lifestyle

The Reason The Regent Of East Lombok Expelled The Tour Guides And Boatmen At Ekas Beach

The expulsion of tour guides and boatmen by the Regent of East Lombok, Haerul Warisin, at Ekas Beach has sparked a significant uproar and controversy within the tourism sector of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). A video capturing this incident has gone viral on social media, raising a critical question: what is the true reason behind this action? Regent Haerul Warisin has stated that the expulsion was a response to complaints from the local community.

During a meeting with tourism stakeholders, residents expressed their long-standing concerns regarding the lack of visitors to local accommodations, despite Ekas Beach being frequented by surfers. The issue lies in the fact that most tourists arrive through operators or guides from outside the region, who take guests directly to the sea without utilizing local facilities such as accommodations or restaurants owned by the residents.

As a result, local entrepreneurs are struggling to reap economic benefits, and even the tax contributions from hotels and restaurants have declined. "In the past, tourists could stay for a week; now, they usually only stay for one or two nights," stated Haerul.

In his statement, the Regent emphasized that his actions are not intended to obstruct external parties from developing businesses, but rather to foster a fair tourism ecosystem. He underscored the importance of collaboration between newcomers and the local community to ensure that no party feels disadvantaged. "Anyone is welcome to do business, but there must be mutual respect and no harm done to one another. This is our commitment to the local community, which has long felt deprived of justice from the tourism activities," said Haerul.

The Governor of NTB urges all parties to exercise restraint. In response to the unrest, Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal has stated that he has dispatched Assistant II to meet directly with tourism operators to seek a peaceful resolution. He hopes that this incident will not be exaggerated and can serve as a moment to improve the management of tourism in NTB. "We will find the most comfortable solution. All parties must be involved in developing tourism, rather than blaming one another," Iqbal said on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

He also emphasized that he and the Regent of East Lombok share the same vision, which is to advance regional tourism, but in a fair and inclusive manner. The case at Ekas Beach illustrates the classic challenges in tourism development, specifically how to balance external investment with the interests of local residents. As tourism grows, not all parties experience the same benefits. If this inequality is not managed, social conflict could become a ticking time bomb. In this context, the actions of the Regent of East Lombok can be interpreted as a warning that tourism development must not only benefit a select few.

---

Tag: East Lombok Ekas Beach Haerul Warisin Tour Guides And Boatmen