T

he government will develop the Mandalika resort area at Kuta beach, Pujut district, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), in stages, says President Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Yudhoyono on Friday officiated the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the resort project at Kuta beach, Central Lombok. He was accompanied by Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Radjasa, Tourism Minister Marie Elka Pangestu, NTB Governor Zainal Majdi and Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) managing director Ida Bagus Wiratmaja.

The ceremony marked the start of a cooperation between BTDC, as the Mandalika resort operator, and a number of other companies planning to build tourism facilities in the area.

Yudhoyono said the government was committed to spur development in the tourism sector, including in Lombok, because the sector had contributed significant income to the state over the past several years.

“The tourism sector can become a prime source of income for the state in the next five to 10 years,” he said.

The current global tourism development trend, Yudhoyono continued, had become more defined due to an increase in purchasing power among people in some developing countries.

Indonesia is blessed with many tourism and cultural potentials and has a number of world-renowned tourist destinations, including Lombok.

“But, despite the beauty, those who have the money are the tourists. They are free to go anywhere and cannot be forced to visit a particular place. That’s why every stakeholder must be able to convince them that Lombok, or Indonesia in general, is beautiful and peaceful,” Yudhoyono said.

Yudhoyono emphasized that investors, especially those involved in developing the Mandalika resort area, must be really serious in investing their money there.

The government had earlier granted them permits to develop the area, with a warning that failure to do so would disadvantage the community as well as investors who wished to invest in the area.

“So far, many of the memorandums of understanding have constrained others from investing there. They had been granted permits but they failed to carry out their projects, while other investors who wished to do business there were hampered by licensing, because the licenses were already owned by others. I hope those who are really serious will invest their capital in Mandalika,” he said.

Yudhoyono also emphasized that the Mandalika development project must involve the local community and respect local customs. On the other hand, members of the community who were directly involved in the tourism industry should be courteous, hygienic and healthy, he added. “Residents should be able to become good hosts,” he said.

The Mandalika resort area spans 1,175 hectares and is located in the south of Lombok Island. Its coastline, which faces the Indian Ocean, is 7.5 kilometers of fine white-sand beaches. The area is projected to become Indonesia’s new premier destination, in addition to its neighboring island of Bali.

Coordinating Minister Hatta said that the Mandalika resort development project was in line with the Accelerated Indonesian Economic Development Master Plan (MPPPEI), which places Bali and Nusa Tenggara as main gateways for tourism.

The Mandalika development project has a strategic meaning for the national economy as it will have a positive impact on the creative economic development, reduce the unemployment rate and be a source of income for the province and government.