Lombok To Start Building Special Terminal For Tourist Boats

Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara (Antara NTB) - State-owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) III said it will start building a tourist boat terminal in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

The project, to be built in Gilimas in the sub-district of Lembar, is to facilitate tourist boats, which are expected to bring in thousands of foreign tourists to the Lombok, just across the country`s tourist island of Bali.

Lombok, which is also rich in tourist objects, already built a number of modern facilities including international airport to attract tourists.

General Manager of the Lembar branch of Pelindo) III Baharuddin said here on Tuesday the groundbreaking ceremony would take place on December 22 to mark the start of work to build the special port.

The groundbreaking ceremony would be inaugurated by the Minister of State Enterprises (BUMN) Rini Soemarno, and Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.

"Originally, President Joko Widodo was scheduled to inaugurate the groundbreaking ceremony but the president has tight agenda in December," Baharuddin said.

The port project will occupy a 100 hectare plot of land as part of the project to expand the Lembar port located east of the port of Gilimas.

The Lembar port is to be expanded with terminal for tourist boats and container ships.

Baharuddin said development of the facility is with the background of Lombok as a major tourist destination in the country.

A number of international tourist boats carrying thousands of foreign tourists from various countries could not land properly at the Lembar port which is too small.

"We are set to be ready to welcome tourist boats in the second half of 2018 without the use of shuttle boats," he said.

Construction of the facility, to cost around Rp1.2 trillion, will be carried out in four phases, he said.

"Pelindo, however, has yet to negotiate land clearing for 34 hectares of the 100 hectares plot of land. Negotiations is over land price," he said. (*)