Autonomy Watch: Residents develop tourism on their own.

from THE JAKARTA POST -- MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2010 -- PAGE 9 Frustration over local authorities' ignorance and lack of attention on the province's tourism potential has forced some communities in Lampung to take matters into their own hands to develop the tourism sector themselves.

These groups have worked to develop tourism businesses across the province, such as in Pesawaran, South Lampung, Tanggamus and West Lampung regencies.

Mitra Bentala, an NGO that assists communities along the Lampung coast, said seven islands in three Lampung regencies -- Tanggamus, Pesawaran and South Lampung -- had the potential to be developed into marine ecotourism resorts.

They …