Mount Rinjani halts plan for single sex camping after backlash
The chief of Lombok’s Mount Rinjani National Park Agency said plans to separate the sexes overnight on the mountain will not now go ahead.
There were calls from the local community to separate male and female hikers in tents to support Lombok’s halal tourism objectives.
This would have only impacted single travellers and not married couples.
There was a belief in some quarters that last year’s earthquakes were a direct result of ‘disrespectful’ actions by hikers.
However the majority of local people and the hiking industry were vehemently against the proposal, especially as hiking trails had only just reopened following the series of quakes last summer.
The proposal garnered a lot of criticism that it would hamper North Lombok’s tourism recovery.
"Regarding the idea to separate male and female tents in the Rinjani hiking area, which sparked controversy, we underline that the program will not be implemented because it is not a priority," park head Sudiyono said.
"With all due respect, we wish for everyone to stop the debate because if it continues it would only bring damage to Indonesia’s tourist industry."
The main priority, Sudiyono said, is to repair and maintain hiking trails and improve trash collection from the 3.700-metre mountain.
Hiking trails only reopened earlier this month after being off-limits since last year’s eathquakes.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026