EARTHQUAKE LOMBOK: SYNERGY TO RECOVER TOURISM

This determination is shown by tourism businesses. Management of the Regional Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD) NTB together with the Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) as well as travel agents (Asita) who are moving quickly to share the task of speeding up the evacuation of tourists.

"I happened to handle it for Asian tourists. There are those who handle it for Australia and Europe, Middle East and parts of America. We have also handled domestically separately. Similarly, with air transportation, we have coordinated with Garuda," said Deputy Chairperson of NTB BPPD Lalu Hadi Faishal , Monday (6/8).

Providing security is the key so tourists do not necessarily remove Lombok from their memories. The Tourism Office also prepares free hotels to live in.

Faishal, who is also chairman of the NTB PHRI, said that the current conditions would not have a major impact on the implementation of several major events such as the IMF World Bank Meeting in Bali in October.

"Indeed, we cannot predict the [earthquake] condition. But it is not every day a disaster like this happens. The important thing is to remain optimistic and we are well prepared," he said excitedly.

Until yesterday there were still many requests for changes in flight schedules that emerged from tourists. Additional flights are needed to be able to bring domestic and foreign tourists out of the Thousand Mosque.

Lombok International Airport is open 24 hours. Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air add to the flight schedule.

"Currently the operation of Lombok International Airport is still normal," said I Gusti Ngurah Ardita, General Manager of the airport.

Angkasa Pura I also added the operating hours of Lombok Praya Airport to 24 hours in the next 3 days. In addition to the airport, Sheet Port which is the link between Lombok Island and Bali has also been ensured to operate normally.

PT Pelni also sent aid ships to Lombok Sheet port to evacuate tourists, namely by sending KM Binaiya from Lombok to Benoa Bali port.

In Jakarta, the Ministry of Tourism guarantees Lombok and Bali tourism to remain conducive after a 7-magnitude earthquake that shook North Lombok.

Menpar Arief Yahya said his office had activated the Kemenpar Crisis Center Team to monitor the latest developments and continue to coordinate with the NTB Provincial Tourism Office, Bali, Poltekpar Lombok, and Bali Tourism Hospitality which were already on location. All of them support services to tourists."We have prepared 3A, namely access, facilities and strikes. Access includes airlines, airports and authorities or Airnav. That's what tourists pay attention to during a disaster. That's what we keep monitoring and find the best solutions," he said. in an official statement on Monday (6/8).

Asnawi Bahar, Chair of the Indonesian Tour and Travel Agency (Asita) Association, said that so far there has been no significant impact due to the earthquake in Lombok on national tourism despite a number of ticket cancellations and schedule changes. "But the impact is not so great."

Therefore, despite being tired, the Head of the NTB Tourism Office Then M. Faozal remained optimistic in working to help restore the situation.

"In this week, two of my natural disasters [NTB] experienced. Previously, in Sembalun, now we have to evacuate tourists from three dikes," he said.

Tiga Gili Region is located in North Lombok Regency which is the closest location to the epicenter. This earthquake was followed by a tsunami early warning.

Tourists from the Three Gili continue to be evacuated through three ports in North Lombok.

"We can evacuate little by little tourists from the Gili, later will be directed to the Tourism Office. For those who want to stay in the city of Mataram, we prepare free lodging. For those who want to continue the trip to the airport we will also facilitate," he explained.