Indonesia Could Boost Tourism by Adopting “Use It or Lose It” Policy for Landholders, Says Australian Billionaire Developer
Australian billionaire property developer Jamie McIntyre, founder of Australian National Review (ANR.News) and backer of the US$6 billion MarinaBayCity.com project in Lombok, Indonesia, believes the country could accelerate tourism growth and local prosperity if the government took a firmer stance on underutilised prime land.
McIntyre says a large portion of land in Indonesia’s most desirable tourism zones is currently tied up by land speculators or land bankers who have no immediate plans for development. This, he argues, is slowing down the creation of much-needed tourist accommodation and infrastructure.
“It’s a simple concept — use it or lose it,” McIntyre said. “If developers or landowners are sitting on prime tourism land without any planned development, it prevents others who are ready to build from creating the resorts, villas, and facilities that bring jobs, investment, and growth to local communities.”
He added that one of the most effective measures the government could adopt would be to require large landholders in designated tourism zones to either begin planned developments within a reasonable timeframe or release the land to those who will.
McIntyre also suggests that approvals for private roads and infrastructure tied to major projects should be conditional on their potential benefit to surrounding communities.
“If a developer is building a road or infrastructure that could also improve access for neighbouring areas, governments should approve it on the basis that it becomes a public asset,” he explained. “That way, every development contributes to the wider public infrastructure network, not just to the project itself.”
According to McIntyre, such policies would not only encourage responsible and timely development but also ensure that the benefits of new tourism projects are spread more evenly — helping to grow Indonesia’s appeal as a global tourism powerhouse while directly improving the livelihoods of local residents.