LOMBOK PEARL FESTIVAL… Great Concept Marred By Poor Organisation

The inaugural Lombok Sumbawa Pearl Festival 2010, which was held in Senggigi from 6 to 8 May, was an opportunity to showcase not only the pearling industry on this diverse island, but to create an annual festival that could potentially attract tourists from all over the world.

Unfortunately, as is so often the case with these types of events, the opportunity was missed, due to poor organisation and a lack of coordination by the chosen event organiser, Karma Events, and the local Department of Tourism and Culture (Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata).

According to statements made in the press by tourism department head, Lalu Gita, the Pearl Festival was aimed to highlight the potential of the pearling industry in Lombok and Sumbawa, and to introduce the region's pearls to potential buyers, as well as to attract tourists to the two islands.

However, just two weeks before the Festival, the lack of information about the event was appalling. As we at The Lombok Guide found out, very few people in the tourism industry were even aware that a Festival was planned. It took some serious research before we found that the event was being held at the Santosa Villas and Resort, at which point Executive Assistant Manager, Franky Rumamby was able to provide us with details so that we could promote the event to tourists and residents.

Surely such promotion should be the domain of the department of tourism and at least included in the duties of Karma Events, the Jogjakarta-based events organiser contracted by the government to organise the event.
Indeed, many in the tourism industry are questioning the government's wisdom in using an event organiser based in Java, rather than a local company which would have local knowledge and experience, not to mention a vested interest in making the event a success.

So it was that the first Lombok and Sumbawa Pearl Festival opened on 6 May with a fizzle rather than a bang. The grand opening ceremony, touted to be attended by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), was cancelled when it was announced that the President was unable to attend.

Instead, two national ministers were on hand to participate in the formalities: Jero Wacik, Indonesian Minister for Tourism and Culture, and Fisheries and Maritime Minister, Fadel Muhammad. The first day of the Festival was also attended by the Governor of NTB, Zainul Majdi, and national Director General of Marketing (Kemenbudpar), Sapta Nirwandar.

At the opening day press conference, both ministers spoke about the immense potential of the pearling industry in Lombok and Sumbawa. There are currently at least 36 companies in the NTB region producing cultured pearls with production values of around Rp 80 billion per year. Each year NTB pearl production ranges between 650 and 800 kg, with most pearls being exported to Japan. Lombok and Sumbawa currently export pearls to the United States, Japan, Geneva, Milan and Zurich.

Fisheries and Maritime Minister Fadel Muhammad said that around 53 percent of pearl types in the world are located in Indonesian waters. Fadel also said that he would invite international experts to help the country develop the pearl industry, saying that his government intends to fully develop pearl production centres in Lombok, Maluku and Papua to enable them to produce the best pearls in the world by 2015.

Tourism minister, Jero Wacik, who has already visited Lombok several times previously, spoke of the potential of both pearling and the tourism industry in Lombok, saying that the island was every bit as beautiful as Bali. He was particularly lavish in his praise for the beauty of Lombok's south coast, saying, "In a competition between Bali and south Lombok, Bali would lose".

The 3 day Festival was held in the grounds of the Santosa Villas and Resort in central Senggigi, and the Santosa did a fantastic job, despite the ineptitude of organisers. 30 exhibition booths were specially constructed in the garden, each created in the traditional Lombok lumbung design. Booths featured a stunning array of pearls and pearl jewellery by local artisans, as well as ikat and local handicrafts. There were also exhibitions of traditional weaving and handmade pottery -- two other important attractions in Lombok.

The highlight of the Festival for us was the traditional dance and music performances held every day in the centre of the exhibition arena. Featuring beautiful costumes and different styles of dancing, dramatic theatre and music, with enchanting displays by some of Lombok's exceptionally talented young people, these performances would have delighted visitors and tourists; if only they had been invited.

What is worse is that all these exhibitions and performances were open to the general public and were offered free, with no admission charge. Unfortunately, only those who read the last issue of The Lombok Guide would have been aware of the event and even our details were sketchy, as no information was made available by the organisers.

As we stood among the few spectators (mostly reporters and photographers from Java who had been invited to the event) it was hard not to feel sympathy for the performers, who had obviously put a lot of planning and effort into their performances. One troupe of male vocalists had even gone so far as to translate their traditional song into English, for the benefit of the tourists they expected to be present.

In other pearling capitals internationally, similar pearl festivals are major events and attract visitors from around the world every year. For example, the Broome Festival of the Pearl, or Shinju Matsuri, held in the pearling centre of Broome, on the north coast of Western Australia every year is a 10 day event that attracts thousands of buyers and tourists every year.

With all the ingredients for a successful Festival, we have wonder why organiser Karma Events and the Department of Tourism did so little to promote the event to the public. (the Lombok guide.com)