Recent statements attributed to the Governor of Bali suggesting that Airbnb should be restricted or banned — on the grounds that it “doesn’t contribute tax revenue to Bali” — have sparked widespread debate across Indonesia’s tourism and investment sectors.

But according to industry analysts, the claim is not only inaccurate, it could dramatically reshape the tourism map of Indonesia.

And one island stands to benefit more than any other: Lombok.

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Tourism experts and property industry leaders strongly dispute the idea that Airbnb contributes little value.

In reality:

•Airbnb stays generate significant indirect tax revenue through restaurants, transport, entertainment, shopping, and tourism services.

•Thousands of Balinese families rely on Airbnb-style rentals for supplemental income.

•Tourists choosing villas and apartments stay longer and spend more, according to multiple hospitality market studies.

•Indonesia already has mechanisms for withholding tax, income tax, and accommodation taxes, all of which can be structured or enforced without killing the sector.

Banning Airbnb doesn’t eliminate tourism—it simply moves it.

And that is where Lombok comes into the picture.

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If Bali moves toward restrictions on Airbnb-style accommodation while Lombok openly welcomes it, the shift in tourist behaviour could be enormous.

A policy stance of “Lombok Welcomes Airbnb Owners and Hosts” would immediately:

•Attract tens of thousands of investors who rely on short-term rental yields

•Position Lombok as Indonesia’s most profitable destination for digital nomads, families, and long-stay tourists

•Shift domestic and international tourism growth away from Bali

•Increase the province’s tax base dramatically

•Accelerate Lombok’s infrastructure, hospitality, and real-estate development cycles

Economists say this single policy difference could be worth billions in long-term tourism revenue for Lombok.

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One of the most ambitious developments in Indonesia — Marina Bay City, Lombok (MarinaBay.City) — is uniquely positioned to capitalise on a pro-Airbnb strategy.

The master-planned coastal city aims to build 5,000 to 10,000 residential villas and apartments, many of which are specifically designed with:

•Airbnb yield optimisation

•Co-living and group-travel layouts

•Digital-nomad workspaces

•International tourism infrastructure

•Gated community access and resort-level amenities

Investors purchasing in Marina Bay City overwhelmingly indicate they intend to Airbnb their properties for income, creating a sustainable long-term revenue pipeline for the project and for the Lombok economy.

With Bali discussing restrictions and Lombok not following suit, Marina Bay City becomes the go-to destination for Airbnb investors across Southeast Asia.

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A thriving Airbnb ecosystem inside Marina Bay City and across Lombok would generate:

•Massive employment growth — cleaners, drivers, maintenance, hospitality, construction, tourism workers

•Significant tax generation — rental income tax, business tax, land tax, and tourism levies

•Boosted domestic airlines — more flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar

•A new tourism identity — modern, clean, accessible, uncrowded, and investor-friendly

•Higher land value across Lombok

•Global visibility — positioning Lombok as the rising competitor to Bali

Investors want opportunity, governments want revenue, and tourists want choice.

An anti-Airbnb stance in Bali unintentionally hands Lombok a historic competitive advantage.

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If Lombok publicly commits to remaining Airbnb-friendly, the long-term effect could resemble:

•Dubai’s rise during regulatory stagnation in Europe

•Phuket’s boom during Bali’s early zoning restrictions

•Bali’s own rise in the 1990s when tourists sought alternatives to overcrowded destinations

And with Marina Bay City planning a mini-city featuring resorts, beaches, parks, retail precincts, sports stadiums, and thousands of investment homes, the project could become the symbol of Lombok’s global tourism breakout.

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Bali’s proposal to limit Airbnb — if ever enacted — would be a self-inflicted wound for the island’s economy.

But for Lombok, it represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

By embracing Airbnb instead of restricting it, Lombok can position itself as:

•Indonesia’s most investment-friendly island

•The best destination for high-yield holiday rental properties

•A magnet for global tourists, digital nomads, and long-stay families

And Marina Bay City Lombok stands ready to be the flagship development leading this new era of economic growth and tourism expansion.