Province

West Nusa Tenggara

West Nusa Tenggara

West Nusa Tenggara is a province located in the western part of the Nusa Tenggara region of Indonesia. It consists of two main islands, Lombok and Sumbawa, as well as numerous smaller islands. With Mataram as its capital city and Lombok doubling as its largest city, West Nusa Tenggara covers an area of 19,675.89 square kilometers.

As of 2023, the population of West Nusa Tenggara amounts to 5.5 million people. Geographically, Lombok is mainly inhabited by the Sasak ethnic group along with the minority Balinese population. On the other hand, Sumbawa is inhabited by Sumbawa and Bimanese ethnic groups. Additionally, Dompu is also considered a majority ethnic group in West Nusa Tenggara. Other ethnic groups that inhabit the province include the Javanese, Bugis, East Nusa Tenggara, and Chinese people.

Show more

West Nusa Tenggara’s economy

According to data from the West Nusa Tenggara Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the province’s Gross Domestic Regional Product (GRDP) as of 2023 reached Rp 103.9 billion. The largest contribution came from the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector at Rp 22.6 billion, followed by the mining and quarrying sector which contributed Rp 18.2 billion to the province’s GRDP. The wholesale and retail trade sector, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles sector, also contributed significantly to West Nusa Tenggara’s GRDP, achieving Rp 14.7 billion.

West Nusa Tenggara is also the host of the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which is expected to accelerate the potential of the tourism sector in the province. Initially proposed by PT Pengembangan Pariwisata Indonesia (Persero), the Mandalika SEZ has a concept of environmentally conscious tourism development, focusing on the construction of tourist attractions oriented towards the sustainability of environmental values and quality within the community. The SEZ is well known for its Mandalika International Street Circuit, located in the Mandalika resort area on Lombok Island. The circuit opened by hosting rounds of the Asia Talent Cup and Superbike World Championship in late 2021 and has been hosting Grand Prix motorcycle races since 2022.

Furthermore, national strategic projects (PSN) are being developed in East Nusa Tenggara, which encompasses sectors such as ports, airports, and dams. These projects include the development of Lombok Praya International Airport, the construction of dams such as Bintang Bano, Meninting, Beringin Sila, and Tiu Suntukm, and the development of facilities for processing and refining copper commodities by PT Amman Mineral Industri in West Sumbawa.

Show more

Latest News

May 5, 2025

The 2025 Rimpu Mantika Festival held in Bima City, West Nusa Tenggara Province, has succeeded in attracting the attention of many people from Indonesia and abroad. The public had enthusiastically viewed various cultural attractions presented by 16 art studios in Bima City at the festival, which began since Apr. 24, 2025.

The creative economy bazaar held at the festival was also crowded with visitors. They showed high interest in choosing various local products produced by Bima City's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

In addition, culinary delights served by association organizations from various regions such as Java Island, Lombok Island, and Makassar City, South Sulawesi are also a special attraction for visitors.

Creative Economy Minister Fashion Director Rohani Astuti assessed that the Rimpu Mantika Festival has an important and strategic role in the long term.

"When art, culture, and innovation are in strategic collaboration, then a festival like this is [held] not only to preserve cultural heritage, but can also be a driving force for national economic growth," she said when opening the festival.

Rohani hopes that this festival will be an occastion that would both promote tourism and have an impact on the growth of the creative economy in the region. She emphasized that the creative economy is a sector that grows from ideas, innovation, and the courage to express oneself.

"This Rimpu Mantika is an example, with this activity involving several sub-sectors ranging from fashion, music, culinary, performing arts, and photography," Rohani explained.

Meanwhile, Bima Mayor A. Rahman H. Abidin stated that the festival is present as a space for cultural expression and creative economic collaboration, as well as a stage for promoting tourism to Bima City.

He added that the rimpu cloth which the festival is held for is not just a woven cloth that is worn in a wrap by locals, but also a symbol of honor to the values ​​and morals of women in the land of Bima.

"Rimpu is a gem, and Bima City is a place that maintains the shine of the gem," Rahmansaid.

The return of Rimpu Mantika into Karisma Even Nusantara (KEN), the Tourism Ministry's calendar of cultural festivals, is a source of pride and a challenge for the region to organize a high-quality occasion.

Rahman emphasized that the Rimpu Mantika Festival is a concrete step by the regional government in supporting the vision of development based on culture and local wisdom.

"We believe that culture does not only belong to the past, but is also the key to facing the future," he noted.

The festival's main event included the Rimpu Mantika Parade involving thousands of participants, including the general public, civil servants, employees of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and region-owned enterprises, members of educational units, and 17 community organizations in Bima City.

The participants walked in the parade from the Paruga Nae field to the Serasuba field in Bima City wearing rimpu cloth woven by the local community.

Read more
Load more