Editing Lombok (section)

== Tourism ==
{{See also|Mandalika, Lombok}}
[[File:Lombok Traditional Hand Weaving.jpg|thumb|One of the unique traditional crafts from Lombok]]
[[File:Gili Islands & Gunung Rinjiani, Lombok, Indonesia.jpg|thumb|The [[Gili Islands]]]]
[[File:Manta ray Biorock reef.jpg|thumb|Manta ray Biorock reef in Gili Islands]]
[[File:Lombok, Island beach in the bay, Indonesia.jpg |thumb|Pandanan Bay]]
[[File:Kuta Lombok Mawun Beach.JPG|thumb|Mawun Beach]]
[[File:LabuhanLombokHarbour.JPG|thumb|Harbour of Labuhan Lombok]]
[[File:Turn 10 Mandalika International Circuit.jpg|thumb|Seger Beach, overlooked by the [[Mandalika International Street Circuit]]]]

=== Pre-1997 ===
Tourist development started in the mid-1980s when Lombok attracted attention as an 'unspoiled' alternative to Bali. Initially, low budget bungalows proliferated at places like the Gili islands and [[Kuta, Lombok]] on the South Coast. These tourist accommodations were largely owned by and operated by local business entrepreneurs. Areas in proximity to the airport, places like Senggigi, experienced rampant land speculation for prime beachfront land by big businesses from outside Lombok.

[[File:Senggige Beach 1995.jpg|thumb|Senggigi Beach july 1995]]

In the 1990s the national government in Jakarta began to take an active role in planning for and promoting Lombok's tourism. Private organizations like the Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) and the Lombok Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) were formed. LTDC prepared detailed land use plans with maps and areas zoned for tourist facilities. Large hotels provide primary employment for the local population. Ancillary business, ranging from restaurants to art shops have been started by local businessmen. These businesses provide secondary employment for local residents.

=== 1997 to 2007 ===
The [[1997 Asian Financial Crisis]] and the [[fall of Suharto]] regime in 1998 marked the beginning a decade of setbacks for tourism. Spurred by rapid devaluation of the currency and the transition to true democracy caused all of Indonesia to experience a period of domestic unrest.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Napier |first=Catherine |date=13 September 2000 |title=Analysis: Indonesia's Fragile Archipelago |language=en |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/indonesia/special_report/270462.stm |access-date=2010-04-04}}</ref> Many of Indonesian Provinces struggled with elements of the population desiring autonomy or independence from the Republic of Indonesia. At the same time, fanatical Islamic [[terrorism in Indonesia]] further aggravated domestic unrest across the archipelago.

In January 2000, radical Islamic agitators from the newly formed [[Jemaah Islamiyah]] provoked religious and ethnic violence in the [[Ampenan]] area of [[Mataram (city)|Mataram]] and the southern area of [[Senggigi]]. Many foreign expatriates and tourists were temporarily evacuated to Bali. Numerous foreign embassies issued Travel Warnings advising of the potential danger of traveling to Indonesia.

Subsequently, the [[2002 Bali bombings]], the [[2005 Bali bombings]] and the [[Progress of the SARS outbreak]] in Asia all dramatically impacted tourism activities in Lombok. Tourism was slow to return to Lombok, provoked in part by a worldwide reluctance to travel because of global tensions. Only since 2007–2008, when most developed countries lifted their Travel Warnings<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-05-25 |title=U.S. Lifts Indonesia Travel Warning |language=en |work=usatoday.com |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-05-25-indonesia-travel_N.htm |access-date=2010-04-04}}</ref> has tourism recovered to pre-2000 levels.

=== Present ===
The years leading up to 2010 saw a rapid revival and promotion of tourism recovery in the tourism industry. The number of visitors far surpassed pre-2000 levels.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

The Indonesian government has actively promoted both Lombok and neighboring [[Sumbawa]] as Indonesia's number two tourist destination after Bali. In 2009, then President of Indonesia, [[Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono]], the Ministry of Cultural and Tourism and the regional Governor made public statements supporting the development of Lombok as a tourism destination and setting a goal of 1 million visitors annually by the year 2012 for the combined destination of Lombok and Sumbawa.<ref>{{Cite web |language=en |date=2009-07-07 |title=President Gives Full Support to Tourism |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/07/07/president-gives-full-support-tourism.html |access-date=2009-07-08 |website=The Jakarta Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-19 |title=Lombok, Sumbawa Eying 1 Million Tourists by 2012 |url=http://missjoaquim.com/lombok-sumbawa-eying-1-million-tourists-by-2012/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819231346/http://missjoaquim.com/lombok-sumbawa-eying-1-million-tourists-by-2012/ |archive-date=2017-08-19 |access-date=2017-08-19 |website=Miss Joaquim Pearls |language=en }}</ref> This has seen infrastructure improvements to the island including road upgrades and the construction of a much delayed new [[Lombok International Airport|International airport]] in the islands south.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Trisha Sertori |date=2009-06-07 |title=An Invitation from Lombok |language=en |work=The Jakarta Post |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/07/06/an-invitation-lombok.html |access-date=2009-07-07}}</ref> Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) has been empowered to develop [[Mandalika, Lombok|Mandalika Resort Area]] at southern part of the island, extending from Kuta along {{convert|8|km}} of sandy beach.

