JAKARTA (indo.com): Sekotong in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), will be developed into a tourism destination. The area boasts white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters brimming with marine life.

"We will develop the beach tourism destination in Sekotong, particularly on the Gili located relatively close to Bali's Nusa Lembongan," Moh Uzair, assistant to the West Lombok Development Section was quoted by Antara as saying.

The development of Sekotong tourism is part of local administration's efforts to prevent Senggigi becoming 'chaotic'. At least 16 hotels and other supporting tourism facilities are already available in Senggigi, Lombok's main tourism destination.

He said that many investors have expressed their interest in investing in Sekotong, with several having already started to develop facilities. Sekotong is expected to become Lombok's second most popular tourism destination after Senggigi.

He said that the West Lombok area is open to investment in any field, with investors being given the opportunity to start the tourism project without first attaining development permit.

"We'll facilitate investors taking a keen interest in making investments in the tourism sector by, for instance, allowing them to build (tourism facilities) without first having to wait for the issuance of the license. Therefore, we are inviting investors from Surabaya (East Java) to invest their capital in the area," he said.