ITDC’s IDR 2.1 Trillion Five-Star Resort Will Transform Mandalika’s Tanjung Aan Beach, Lombok
Indonesia’s tourism agency ITDC has sealed a game-changing deal that will bring a five-star “Luxury Brand Collection” resort to Lombok’s most photogenic bay.
Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
| Project cost | IDR 2.1 trillion (≈ USD 130 million) |
| Developer | Joint venture led by PT Kleo Mandalika Resort & ITDC |
| Plot size | 101,185 m² on Lot TTA3-A, Tanjung Aan |
| Contract term | 30 years + 20-year option + 30-year renewal |
| Opening target | Ground-breaking slated for late 2025; soft opening in 2028 (provisional) |
Waking up to pink-and-orange dawn over Tanjung Aan, you’d never suspect that this quiet Lombok bay is about to headline Indonesia’s biggest tourism story of 2025. A fresh IDR 2.1 trillion agreement between state developer ITDC and an Indonesia-Japan-UAE consortium will plant a five-star “Luxury Brand Collection” resort on 10 hectares of prime shoreline, turning Mandalika’s prettiest curve of sand into the archipelago’s next must-stay address.
For travelers, that means new ways to split a holiday between Bali’s bustle and Lombok’s laid-back charm; for locals, it promises jobs, better roads, and a chance to showcase Sasak culture on a global stage. Here’s what the project involves, how it fits the government’s “super-priority” plan, and why timing a sunset walk along pepper-sand Tanjung Aan could soon feel very different.
Why Mandalika Is in the Spotlight
Indonesia’s tourism ministry selected five “super-priority” destinations to balance visitor numbers beyond Bali and speed up infrastructure funding. Each location was picked for a distinct natural or cultural asset rather than to replicate Bali’s experience.
| Super-Priority Destination | Province | Signature Attraction |
| Mandalika | Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara | Surf breaks, MotoGP street circuit, pepper-sand beaches |
| Lake Toba | North Sumatra | World’s largest volcanic lake and Batak heritage |
| Labuan Bajo | East Nusa Tenggara | Gateway to Komodo National Park and live-aboard diving |
| Likupang | North Sulawesi | Untouched reefs and sailing routes in the Bunaken Triangle |
| Borobudur (added later as a cultural anchor) | Central Java | 9th-century Buddhist monument and sunrise treks |
Mandalika earned its place for combining accessible airports, investor-ready parcels, and coastline that can absorb large events like MotoGP without overwhelming local villages. The government’s goal is to create new economic hubs while maintaining each region’s ecological integrity and cultural identity.
How the Five Destinations Compare
Each super-priority site offers a different reason to fly, sail, or drive beyond Bali, making it easier to match trips with interests, from high-octane motorsport weekends to spiritual sunrise hikes.
| Destination | Signature Experience | Primary Gateway |
| Mandalika, Lombok | Consistent surf breaks, new MotoGP street circuit | Lombok International Airport |
| Lake Toba, North Sumatra | Exploring the world’s largest volcanic lake and Batak culture villages | Kualanamu International Airport (Medan) |
| Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara | Close-up encounters with Komodo dragons and multi-day live-aboard diving trips | Komodo Airport |
| Likupang, North Sulawesi | Snorkelling untouched coral reefs and charter sailing in the Bunaken marine triangle | Sam Ratulangi International Airport (Manado) |
| Borobudur, Central Java | Sunrise climbs at a 9th-century Buddhist monument set amid rice terraces | Yogyakarta International Airport |
Together they create a network of high-value hubs aimed at distributing tourism dollars and easing pressure on Bali’s south coast.
Inside the IDR 2.1 Trillion Deal
| Item | Details |
| Players | ITDC—the state-owned master developer—and PT Kleo Mandalika Resort, a foreign-capital JV uniting firms from Indonesia, Japan, and the UAE. |
| Structure | The partners signed a Land Utilization and Development Agreement (LUDA), giving the JV the right to design, build, and operate the resort while ITDC keeps the freehold. |
| Tenure | 30-year base lease with a 20-year option and a further 30-year renewal window—long enough to finance construction and schedule major refurbishments. |
| CEO’s take | Ari Respati called the signing “an important step in adding to the portfolio of world-class accommodation in the eastern Mandalika area, especially Tanjung Aan Beach.” |
The LUDA model, already used in Nusa Dua, lets ITDC attract global capital without selling public land. For investors, the 80-year horizon (if both extensions are exercised) matches typical hotel asset life cycles, reducing risk and supporting premium finishes that meet five-star branding standards.
Planned Features (pending final design approval)
- 200–250 guest rooms split between cliff-top suites overlooking the bay and low-slung beachfront villas tucked behind dune vegetation.
- Signature infinity pool positioned for uninterrupted ocean and sunset views, paired with tiered deck seating for events and sundowners.
- Holistic wellness pavilion that incorporates traditional Sasak herbal therapies, yoga pods facing sunrise, and a shaded meditation garden.
- Low-rise, earth-tone architecture designed to keep the horizon clear and blend with the surrounding limestone headlands.
- Sustainability tech including discreet solar roofing, a grey-water recycling loop for landscape irrigation, and native coastal plants to cut water demand.
What It Means for Local Communities
| Metric | 2024 Baseline | After the Resort Opens* |
| Direct full-time jobs | 1,800 | 3,500 + |
| Annual visitor spend in South Lombok | USD 220 million | USD 400 million |
| SME supplier contracts | 60 | 140 |
*Projections compiled from investor briefing figures released with the LUDA signing.
