Lombok is the Indonesian Government Tourism focus and new airport hub for Central Indonesia
According to the source here, Lombok averages ~90k tourists per month while Bali averages ~480k. It's not even close. https://insights.ehotelier.com/global-news/2019/01/24/tourism-in-lombok-on-its-feet-again-for-2019/#:~:text=The%20country%20averages%20about%201.2,Travel%20can%20be%20accessed%20here.
that’s a very outdated source and right after the earthquake in the North. The new Lombok is all about the Lombok Riviera (South) which is receiving US$ 3 Billion Infrasturucture investment, there’s a new F1 racetrack, new Pullman Hotel (more Hotels under Development), new highways, new international level hospitals, 27 hole golf course coming, new international school (more families moving in), boasts 2 of Asia’s top 10 beaches, etc. the image here is actual tourism #s from Government Tourism department.
@tobid how much of this growth is coming from local/regional tourism? I feel like the inclination to believe Bali will have more visitors is down to its popularity with international tourists (more likely to be on here) than local/regional travelers.
@ChristopherSchrader with the rising middle class & continued GDP growth of around 5% million ver Jokowi’s term domestic tourism has grown substantially. I would say in Lombok it is more 50-50 whereas Bali probably
30 domestic & 70 Int’l. A balance like on Lombok is good considering the global travel requirements (including cost for airline tickets) atm.
@tobid not possible to edit or delete comments on this platform. The above is supposed to read 5% p.a. over…
@tobid I see, so basically there was a big earthquake in 2018 that make tourism plummet in 2019, which was the last "normal" year before Covid hit which is why it's being quoted by so many sources. This one quotes the 2019 numbers too https://thebalisun.com/lombok-is-not-the-next-bali/
Still, Bali has been a juggernaut for decades, would be very surprised to see another island surpass it so quickly. Lombok still lags it by several million tourists annually.