Mandalika has undergone major transformation as the area develops into a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and an international tourism destination. Infrastructure construction has expanded rapidly, changing the physical and social landscape of the coastal area.
The development includes roads, hotels, resorts, and other tourism facilities. According to Danar’s study, basic infrastructure supporting the Mandalika SEZ has been developed since 2020 under the Mandalika Urban Tourism and Infrastructure Project. Around 20 roads covering approximately 15.5 kilometers have been developed to improve connections between tourism destinations and other strategic locations. The development also supported the arrival of major international events, including MotoGP.
The economic impact has been significant. The article reports that government funding related to the Mandalika SEZ reached approximately Rp1.3 trillion between 2020 and 2023, while the bypass road connecting Lombok International Airport with the Mandalika area had a budget realization of about Rp706.7 billion.
The development has also created employment and increased economic activity. The study reports an economic turnover of around Rp5 trillion associated with the MotoGP event between 2023 and 2024. In 2024, approximately 7,200 workers were absorbed in construction, hospitality, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), representing an increase of around 20 percent compared with 2023.
Economic Growth Does Not Automatically Mean Greater Resilience
Despite the economic benefits, Danar’s findings suggest that physical development has not always been matched by improvements in local capacity.
The study describes Mandalika’s local economy as a “seasonal economy” because economic activity can increase sharply during major events but slow down after those events end. This raises concerns about whether the benefits of tourism development can be maintained over the long term.
The study also identifies environmental and geotechnical concerns. Field observations conducted from 2022 to 2025 found that soil at construction locations was shifting and deforming by an average of tens of millimeters per year. Danar argues that this situation requires stronger and more regular government monitoring, particularly in areas exposed to excessive loads and pressure.
The wider environmental changes are particularly important for coastal communities. Mandalika faces threats including tsunamis, flash floods, and coastal erosion, while climate change may further intensify disaster risks.
Local Knowledge and Community Cooperation Remain Important
The research shows that Mandalika’s communities are not starting from zero when it comes to disaster preparedness.
Residents have developed adaptation strategies based on local knowledge, social solidarity, community cooperation, and participation in government mitigation programs. Community-based groups, particularly Disaster Resilient Village (Destana) groups, play an important role in strengthening preparedness.
However, the capacity to respond to disasters is not evenly distributed.
Kuta Village, located at the center of the region, has stronger human-resource capacity than surrounding buffer villages. The study found that this capacity has not yet been sufficiently shared with neighboring communities. As a result, differences in preparedness may emerge between villages during emergencies.
The research also identifies weaknesses in coordination among disaster-management groups. Differences between Destana and TAGANA groups can create sectoral barriers, while spatial planning decisions may not always correspond with the disaster-mitigation needs of surrounding villages.
Danar argues that stronger cross-sector collaboration is needed to connect regional development planning with community-level disaster preparedness.
Communities Need Stronger Networks and Regeneration
Another challenge is the dependence of local disaster-resilience programs on government support.
The study finds that communities still rely heavily on government assistance for budgets, human resources, and program support. At the same time, regeneration within Destana and TAGANA groups has not yet reached an ideal level.
Danar’s analysis suggests that strengthening community resilience requires more than providing emergency assistance after a disaster. Communities need continuous training, technical support, stronger networks, and opportunities for younger residents to become involved in disaster preparedness.
Destana is identified as a potential strategic hub for strengthening community resilience. However, the group needs stronger partnerships with government agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders.
Technology Could Improve Early Warning Systems
One of the study’s key recommendations is to combine local knowledge with modern, data-driven disaster information.
Danar proposes strengthening Destana by integrating local practices with information from institutions such as the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG). An application-based early-warning system could help communities receive disaster information more quickly and accurately.
The proposed model also encourages closer cooperation between BMKG, regional disaster-management agencies, universities, research institutions, village governments, and the private sector.
For example, BMKG could provide seasonal disaster-risk forecasts, while regional disaster agencies could translate the information into practical preparedness guidelines for communities. Universities and research institutions could contribute scientific knowledge, while village governments could use village funds to support disaster-resilient infrastructure such as temporary evacuation facilities and improved drainage systems.
Private companies could also contribute through corporate social responsibility programs, particularly to support emergency response and community preparedness.
Development and Disaster Preparedness Must Move Together
The central message of Danar’s study is that coastal resilience cannot depend solely on local traditions or government intervention working separately.
Instead, Mandalika needs an integrated system that connects community capacity, reliable data, infrastructure, environmental management, and cross-sector cooperation.
The study recommends an inclusive governance approach involving government, communities, academics, private companies, and non-governmental organizations. It also emphasizes the importance of accessible technology-based early-warning systems and long-term investment in disaster-resilient infrastructure and community training.
For Mandalika, the challenge is therefore not simply how to attract tourists and investment. The larger question is how to ensure that economic development does not increase the vulnerability of communities living in an increasingly transformed coastal environment.
Danar also acknowledges that the study focuses specifically on Mandalika, meaning its findings cannot automatically represent all coastal communities with different social, economic, and geographical conditions. The qualitative approach also does not provide a quantitative measurement of how effective particular adaptation strategies are.
Nevertheless, the study offers a clear lesson for rapidly developing coastal destinations: tourism and infrastructure development need to advance alongside community resilience, environmental protection, and disaster preparedness.
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