Lombok goes green
Lombok is being promoted this week as a sustainable alternative to Bali — tourism pieces emphasise eco‑first development, protecting local culture and avoiding overtourism with a ‘get it right’ approach (eturbonews.com). The framing positions Lombok for immersive adventure travel that prioritises local resilience and lower‑impact experiences (eturbonews.com).
The World Bank–backed Indonesia Tourism Development Project (ITDP) reports that by the end of 2024 it improved water access for 570,000 people and sanitation for 470,000 people across six priority destinations. ( worldbank.org ) (worldbank.org) ITDP says the program attracted over $870 million in private investment and helped create an estimated 975,000 jobs in those six destinations, while certifying more than 84,000 tourism professionals. ( worldbank.org ) (worldbank.org) Mandalika is a designated Special Economic Zone (KEK) covering about 1,035.67 hectares and was named one of Indonesia’s five “super‑priority” tourism destinations by the central government. ( kek.go.id ) (kek.go.id) Government and local reporting have estimated KEK Mandalika’s development could generate roughly 58,700 new jobs and boost national output by about Rp7.5 trillion, figures cited in local planning and coverage. ( liputan6.com ) (liputan6.com) A local consortium called Lombok Eco Kriya — led by Plana, Timba and Wise Steps Foundation with support from Instellar Impact and GoTo Impact Foundation — launched a circular “green tourism” program and the Tusha amenities / SOLAH network in Mandalika on 20 January 2026. ( instellar.id ) (instellar.id) Reporting on the Eco Kriya rollout documents partnerships with local waste banks, hotel associations, ITDC and community groups to turn waste into craft products and expand market access for village producers. ( kompas.com ) (lestari.kompas.com) Regulatory changes are forcing developers to embed environmental compliance early: projects likely to have significant impact must complete AMDAL-level assessments before core permits, which is changing feasibility, design and permitting timelines for new resorts. ( wearesynergypro.com ) (wearesynergypro.com) Lombok’s gateway is expanding — Zainuddin Abdul Madjid (Lombok) International Airport handled about 2.33 million passengers in 2023 and local authorities have pushed to position the airport as a national hub with plans for new routes. ( wikipedia.org ) (en.wikipedia.org) Academic research published in Societies (MDPI) in 2026 warns that rapid tourism expansion across Bali and Lombok risks breaching ecological and socio‑cultural carrying capacities unless governance and community-led controls are enforced. ( mdpi.com ) (mdpi.com)
