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t hardly bears saying that Lombok has been devastated by the recent earthquakes. This devastation is both to the physical infrastructure, houses and other buildings, bridges, water and electricity supply etc and to the psychology of the Lombok population. People are in shock and are understandably depressed and gloomy about their futures.

Whether this earthquake episode is over no one knows. What we do know is that Lombok and its people will recover. The outstanding issue is how long that recovery will take and the path to that recovery.

Lombok’s population is around 3 million people. The majority are not much more than subsistence farmers. There is a substantial tobacco industry and rice grown is exported to other islands. But by far the most important industry in terms of external income to the islands’ economy and its economic future is tourism. Needless to say, the earthquakes have not only devastated the tourist infrastructure but have dealt the Lombok brand a devastating blow from which it may take years to recover.

Maybe a half of Lombok’s population derives all or part of its income from the tourist sector. With the closure of the Gilli islands to tourists, thousands of people have lost their income. Senggigi, the tourist service center of Lombok, is devastated and again thousands have lost their jobs. This loss of income trickles down to the rural economy. If the tourist industry takes years to recover, it will add to the devastation that has hit the people of Lombok.

There is an old phrase saying every problem is an opportunity. The challenge for the Lombok community and Indonesia is to turn the devastation into a new beginning. Banda Aceh was given such an opportunity but in my view blew it.

The Australian city of Darwin had a devastating cyclone in 1974, which effectively destroyed the old city. With full organizational and financial support from the Australian government, Darwin quickly recovered and its tourist industry boomed. Darwin is still in the cyclone belt as Lombok will continue to be on the ring of fire. Tourists continue to go to Darwin irrespective. The same could happen with Lombok.

So what should be done? The Indonesian government in my opinion has responded magnificently to the urgent need, given what usually happens in Indonesia and the logistics of island hopping heavy equipment etc.

On Monday at 3 p.m. I witnessed more than 40 ambulances with Java number plates from Surabaya convoying past Taman Unique hotel in Senggigi on the main road north to the devastated areas. That was within 24 hours of the main earthquake. Pretty impressive government action. Of course there is an important role for non-government organizations to be play but they cannot respond on the full level required.

The national government needs to play the central role in the response and recovery. The expertise needed to meet the challenges barely existed prior to the earthquakes at the provincial and regency level, and with the devastation those levels of government are now overwhelmed.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in my view is the person of the hour. He should set up a lean recovery commission headed up by a can do person like Sri Mulyani. The commission should be well resourced and backed by legislation as it will give the commission the gravitas to operate effectively.

Maybe this is the moment to split Lombok from Sumbawa. I understand legislation to achieve this was either passed or is languishing in the House of Representatives. The commission should have ultimate power in Lombok for at least two years. It needs to have ultimate power over all infrastructures and services not on a day to day basis but for overall coordination purposes.

In particular, a well-resourced commission could fund the rebuild of houses ensuring that they are of quality construction and relatively earthquake proof. It could temper the activity of banks for example in these dire circumstances.

Many businesses in the tourism industry (and others) are going to be financially stressed and will need help to get back on their feet. This is not only to do with repairing buildings and other facilities but also as a result of the collapse of high season revenue on which many businesses rely to get through the low season to come. The government will need to assist this process with soft loans or grants as appropriate.

As a tourist destination, Lombok will never be able to compete for international tourists without direct flights from Australia, China, Japan, Hong Kong etc. Of course legacy airlines such as Garuda like hubbing and in normal times will resist efforts to get direct international flights into secondary ports such as Lombok.

This crisis is an opportunity for the national government, by whatever means, to get direct flights. It is not rocket science. The much despised (by Indonesians) Malaysian government a few years ago subsidized flights into Langkawi and Penang, which successfully kick started tourism into those destinations. More than anything, direct flights would renew Lombok tourism. If this proposal is not given priority, Lombok may go the way of Aceh.

Lombok is not destroyed; it is devastated. It can be rebuilt and revitalized. It can come back from this setback a much stronger community.  Now is the time for all good “persons” to come to the aid of the party and make it happen.