MATARAM - To support the development of tourism in the Province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) especially Lombok and Sumbawa, Angkasa Pura Airports held a focus group discussion (FGD) Collaborative Destination Development (CDD) with the theme "Establishing Lombok Sumbawa as World Renowned Tourism Destination” with Governor of NTB, NTB Provincial Government, Tourism Office, Transportation Department, Mayor, ASITA, Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association (PHRI), airline representative and tourism businessman on Thursday (5/4) at Golden Palace Hotel Lombok, Mataram.
CDD is a program initiated by Angkasa Pura Airports since 2015 in the form of collaboration forums of various stakeholders of the national and regional tourism industry to jointly develop the tourism sector and carry out tourism services in the work area of Angkasa Pura I. This effort is done to assist the central government in achieving the target visit international tourists nationwide of 20 million people by 2019. For the province of NTB CDD activities are expected to support the achievement of the target of 4 million tourists visit in 2018 and 1 million foreign tourists in 2025 through the International Airport of Lombok is proclaimed together in the implementation of CDD themed "1 Million Foreign Tourist Arrival to Lombok Sumbawa in 2025 "on December 10, 2015 ago.
"Angkasa Pura Airports is committed to encourage tourist arrivals in the country through regular CDD activities carried out in the company's work areas since 2015. The CDD activity is expected to strengthen collaboration among tourism stakeholders, stimulate the acceleration of infrastructure development of tourism support, and be able to make Lombok tourism destinations -Sumbawa become a world tourism destination, "said by Director of Angkasa Pura Airports Faik Fahmi.
Related to the acceleration of tourism infrastructure development, Angkasa Pura Airports is improving service facilities at Lombok International Airport such as east and west apron extension which can accommodate 4 airplane wide body, drop arrangement and pick up zone, 3 terminal building arrangement becomes waiting room departure, and addition of 2 garbarata and extension of terminal corridor to parking stand. In addition, in 2017 has been done beautification in the terminal area to improve passenger comfort such as toilet improvements, improvements to the smoking area and landscape garden arrangement.
On the CDD in Lombok in 2015, a number of stakeholder commitments to Lombok Sumbawa tourism were promoted, such as promoting Lombok as a destination for Halal World Tourism on a national and international scale, preparing the promotion and selling of tourist packages by ASITA, the construction of hotel infrastructure and promotion of MICE by PHRI, as well as readiness to receive visits of 1 million foreign tourists through Lombok International Airport in 2025.
In 2017, the number of Lombok-Sumbawa tourists reached 3.5 million tourists or increased 14% when compared to the year 2016 which only 3 million tourists. For information, domestic and international passenger traffic at Lombok International Airport in 2017 reached 3.58 million passengers or grow 4.92% when compared to the previous year which reached 3.42 million passengers. International passenger traffic at Lombok International Airport in 2017 was recorded to reach 310,712 passengers or an increase of 17.40% when compared to the previous year which reached 246,666 passengers. While domestic passengers in the year 2017 then reached 3.14 million passengers or increased 3.67% when compared to the previous year which reached 3.03 million passengers.
The number of aircraft movements in Lombok International Airport also continues to grow. Throughout the year 2017 recorded 37,684 aircraft movements in the International Airport of Lombok or grew 2.01% when compared to the previous year which reached 36.943 movement of aircraft both domestic and international.
"Given the growth in passengers and tourism potential, we are optimistic to help meet the target of 4 million tourists in 2018 set by the NTB Tourism Office and 1 million foreign tourists in 2025 from Lombok International Airport. One of the programs we provide to airlines to increase aircraft traffic, both domestic and international from and to Lombok, by providing landing fee incentives of 50% for 6 months and free promotional costs at the airport for 1 month to stimulate the airline to open new routes,"added by Faik Fahmi.
With a good collaboration between Angkasa Pura Airports as the airport operator as well as the gateway to Lombok, airlines as passenger carriers, tourism businesses and Government support at National and Regional levels are expected to have a positive impact on economic growth and tourism in NTB Province. [AD]
