The Lombok Tourism Development Center (LTDC) has attracted investors from the Middle East to develop the area into an integrated tourism resort akin to the Nusa Dua in Bali, reported Culture and Tourism Minister, Jero Wacik, after meeting VP Jusuf Kalla. The meeting was also attended by Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, State-Enterprises Minister, Sugiharto and Transportation Minister Hatta Rajasa. The LTDC development had remained idle since Asia’s financial crisis in 1997.

As soon as Lombok’s new international airport is to become operational starting 2009, the Middle East investors will resume development of hotels, golf courses and other amenities in the area with investments of around Rp. 2 trillion, outside of land costs, said Jero Wacik.  They are also keen to promote the Lombok resort working in conjunction with Emirates Airlines to attract visitors from the Middle East, reports Bisnis Indonesia.