Page 1

.Most of the beaches in the southern part of the island of Lombok consist of white sand. These beaches are even whiter than Senggigi Beach in West Lombok and Kuta Beach in Bali. What makes them even more attractive is the backdrop of the mountain and coral reefs offshore. This is of great value and is excellent for tourism. Apart from the increasingly well known Kuta Beach in Lombok (not to be confused with the one in Bali!, Tanjung Aan (Cape Aan) and Tanjung Tampa (Cape Tampa), also have beautiful white sand. By Ichsannudin llham.

History has proven that the land in the southern part of Lombok is not good for farming due to the high level of acidity, lack of water and hot weather. However this, combined with the beautiful beaches, makes it good for tourism.  This was supported by a United Nations
Development Program decision in 1987 that the land was suitable for tourist resorts. 

The land from Kuta Beach up to Gunung Kelluh Beach was chosen for Kawasan Wisata Mandalika (Mandalika Tourism Resort). It is suitable for recreation on the land and in the sea as it has fascinating scenery both above ground and underwater. The policy of the central government of Indonesia is that tourism in the eastern part of the archipelago should be enhanced. In support of this policy,
the authority of West Nusa Tenggara decided to develop the southern part of Lombok.

The local government entered into an agreement with Rajawali Wira Bhakti Utama Inc. for a project, which was subsequently called Lombok Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC). They were joined at a later stage by PPL Inc. (PT. Pengembangan Pariwisata Lombok), a company which specialises in the area of planning, development, management and marketing of tourism resorts. It was this company which developed the facilities and supporting infrastructure for the tourism in Lombok.

However, plans for construction of this new resort have not always run smoothly. LTDC had envisioned that there were be some difficulties and that was the reason they prepared a joint venture with the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Administration. 
The local government was to assist in acquiring the land.

Eventually, an amicable agreement was reached between the LTDC and the landowners. A total of 1,192 hectares of land was purchased out of the planned 1,250 hectares.

Not all of the problems had been surmounted, however. People's self-help institutions (LSMs) entered with the aim to provide information on land and legal affairs to other people in the LTDC area. Villagers who had already sold their land felt that they should have received higher prices. Of course, as the sales had already been completed, the LTDC management could not satisfy their demands, which were disproportionately high. 

The negotiations were long and drawn out.Parties interested in investing in LTDC, and government officials wishing to promote the area for tourism attacked  the LSMs as it was claimed they provoked the landowners. 

More constructive work continuing the was done in attempting to development of the placate locals. PPL Inc. employed many former
owners of the properties in this area, along with other members of the community living in or near the area. PPL Inc. also suggested that new land be purchased and businesses started in preparation for the influx of tourism. 

Once it seemed that agreements had been reached, investors soon showed their interest, although the number was initially small. One of the facilities which has been built is the Novotel Lombok Hotel in Kuta. It is planned to have a total capacity of 100 rooms at an investment value of US$8,2 million. The four- star hotel built on a 2-hectare property is currently the only star-rated hotel available in the LTDC resort.

Plans for the remained of the LTDC property include hotels, cottages, restaurants, a marina, pubs, discotheques, main roads, recreational parks and other amusement facilities. Based on the data from the BKPMD (Regional Capital Investment Coordinating Board) of West Nusa Tenggara, the total planned investment in this resort area is approximately US$250 million (according to the 1992 standard conversion rate at the time of the plan).

[> Page 2] [>> Page 3]  

[Top]  [Highlight] [Welcome Page]

copyright © 2000  Bali Echo. All rights Reserved
site design by access bali online