TEMPO.CO, Mataram - East Lombok administration planned to build and rehabilitate tourism destinations in the region following the concurrent earthquakes last month.
East Lombok Regent Sukiman Azmy conveyed the plan during the coordination meeting related to the recovery program of NTB tourism in Aston Hotel, Mataram, Wednesday, Oct 24. He asserted one of the programs is the advancement of Rinjani Valley as the world’s heritage. “We will fully support to develop this tourism spots,” he said.
Sukiman further offered investments for other locations considering the hiking route to Mount Rinjani as the tourists’ favorite route was blocked after earthquakes struck the region. The four locations proposed are in the following.
Read: Minister Says Tourists Start to Visit Gili Trawangan Lombok
1. Cable car in Pusuk Sembalun
Sukiman offered investors to build the cable cars from the rest area of the peak of Pusuk Sembalun. The peak is three kilometers away from Sembalun Bumbung Village and five kilometers away from Sembalun Lawang Village.
“This facility will later be similar to the cable car tour in the hills of Switzerland,” he said. In addition, he also challenged investors to build cable cars facility to Pelawangan Post before heading to Segara Anak Rinjani Lake. “It will cut the travel time to six hours.”
2. Lemor Tourism Forest
The district government attempted to rehabilitate the tourism forest of Lemor in Cempaka Desa Suela Village. The protected forest has a large spring with the water discharge of some 200 cubic meters per minute.
Located in the hills, in the middle of Lemor protected forest, the tourism site is quite renowned for the people of East Lombok in the northern area.
3. Pringgasela woven market
Pringgasela Village is famous as the center of weaving craft. Sukiman determined to build Pringgasela woven market in one hectare of land. “The location will be set in the roadside, so buyers should not have to visit the weavers one by one in the alley,” he added. Moreover, the construction project of a seven-kilometers road is currently being prepared. The road will pass Pringgasela Village.
4. Islamic Center in Titi Batu
East Lombok administration planned to build an Islamic Center located near the tourist site Titi Batu. Several facilities to be constructed are Hajj training area, a boarding school for Quran memorizer or Tahfiz, and hospital on the area of 10 hectares.
West Nusa Tenggara Tourism Agency head Lalu Moh Faozal said the program collaboration between the central and regional government was required in a bid to maximize the tourism potential in the region. “To date, there is no attraction show for visitors,” he said, adding that the spatial planning of Sembalun is needed to provide a convenient vacation for tourists.
SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID (Mataram)
