Royal Sembahulun Story
ROYAL SEMBAHULUN
Owner
About Me – Royal Sembahulun
My name is Royal Sembahulun, and I am the founder and owner of Lombok Green Nature. I have been working in the tourism and travel industry for many years, but beyond that, I am also an activist dedicated to environmental, social, and economic issues in West Nusa Tenggara since 2004.
My journey in environmental activism began in 2003 when I joined the Nature Adorer Organization, a group focused on environmental conservation. In 2006, I was honored to be appointed as the organization’s secretary, a role that deepened my commitment to sustainability. Over time, I began to see a strong connection between environmental conservation and tourism.
I started my career in tourism as a tour guide, leading treks to Mount Rinjani. Through these experiences, I gained valuable insights into the tourism industry and how it could positively impact local communities and the economy. This realization marked the beginning of my efforts to integrate sustainable tourism with environmental conservation.
Founding the Sembalun Community Development Center (SCDC)
In 2008, I took a major step forward by founding the Sembalun Community Development Center (SCDC), an organization dedicated to empowering local communities. Working alongside a group of passionate young people from Sembalun, I have served as the director of SCDC since its inception.
Our mission at SCDC focuses on:
– Environmental conservation
– Social and economic empowerment
– Non-formal education for local communities
One of our key initiatives is volunteer programs, aimed at enhancing local skills to support the development of tourism. One of our most impactful projects has been the Free English Course, which helps local residents improve their language skills, enabling them to better engage with international visitors and create new opportunities in the tourism industry.
Through my work in both Lombok Green Nature and SCDC, I am committed to building a sustainable future for Sembalun and West Nusa Tenggara, ensuring that tourism benefits both the environment and the local community.
Free English class course
started in 2008 and created many professional guides
Teaching English at a Local School
Guide and Porters Sembalun
Advocating for Fair Treatment & Sustainable Tourism
In 2010, I took a stand for the rights of laborers in Mount Rinjani, advocating for fair treatment from certain tour operators who relied on their services. My efforts focused on two key issues:
✔ Increasing fair wages for porters
✔ Setting a reasonable weight limit for the goods they carry
My commitment to ethical and responsible tourism was recognized, and in 2015, the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara honored me as a Tourism Activator for my dedication to improving tourism practices. Further recognition came in 2018, when the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism awarded me the title of “Appreciator of Local Businesses in the Homestay Sector”, acknowledging my efforts in promoting community-based tourism.
Through my experiences, I realized that many businesses exploit nature without considering sustainability. Unfortunately, environmental responsibility is often overlooked in favor of quick profits, leading to serious issues like pollution and waste accumulation in popular tourist areas.
Balancing Tourism Growth with Environmental Sustainability
Tourism has the power to boost the local economy, create new job opportunities, and reduce poverty by uplifting local communities. However, economic growth should never come at the cost of environmental destruction. The presence of waste in tourist destinations is a clear sign that sustainable tourism practices are still lacking.
To emphasize my commitment to eco-friendly tourism, I decided to rebrand my company, changing its name from Royal Rinjani Tour to Lombok Green Nature. This change represents my dedication to ensuring that tourism in Lombok supports both the local economy and environmental conservation.
I believe that everyone in the tourism industry—tour operators, guides, and travelers—must take responsibility for preserving nature. Only by working together can we create a sustainable tourism model that benefits both people and the environment for generations to come.
Read also: Information Trekking Rinjani
received awards from the government
in December 2018 received awards from the tourism ministry in Jakarta, category appreciation as a driver of community homestay business.
What I have done?
- Campaign for environmental conservation.
- Motivate and build the tourism sector as an alternative to increasing local income.
- We organized a free English course for kids (students), youths, and porters who want to be guides. We work with an NGO called Fourth World Love from the US and run a volunteering (natives) program with a local teacher who teaches at the Sembalun Community Development Center (SCDC).
- I have organized some training to increase the skills of porters, guides, and tour operators.
- Fight for labor rights (Porter and Guide).
- Motivate the locals to organize the objects around them according to their culture and local wisdom.
- We collaborated with Google Pacific to investigate some tourism destinations around Lombok and provide training on how to use Google Business.
- We engage in eco-tourism and advocate for organic farming to foster sustainable farming practices and generate healthful products.