Indonesia projects Samota as global marine tourism destination
“The Samota SEZ represents a strategic asset for Indonesia’s tourism, blending marine beauty, conservation wealth, and culture in one integrated area,” Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa said in a statement cited in Jakarta on Saturday.
During a meeting on plans for Samota in Sumbawa on Friday (July 24), she emphasized the ministry’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for tourism investment in the SEZ through multiple measures.
Puspa highlighted efforts to streamline permit processes, build infrastructure to enhance attractions, strengthen the capacity of tourism professionals, and promote investment opportunities.
She explained that the government envisions the SEZ supporting the blue, green, circular, and creative economies, aiming to generate broader benefits beyond tourism growth.
The approach is designed to strengthen the fisheries sector; micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), livestock farms, and the agro-industry, paving the way for an interconnected economic landscape, she added.
Highlighting accessibility, Puspa noted that Samota is supported by Sultan Muhammad Kaharuddin Airport and Pototano Airport, which connect Sumbawa and Lombok and serve as gateways for domestic and international tourists.
The deputy minister argued that strong connectivity could help the SEZ attract both visitors and investment.
She further noted that the planned development comes amid a positive tourism trend in the region, with Sumbawa and Dompu Districts welcoming 514,419 and 497,048 visitors, respectively, during the January-October 2025 period.
On foreign tourist prospects, Puspa implied Samota’s potential to attract travelers arriving in Lombok through Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport, mostly from Malaysia, Singapore, China, the United Kingdom, and France.
“The development of this zone is not narrowly oriented toward increasing tourist count; it is also directed to help create jobs, improve people’s welfare, strengthen MSMEs, and attract long-term investment,” she concluded.
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Translator: Pamela Sakina, Tegar Nurfitra