REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MATARAM -- Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) M. Zainul Majdi lauded and expressed his commitment to supporting Emirates Airlines' plan to add a flight route from Dubai to Lombok.
"If possible, we will see it happening in the near future," Majdi stated while welcoming Sathish Sethi, the head of Emirates Airlines' Indonesian branch, in Mataram on Monday.
According to the governor, the provincial government is committed and fully supports the plan. Majdi further added that the plan will go accordingly if all parties involved are on the same page regarding expansion, especially in terms of tourism, which has become one of the government's development priorities.
"We can ensure that all stakeholders will support Emirates' plan to operate flights to Lombok, so it can be implemented smoothly," he reiterated.
The governor emphasized that Emirates' plan was an opportunity to increase the number of visitors to NTB, especially from the Middle East.
The United Arab Emirates Airline offers flights to up to 45 countries. This is possible due to the fact that Dubai is an international hub, which is also what sets Emirates Airlines apart from the rest.
"Whatever it takes to launch this program, we are ready to provide it," he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Sethi stated that before commencing operations on the route from the Dubai International Airport, they will conduct some analysis to evaluate the potentials and feasibility of opening the route to Lombok.
With regard to the steps taken, Sethi revealed they were conducting surveys on a few areas, including potential tourism spots, such as the Mandalika Resort.
"As a destination, Lombok is standing strong. It has a strong marketability on an international scale, and we would like to promote that to the world," he explained.
Emirates Airlines' plan to operate flights to Lombok is a follow up to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Emirates Airlines. It follows the tourism minister's briefing, as outlined in the MoU for Emirates Airlines to open a flight route to Lombok.
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