Dubbed an unspoiled Bali, Lombok Island has a lot in common with its closest neighboring Bali for its beautiful marine diversity that offers a stunning view of sunset and resort living with many places of attractions featuring untouched nature and beautiful coral reefs.
The most developed tourism site in Lombok is Senggigi, which is also known as the island’s best-known resort area. Situated on a sweeping bay, Senggigi offers an ideal place for those seeking a laid-back tropical stay in the unspoiled nature of ocean living.
Besides Senggigi, other places in Lombok worth a visit are Gili islands which consist of three islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air, each having its own uniqueness for their magnificent ocean scenery. Scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and surfing are what most visitors treasure the most when staying on these islands. Other activities worth a try include fishing and boating.
Lombok is also famous for its pearls and oysters. Lombok’s pristine waters have long been the ideal place to grow pearls, as the island is known for its magnificent South Sea cultured pearls. Indeed, the quality of the pearls describe as world class for their rarity and colors, and have been sought after globally.
For those enjoying mountainous activities, Lombok offers majestic Mount Rinjani, one of the sites in Indonesia famous for mount climbing. Mountain trekking and mountain biking are some of the favorite tourist activities in Lombok. Regardless of whether you opt for trekking or biking, both activities offers a route that passes the untouched natural area of Mount Rinjani.
Many say that Lombok Island offers its distinct pleasure and incomparable ocean stay. However, the island records much lesser number of tourists which is most likely due to the island’s less promotion.
The good news is Indonesian government has taken a great step toward promoting Lombok, as there’s an increasing number of more local and foreign tourists visiting the island in recent years.
As the island features innumerable stunning sites potential to boost the country’s tourism industry, Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has listed Lombok as one of the 15 premier tourism destinations in the archipelago. Among them are Bali, Raja Ampat, Bromo Tengger Semeru, Komodo Island and more.
The ministry has drafted Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), a program that commercializes cultures and places of attractions of the 15 destinations.
One commitment from the regional government to support the development of the island is the building of the new Lombok International Airport in the southern part of the island, or 40 km southeast of Mataram, the capital city of Lombok. The airport has been in operation since October 2011.
The strategic geographic location is also an added value for Lombok being an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, which is at its closest point on the east of Bali, the Indonesia’s most visited island.
A newly discovered paradise is how property investors see Lombok for its pristine life wrapped in serenity, clear blue waters, white sand beaches and the ocean purity. No less important is the property prices in this island are very reasonable. Nevertheless, the island’s recent popularity has led to the subsequent increase of the properties there.
By Dody Rochadi. Published in The Jakarta Globe on July 12, 2012.
