TEMPO.CO, Mataram - Tourism activities in Senggigi, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), began to roll back when the government held the Road to Festival Pesona Senggigi. The cultural art exhibitions and performances involved hotels, MSME players, and art workers.

The event held by the West Lombok Regency Tourism Agency was able to boost hotel occupancy rates in Senggigi, where four hotels acted as the hosts. They were Jayakarta Lombok Beach Resort and Spa (as a venue for Gandrung Dance, Cepung Music, and Collaboration Music), Aruna Senggigi Hotel (for the Javanese Shadow Puppet Performance), Kila Senggigi Hotel (for the Sasak Puppet Performance), and Holiday Resort Lombok Hotel (for love music that accompanied the creative economy exhibition and ornamental plants).

The Jayakarta Lombok Beach Resort and Spa General Manager, Cherry Abdul Hakim, said the hotel occupancy increased by about 80 percent of the 120 rooms operated. “This event is a blessing for us,” said Cherry on Saturday, October 2.

According to him, the concept of the festival was different from previous ones that were usually held on the highway and often disrupted the traffic. As the festival was held at hotels, it could attract more tourists and boost hotel occupancy.

Aruna Senggigi Resort and Convention General Manager Weni Kristanti, meanwhile, said that her side was blessed by the 2021 Road to Festival Pesona Senggigi as 70 percent of the hotel rooms were occupied.

Such tourism activities increased the public confidence that West Lombok, NTB, is safe to visit. “And we are ready to welcome the World Superbike international event in November,” said Weni.

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SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID (CONTRIBUTOR)