A Brief Journey: From Hidden Gem to Global Stage Lombok’s tourism story began quietly. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was a haven for surfers and divers escaping Bali’s growing crowds. The Gili Islands—Trawangan, Meno, and Air—became early icons of barefoot paradise, while South Lombok’s white-sand bays stayed blissfully off-grid. Through the 2000s, eco-lodges and…