Tourism is an important source of income on Lombok. The most developed tourism area of the island is on the west coast of the island and is centered about the township of [[Senggigi]]. The immediate surrounds of the township contain the most developed tourism facilities. The west coast coastal tourism strip is spread along a {{convert|30|km|abbr=off}} strip following the coastal road north from [[Mataram (city)|Mataram]] and the old airport at [[Ampenan]]. The principal tourism area extends to Tanjung in the northwest at the foot of Mount Rinjani and includes the Sire and Medana Peninsulas and the highly popular [[Gili Islands]] lying immediately offshore. These three small islands are most commonly accessed by boat from Bangsal near Pemenang, Teluk Nare a little to the south, or from further south at Senggigi and Mangsit beach. Many hotels and resorts offer accommodations ranging from budget to luxurious.  Recently direct fast boat services have been running from Bali making a direct connection to the Gili islands. Although rapidly changing in character, the Gili islands still provide both a lay-back backpacker's retreat and a high-class resort destination.

Other tourist destinations include [[Mount Rinjani]], Gili Bidara, Gili Lawang, [[Narmada, West Lombok|Narmada]] [[Park]] and [[Mayura Park]] and [[Kuta (Lombok)|Kuta]] (distinctly different from Kuta, Bali).<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 July 2011 |title=Lombok International Airport to Operate Soon |language=en |work=Antara News |url=https://en.antaranews.com/news/74276/lombok-international-airport-to-operate-soon}}</ref> Sekotong, in southwest Lombok, is popular for its numerous and diverse scuba diving locations.

The Kuta area is also famous for its largely deserted, white sand beaches. The Smalltown is rapidly developing since the opening of the International airport in Praya. Increasing amounts of surfers from around the globe come here seeking out perfect surf and the slow and rustic feel of Lombok. South Lombok surfing is considered some of the best in the world. Large polar lows push up through the [[Indian Ocean]] directing long range, high period [[Swell (ocean)|swell]] from as far south as [[Heard Island]] from late March through to September or later. This coincided with the dry season and South-East trade winds that blow like clockwork. Lombok is famous for its diversity of breaks, which includes world-renowned ''Desert Point'' at Banko Banko in the southwest of the island.

The northern west coast near [[Tanjung, Lombok|Tanjung]] has many new upmarket [[hotel]] and [[villa]] developments centered about the Sire and Medana peninsular nearby to the Gili islands and a new boating marina at Medana Bay. These new developments complement the already existing five-star resorts and a large golf course already established there.

=== Promoting Halal tourism ===
In 2019, Lombok received a score of 70, the highest among the assessed top 10 [[halal]] tourist destinations in Indonesia in study conducted by the Tourism Ministry. The [[Indonesian Government]] was hoping to attract some of the anticipated 230 million Muslim travellers across the world in 2026, with potential spending of up to {{USD|300 billion}}.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Riza Roidila Mufti |date=9 April 2019 |title=Lombok Dubbed Indonesia's Best 'Halal' Destination |language=en |work=The Jakarta Post |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/04/09/lombok-dubbed-indonesias-best-halal-destination.html |access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref>

According to the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]], halal (or Islamic) tourism components are halal hotels (no [[liquor|alcohol]], [[gambling]], etc.; [[Quran]], [[prayer mats]] and arrows indicating the direction of [[Mecca]] in every room), halal transport (cleanliness; non-[[alcoholic drink]]s; publications coherent with Islam), [[halal food]] premises, halal (Islamic-themed) tour packages and halal finance (the financial resources of the hotel, restaurant, travel agency and the airlines have to fit with Islamic principles).<ref>{{Cite web |last=[[Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries]] (SESRIC) |date=2017 |title=Strategic Roadmap for Development of Islamic Tourism in OIC Countries |url=https://www.oic-oci.org/docdown/?docID=1777&refID=1071 |language=en}}</ref>