The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Government in cooperation  with Chinese investors started constructing a cable car system linking Karang Sidemen Village, Central Lombok, to  Mount Rinjani.

“This cable car is an extraordinary investment project for promoting tourism that has been developed by the local government,” Central Lombok District Head H Lalu Pathul Bahri remarked during the groundbreaking ceremony, here on Sunday.

He said the presence of the cable car system will promote the tourism sector, in addition to Mandalika in the southern region that has been  designated as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), where international events like WSBK and MotoGP were held.

“In the future, supporting access will be our common goal, we will even collaborate with the NTB Provincial Government so that the road access to the cable car can be widened,” Bahri explained.

According to him, improving human resources is also a priority in developing tourism in the province.

Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Zulkiflimansyah commented that the construction of the cable car system was a long journey that must start with a first step.

For him, the first stone-laying ceremony proved the investors’ seriousness in developing the region.

The construction of the cable car system, carried out by a company from China, is expected to be completed by 2025.

Before the construction of the cable car system  is complete, the local community will be given guidance and empowerment so they can take advantage of  and bring great benefits to it when it  is operational.

Meanwhile, the Manager of PT. Indonesia Lombok Resort, Sicici, said that this first stone-laying ceremony was a joyful moment because it coincided with the Anniversary of West Nusa Tenggara Province.

“We expect support from all parties because this is not just about tourism as this is an icon of development,” Sicici said.

Source: Antara News