Awan Aswinabawa: “Improvements and constructions of roads to tourist attractions are under way, as are renovations and improvements of the attractions themselves.”
He said that the tourism industry in Lombok and Sumabawa – which make up NTB province – was getting more confident about competing in the domestic and international markets with the increased development of hotels and air links.
“Airline access has been growing in the last five years, from merely Singapore-Lombok by SilkAir, we now have AirAsia from flying from Kuala Lumpur and Jetstar from Perth,” Awan commented.
Tigerair started flying Singapore-Lombok on November 22 (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 11, 2013), while Cathay Pacific Airways will commence Hong Kong-Lombok flights next year, according to Awan.
He said NTB governor Zainul Majdi would lead the local industry on a sales mission to Hong Kong and Australia to promote the destination, while NTB will see an addition of 900 in 2014, adding to the existing 3,000 star-rated rooms.
Last year, arrivals to NTB totalled 1.2 million with 471,700 tourists coming from overseas.