- Local-content rule: The LUDA stipulates that at least 40 % of food, materials, and services must come from suppliers based in West Nusa Tenggara. ITDC says this will anchor more money within the province and widen the customer base for farmers, fishermen, and craft cooperatives.
- Micro-business integration: Existing warungs and beach stalls are scheduled to move into a purpose-built culinary zone instead of being displaced. Plans include capped rents and shared utilities to keep small operators competitive once visitor traffic rises.
- Training pipeline: ITDC will fund hospitality courses at SMK (vocational high-school) campuses in Praya and Kuta to ensure managerial as well as entry-level roles go to local residents.
Ari Respati summed up the purpose: the project should “deliver a significant positive impact on economic growth, job creation, and infrastructure acceleration” across Lombok’s south coast.
Getting to Tanjung Aan
| Route | Mode | Duration | Typical Cost |
| Bali → Lombok (Praya) | Domestic flight | 40 min | IDR 450k+ |
| Bali (Padangbai) → Lembar | Car ferry | 4 hrs | IDR 65k foot / 240k car |
| Bali (Sanur) → Gili T / Bangsal | Fast boat | 1 hr 45 min | IDR 550k |
| Praya Airport → Tanjung Aan | Car / shuttle | 30 min | IDR 250k |
Beach-hopping travelers often split time: Uluwatu surf > Gili nightlife > Mandalika calm. With the new hotel, adding a luxury wind-down at the end becomes feasible and may even reduce the pressure on Bali’s south coast.
Tanjung Aan: A Snapshot for First-Time Visitors
- Sand – Powder-fine and bright white; locals nickname it pasir merica (“pepper sand”) because the grains are round and coarse like ground pepper.
- Water – A gentle, shallow shelf makes the bay suitable for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and beginner surf lessons.
- Viewpoints – A straightforward 15-minute walk up Tanjung Bongo headland rewards hikers with a 270-degree view of the coastline and sunset.
- Beach scene – Casual warungs line the shore, serving grilled snapper, iced young coconut, and the obligatory cold Bintang.
- Visitor note – The sun is intense year-round; reef-safe sunscreen and a hat are essential even on overcast days.
How the Resort Fits the Bigger Mandalika Puzzle
Mandalika already features several anchor assets that draw both leisure and event-based visitors:
| Existing Asset | Key Details | Year Opened |
| Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit | 4.3-km, 17-turn course that hosts MotoGP ™ and World Superbike rounds, plus national racing events | 2022 |
| Pullman Lombok Merujani Mandalika Beach Resort | 257-room five-star property fronting Kuta Bay; 20 minutes from the circuit | 2022 |
| Kuta Beach Park | Public boardwalk, art installations, and food kiosks designed to keep the main village beachfront accessible | 2021 (phase 1) |
While the west-side cluster near Kuta and the circuit now has ample rooms, Tanjung Aan—11 km east—still lacks high-end inventory. Positioning the new Luxury Brand Collection resort on that bay:
- Closes the accommodation gap on the eastern flank, giving event visitors a second hub and reducing peak-week traffic bottlenecks around the circuit.
- Spreads tourist spend toward Gerupuk and Mawun villages, helping balance development benefits.
- Creates a two-node model—circuit/Kuta for activities and nightlife; Tanjung Aan for quieter luxury stays—mirroring Bali’s successful Uluwatu & Nusa Dua split.
By filling this spatial puzzle piece, the project supports Mandalika’s goal of handling large global events without overloading any single shoreline or village.
Sustainability Promises (and Watch-Points)
| Developer Commitment | Why It Matters | Independent Checkpoints |
| 30 % of the site retained as green, permeable space | Prevents heat-island effects and maintains natural drainage into Tanjung Aan’s reef lagoon. | Confirm the ratio of landscaped ground to total built-up footprint in the final environmental impact report rather than counting decorative rooftop turf. |
| On-site solar generation with battery storage | Cuts dependency on Lombok’s diesel-heavy grid and smooths race-week demand spikes. | Review the installed kilowatt-peak (kWp) capacity and battery hours against projected peak loads once the electrical tender is awarded. |
| Grey-water recycling for irrigation | Reduces freshwater withdrawals from village wells and limits nutrient run-off to the fringing coral. | Require quarterly effluent-quality tests that meet Ministry of Environment limits for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and nitrates. |
| Minimum 60 % local workforce | Channels wages and skills training to West Nusa Tenggara residents. | Cross-check payroll data after the first full operating year to ensure the quota extends beyond the opening ceremony staff roster. |
These measures align with ITDC’s master plan guidelines, but their impact will depend on transparent reporting and third-party audits throughout construction and the resort’s first five years of operation.
Final Thoughts
A decade ago, south Lombok felt like Bali’s “little brother.” With the latest IDR 2.1 trillion infusion, Mandalika is carving its own identity: adventure by day, five-star comfort by night, minus the gridlock. If developers honor sustainability pledges and keep beach access open, Tanjung Aan could pull off the rare trick of going upscale without losing soul.
From a traveler’s standpoint, pairing Bali’s energy with Lombok’s serenity just became even more tempting, and that’s a win for everyone from scooter-renting backpackers to honeymooners seeking that first barefoot walk on pepper-sand.
