When a tourist flies one way from Bali to Lombok (Mataram) costs are 230.000 IDR (equalling 23 Euros) in May 2004. Taxi from Mataram to Bangsal costs 60.000 IDR (6 Euros). Boat from Bangsal to Gili Air is additionally 150.000 IDR (15 Euros). In relation to flight and taxi this price relation for ferrying across is relatively expensive. When tourists need public transport and pubic boats, this is less expensive but waiting long hours is necessary often. Public boats departing in Bangsal have no fixed schedule and only depart when boats are fully occupied with approximately twenty people.

Approximately 90 percent of tourists, who arrive in Bangsal (harbour in Lombok) and then arrive in Gili islands, are disappointed because they encounter the same problems they already have found at other tourist places (disturbing beach sellers and luggage carriers asking penetratingly for large sums of money).

  The port of Bangsal

Additionally there are people selling themselves as guides. They distribute bungalow names on business cards, Sarongs and T-shirts, they wave before tourists faces. All tourists after arrival want to relax and find a boat to Gili Air.

This full stress arrival does not help name of Gili Air and other Gili islands. Luckily most tourists stay and discover that Gili Air is still paradise island and still value the name of Gili Air.

Possible solution for Gili Air / Bangsal

Establishing a souvenir market and an information office at the harbour in Bangsal.

When tourists arrive and no large crowd of sellers or guides are "greeting them" but one to two friendly hosts showing them the way to the information office, every tourist can make up his individual mind.

This office will be equipped with maps and island papers with the location of every bungalow. Despite location information, price and equipment of these bungalows can also be enclosed. Then every tourist can find bungalow suitable to its individual wants, money he or she wants to spend.

Additionally this office can hand out price overview charts showing standard prices for ferrying over and Cidomos (horse carts) for different Gili islands, depending on routes, tourists want to be driven to.

Boats

At the same time, a sample solution will be worked on to install a fix public boat schedule. Suggestion: 8am, 11am, 3pm departure time to then travel to all three Gili islands one after the other and simultaneously take on board waiting passengers. This secures fix schedule and tourists can rely on these travel possibilities.

Range of overnight stay possibilities on Gili Air starts at cheap Losman up to small traditional hotels. To enable owners of these accommodations not to loose money but make a profit out of their investments and no war about the cheapest price should start. There should be competition about quality, but not lowest possible price. The owners have to protect themselves.
It lies in nature of tourists that they are always looking for the best price they can get. Especially in low season when operators rely on overnight staying tourists more than in high season, operators fight a war in reaching lowest price.
 
Result is that costs for these rents are higher than money earned.

Tourists like this very much and they are exploiting this situation.

In the long run service is becoming worse and is damaging Gili Airs reputation.

Accommodation on Gili air

L.K.G.A. will sit together with all owners and operators of bungalows / hotels and tries to arrange agreement about minimum overnight stay pricing.

When every owner or operator would ask for a minimum price per bungalow of 50.000 IDR (without meals) then it would be impossible for tourists with this regulation to have overnight stay possibilities below this minimum price and operators would no longer ruin themselves.

Tourists will then pay at least minimum price. Tourist will not stay therefore any shorter on Gili Air.

Tourists will understand this situation and so more money - especially in low season with less tourists - will be to the benefit of inhabitants.

Every owner and operator of bungalows can decide himself how much he charges above the minimum price.

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