Sade Traditional Village in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), will be restored following a major fire that devastated the area. Safety has become a key focus in rebuilding this cultural tourism village.
Zita Anjani, Presidential Special Envoy (UKP) for Tourism, said the restoration of Sade will be carried out jointly by the central government, local government, and the community. The Tourism Special Envoy’s office, together with the Ministry of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions (Kemendes-PDT), will follow up on the reconstruction and restoration needs for the Sade area.
Rebuilding More Than Just Structures
This reconstruction effort isn’t just about replacing burned buildings, it also aims to preserve the character and culture of the Sasak community.
“The restoration will take into account the traditional village’s character, its traditional architecture, Sasak cultural values, safety aspects, and the community’s economic sustainability,” Zita said, as quoted by Antara on Monday (August 24, 2026).
According to her, rebuilding Sade Traditional Village will require time and careful planning. She said the government wants Sade to remain both a living space for the community and a cultural tourism destination.
“Restoring Sade will take time and needs to be done with proper planning. We want to rebuild Sade as a traditional village that remains alive, where its culture is preserved, its people are empowered, and its tourism can develop sustainably,” she said.
A Lesson in Disaster Mitigation for Tourism Sites
Ahmad Nur Aulia, Head of NTB’s Tourism and Creative Economy Office, said the fire at Sade Traditional Village serves as a lesson for tourism destination development more broadly. For Ahmad, disaster mitigation needs to be strengthened as part of rebuilding the area.
“The fire disaster that occurred at the Sade Traditional Village tourism destination serves as a reminder for all of us. Behind the grief we feel, there’s an important lesson: future tourism destination development must increasingly prioritize the principle of sustainability, including disaster preparedness and mitigation,” Ahmad explained.
He emphasized that cultural preservation must go hand in hand with the safety of both the community and visitors. Because of this, the rebuilding of Sade Traditional Village is expected to go beyond simply restoring the area to its pre-fire condition.
“We need to introduce a better disaster mitigation system, so that cultural preservation can move forward hand in hand with the safety of both the community and visitors,” he said.
The Scale of the Damage
The fire at Sade Traditional Village destroyed approximately 120 buildings, affecting 120 families, or roughly 320 people. Beyond residents’ homes, several buildings supporting the community’s cultural and economic activities were also affected.
