TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Lombok Tourism Agency Lalu Moh Faozal reported that the number of visitations from domestic tourists to Lombok experienced a significant decline throughout January to February of 2019.

The area’s tourism experienced a noticeable 40 percent drop compared to 2018’s year-on-year domestic tourist visitation.

“Based on its year-on-year there is a decline. There are a number of elements causing the tourist decline,” said Faozal to Tempo on Tuesday, April 2.

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He argues that the drop was mainly caused by the rising ticket prices that serve the Jakarta – Lombok route, which he said spiked up to 50 percent. Other than airfares, another factor according to him has contributed to the drop is the reduced flight frequency to Lombok.

As a comparison, the flight from Jakarta – Lombok via Lombok International Airport now only serves 8 flights daily compared to the previous 12.

“The reduced frequency was done by Batik Air and Citilink Indonesia,” said Faozal.

He revealed that Lombok`s hotel occupancy rate only reached 20 percent compared to the previous year which managed to see 40 percent hotel occupancy rate. “The difference is definitely noticeable,” he said.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA