Mertak – coastal desa neighbouring the Mandalika Special Economic Zone
Mertak is a desa of Kecamatan Pujut in Kabupaten Lombok Tengah, Indonesia. The settlement is located in the southern part of Lombok island, with the regency capital at Praya. Mertak belongs to the Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara) province, which lies within the Bali and Lesser Sunda Islands macroregion. The desa lies directly within and in immediate proximity to the Mandalika Special Economic Zone. Part of the desa's territory consists of coastal areas, and consequently the majority of tourist activities are connected to the coast and nature.
General overview
Mertak is a community belonging to the administrative district of Kecamatan Pujut, whose livelihood structure well reflects the general image of southern Lombok coastal villages. The majority of the settlement's residents secure their livelihoods from agriculture and fishing; a smaller part engages in the breeding of stingless bees. The desa has been classified as a desa wisata (tourism village) in the records of the Indonesian tourism ministry, indicating that the community actively participates in the organisation of community-based tourism. Training sessions were held in 2018 and 2022 to coordinate tourism development for locals, overseen by the local tourism group Pokdarwis Besopoq Desa Mertak. Regarding the broader Kecamatan Pujut, this district is one of the extensive and diverse administrative units of Lombok Tengah, containing sixteen desas within its territory. The kecamatan has a tropical climate: the rainy season begins around April, with the highest rainfall recorded in December (up to 382 mm), while between May and September average precipitation falls below 50–100 mm. The topography of Kecamatan Pujut is hilly, with elevations varying between 100 and 355 metres above sea level, and the coastline functions as a tourism zone. For Kabupaten Lombok Tengah as a whole: the regency covers an area of 1,168.13 km², with a population of 859,309 according to the 2010 census and 1,034,859 according to 2020 data; the official estimate for mid-2024 shows 1,128,716 inhabitants.
Real estate and investment
No independent, settlement-level statistical sources are currently available for Mertak's real estate market; therefore, the following addresses verifiable market conditions for the broader region – Kabupaten Lombok Tengah and particularly the KEK Mandalika. The Mandalika Special Economic Zone concentrates around the village of Kuta, and Mertak and Sengkol are counted among the SEZ's most important "buffer desas", providing workforce and back-office services. The KEK Mandalika covers approximately 1,175 hectares on Lombok's southern coast, as stipulated in Government Regulation No. 52 of 2014 and related SEZ plans; the area is managed by the state-owned Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). The MotoGP circuit, resort developments, and infrastructure development (airport, road network) increase demand for real estate supply; areas outside the SEZ – including the Kuta Lombok and Selong Belanak region – likewise experience price increase momentum, though at lower entry prices. The number of tourists arriving in Mandalika grew 51.4% in 2024, reaching 1.2 million compared to the previous year, representing 68.4% growth compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Under the general framework of Indonesian land ownership regulations, foreign individuals cannot acquire full ownership rights (Hak Milik) to real estate; the most widespread legal titles available in practice for foreign investors are long-term lease agreements and nominee ownership structures, which carry legal risks. For those intending to invest in the Mandalika region, comprehensive legal due diligence is essential, careful examination of potential land acquisitions or partnerships, and verification of genuinely clear legal title to avoid future disputes. The SEZ regulatory framework offers concrete benefits to developers and investors: tax incentives – including income tax exemption and import duty exemption – as well as simplified licensing procedures.
Safety and security
No publicly available, detailed public safety statistics specific to Mertak desa are available; therefore, only generally verifiable observations applicable to the broader region can be made. Lombok's southern tourism zone, which includes Kecamatan Pujut, has undergone significant infrastructure development over the past decade in connection with KEK Mandalika, which generally entails strengthened public security presence in designated tourism areas. It is worth noting that Mertak desa was struck by flooding on 4 January 2022, which caused various problems for the community, indicating that natural disasters (particularly floods) are among the region's risk factors. Regarding public safety assessment in general terms, in Nusa Tenggara Barat province and particularly in Lombok's tourism zones, travellers should primarily pay attention to road safety and petty theft, though specific crime data cannot be cited from available sources. It is advisable in all cases to rely on experience gained while travelling and current information (such as consular warnings from the relevant country).
Tourist attractions
Multiple tourism sites managed by the local community can be identified within Mertak desa in official sources. Pantai Batu Berang beach is being developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: a mangrove boardwalk, homestay accommodation, selfie points and boat rental facilities are available to visitors. At Pantai Dondon beach, online promotion and tourism packages are being developed in collaboration with local organisations including IOSKI NTB and the WAISESTEP Foundation. The Taman Wisata Alam (TWA) Gunung Tunak ecological park is also connected to the desa's territory. The attraction is located along Jalan Raya Awang, within Mertak desa's territory, Kecamatan Pujut, Kabupaten Lombok Tengah. Gunung Tunak Ecological Park is one of Lombok's most comprehensive and popular tourism destinations in Bumbang Bay, with an area of 1,217 hectares, rich biodiversity, flora and fauna, and abundant marine life. Gunung Tunak is only 15 minutes from the Mandalika MotoGP circuit. In TWA Gunung Tunak, a hotel and restaurant operate in cooperation with the Korea Forest Center and BKSDA NTB (the Indonesian nature conservation authority), managed by the local community group. Regarding the broader offerings of Kecamatan Pujut, attractions known at district level include Pantai Kuta, Pantai Aan, Pantai Gerupuk, and Desa Rembitan (Desa Sade), a tradition-preserving Sasak village. The Rembitan mosque is one of Lombok's oldest mosques, its architecture reflecting classical Sasak traditions. Within Kecamatan Pujut, the Roah Segare maritime festival tradition is observed, accompanied by a ceremonial order filled with religious, nature-loving, purification, and maritime safety symbolism.
Summary
Mertak is a desa belonging to Kecamatan Pujut in the southern part of Kabupaten Lombok Tengah, whose territory encompasses coastline, the TWA Gunung Tunak nature conservation and ecological park, and multiple beach sites managed by the community. The settlement is located in direct proximity to the Mandalika Special Economic Zone, which exerts significant influence on the broader region's tourism and real estate market dynamics. Independent, detailed settlement-level statistics – population figures, detailed crime data, precise land prices – are not publicly available for Mertak; the above description therefore relies on verifiable sources at regency and kecamatan levels, which provide context for understanding the desa.
