Pantai Tanjung Aan, located in Desa Sengkol, Lombok Tengah, Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), has long been a vital source of income for many local vendors. However, these traders now face the threat of eviction by InJourney Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the organization managing the tourist area. One such vendor, Site, 45, who sells accessories and hails from Dusun Rangkep Dua in Desa Kuta, firmly opposes the removal of stalls and shops at Pantai Tanjung Aan. She believes these vendors are a significant attraction for visitors.
“I do not agree with this eviction. If we are removed, where will we sell our goods? These stalls are what draw tourists here,” she expressed during an interview at the beach on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
Site shared that the bustling activity at Pantai Tanjung Aan greatly supports her livelihood. She typically earns between Rp 300,000 to Rp 500,000 daily, depending on the number of tourists visiting. “I usually make around Rp 300,000 to Rp 500,000 a day, but it really depends on how many guests come,” said the mother of four.
Every day, Site sells pearl accessories and pineapples, walking along the beach to reach customers. Her earnings are sufficient to support the education of her two children currently attending university in Mataram, while her other two children are still in elementary school. “If they proceed with the eviction, I don’t know how I will provide for my family and pay for my children’s education. I hope the government sees our situation here,” she pleaded.
Site emphasized that her family’s financial stability relies heavily on her sales at Pantai Tanjung Aan. She explained that her husband, who tends to cattle for others, earns very little, only receiving payment when calves are born. “My husband works as a caretaker for someone else’s cattle. We only get a share when there are calves, so we have no steady income apart from my sales,” she added.
She hopes the plans to remove local shops will be canceled. “If we are evicted, what will we eat? I urge the government not to proceed with this eviction. Where will we find work if we are removed? This is the only place bustling with tourists,” Site concluded.
Previously, ITDC confirmed its intention to proceed with the removal of vendors and shops at Pantai Tanjung Aan, stating that socialization and notifications for evacuation have been ongoing since 2023. “We will continue with the evacuation and reorganization according to the master plan for area development,” said Wahyu Moerhadi Nugroho, General Manager of The Mandalika, during a media briefing on June 26, 2025, in Praya.
Wahyu explained that ITDC is currently utilizing the land through legal cooperation schemes such as Land Utilization Development Agreements (LUDA) and long-term leases on state-owned land managed by ITDC, in accordance with Government Regulation No. 50 of 2008. He emphasized that land utilization by investors does not equate to privatization, and the public will still have access to the beach. He cited the management of The Nusa Dua in Bali, where the community retains free access to the beach despite being within an international hotel area.
“We have communicated this clearly, and we are now in the process of evacuation and land reorganization according to the master plan, in line with the Lombok Tengah RDTR and the Presidential Regulation on the Mandalika Special Economic Zone,” he stated.
