Long overshadowed by its world-famous neighbour Bali, relatively undiscovered Lombok is primed for take-off as Indonesia's second tourism destination. This comes with the launch on October 1 of the new Lombok international airport, Bandara International Lombok (BIL).
Along with a 'Visit Lombok and Sumbawa 2012' promotion, BIL is a direct move by the Indonesian government to boost Lombok's tourism, aiming for 1 million visitors within two years for Lombok and an eastern island, Sumbawa.
Impressive BIL will be able to handle larger aircraft - such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus 320 - and up to 3 million passengers annually, replacing smaller Selaparang Airport, which handled mainly domestic flights. Budget carrier Air Asia will start flights early next year and more international airlines are expected to follow.
Just 35km to Bali's east, Lombok offers a more natural, untamed beauty, uncrowded with traffic-free roads and unhurried pace, home to the indigenous Muslim Sasaks. The island's pristine white sand beaches, turquoise transparent seas, tropical virgin rainforests and mystical volcanoes constitute a natural playground for activities such as jungle trekking, world-class surfing and diving at some of Indonesia's finest reefs. A short speedboat ride from Lombok's northwest are the Gili Meno, Gili Air and Gili Trawangan - three coral-fringed, dazzlingly beautiful islands, long-popular for diving.
Lombok's main tourism development is along the lush west coastline, particularly around Senggigi, with long-established luxury resorts such as Hotel Tugu Lombok and Oberoi Lombok. Recent increased tourism development has seen a rise in international-standard accommodation, especially chic boutique resorts and pool villa complexes. On the west coast this includes Lombok Lodge and Jeeva Klui Resort, and on the Gilis, themselves experiencing a sharp up-rise in upscale development, Hotel Ombak Sunset on 'party island' Gili Trawangan and the first hip, luxury resort for idyllic Gili Meno - Mahamaya.
This new trend is also spreading out to the mainland's awakening new areas. Huge expanses of Lombok's shores and beaches are deserted and 'undiscovered', such as the spectacular, remote southwest but, even here, swanky new resorts are springing-up, such as Cocotinos Sekotong. Lombok's southern shores boast some of Indonesia's most pristine coastal scenery and Southeast Asia's best surfing.
