TheJakartaPost
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Letters: New Lombok airport is just too far
I refer to an article titled "VP Kalla: Lombok int'l airport should aim to open in 2010," (the Post, March 29)
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I refer to an article titled "VP Kalla: Lombok int'l airport should aim to open in 2010," (the Post, March 29).
There has already been an international airport in Lombok for many years. But besides Silk Air (whose flight frequency is steadily decreasing), no airline has been interested in flying there, even Indonesian airlines.
While this old airport is nicely located close to the main city, Mataram, and the tourist areas around Senggigi, the new airport will be far from everything.
Probably the taxi to Senggigi will be more expensive than the flight from Bali.
Imagine how expensive it will also be for the hotels in Senggigi to organize transportation from the airport. And who believes there will be convenient public transportation? At least some people will earn a lot of money from this project.
Tourists do not choose their destinations because of a new airport. It is better if the government addresses other issues. Lombok has had too much negative news in the last 10 years, that's why not many tourists to go there.
For me, the new airport will be a reason not to go there anymore. I have spent quite a few nice weekends there, but if I have to spend an additional two hours per weekend in a taxi (with the subsequent higher costs), I would rather stay in Bali.
Komang
Denpasar
