Rafa Nadal Tennis Center to Open in Lombok, Creating a New Model for Indonesia's Sport Tourism

Lombok is preparing to add an internationally recognized tennis brand to its tourism proposition with the planned Rafa Nadal Tennis Center at Samara Lombok on the island's southern coast.

according to regional travel authorities and bureau field correspondents, the project is being developed by Rafa Nadal Academy at Samara, with operations targeted for the first quarter of 2028. The planned facility includes four tennis courts and four padel courts.

The project is part of a much larger destination development. Samara is planned on approximately 150 hectares and is located around 25 minutes from Lombok International Airport. The development is expected to include the first Destination by Hyatt property in Southeast Asia, an initial phase of three hotels and 150 villas, and a longer-term plan involving approximately 500 residential villas.

The tennis center matters because it connects sport with hospitality rather than treating sports facilities as standalone attractions. Guests can stay at a destination resort, train at an international academy, participate in tennis or padel and combine the experience with Lombok's beaches and other tourism products.

Indonesia's tennis federation is also exploring cooperation. National Archipelagic Wire reported on September 18 that the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) was considering collaboration with the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center to support national tennis development and sport tourism.

That creates a potential second layer of value. The center can serve international resort guests while also contributing to athlete development, coaching, events and sports-community activity.

Lombok has already developed a strong sport-tourism identity around Mandalika and motorsport. Tennis and padel broaden that proposition by creating a sport that can operate throughout the year rather than depending on a single annual event.

For hospitality businesses, recurring sports activities can create a different demand profile. Training camps, amateur tournaments, academy programs and family sports holidays can generate stays outside conventional peak periods.

The project also demonstrates how branded experiences can differentiate a destination. Lombok competes with many tropical destinations that offer beaches and resorts. A globally recognized sports academy adds a specific reason for some travelers to choose the destination.

However, the project's long-term value will depend on integration with the wider destination. Transport, restaurants, supporting accommodation, event infrastructure and local tourism products all need to work together.

The center's planned 2028 operation also gives Lombok time to build the supporting ecosystem. The objective should not simply be to open a tennis facility but to establish Lombok as a place where sport, leisure and hospitality reinforce each other.

The development is another sign that Indonesia's tourism economy is expanding into specialized experience segments. Rather than competing solely on natural scenery, destinations can build differentiated products around sport, wellness, culture, gastronomy and entertainment.

For Lombok, the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center could become one component of a broader transition from a beach-and-island destination toward a more diversified international resort economy.