Indonesia struggles to boost tourism

Heavy damage: A security officer walking past cars damaged by the tsunami at the Tanjung Lesung Beach resort in Banten province. — AFP

Tanjung Lesung: Picture-post­card Tanjung Lesung was a cornerstone of Indonesia’s bid to supercharge its tourism industry, boasting palm-fringed beaches, a towering volcano in the middle of turquoise waters and a rainforest sanctuary for endangered Javan rhinos.

But the beachside town now lies in ruins, pummelled by a deadly tsunami that has raised fresh questions about disaster preparedness and the future of a multi-billion-dollar push to replicate Bali’s success across the South-East Asian archipelago.