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Komodo National Park to Close Periodically by 2025
WINDONESIA August 1, 2024
Tourists visiting Rinca Island in the Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara. (Tempo/Tony Hartawan).
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno stated that the plan to periodically close the Komodo National Park in West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province starting from 2025 is expected to not to affect visits by foreign and domestic tourists. That is because the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority Implementing Body (BPOLBF) will develop other tourist attractions in the area.
"The closure of Komodo National Park will not affect the tourist visit target because we see that Labuan Bajo is developing other tourist attractions besides Komodo National Park," Sandiaga said while attending the Wonderful Indonesia Co-Branding Forum II in Jakarta on July 26, 2024.
Tourists will instead be directed to other attractions at tourism villages in the area. The Minister also emphasized the importance of maintaining and managing tourist villages properly so that they remain attractive and beneficial for the local community and visitors.
"Our target is to ensure that the carrying capacity of Komodo National Park, which is 250,000, is not exceeded," Sandiaga added.
The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry is targeting domestic tourist visits in 2024 to reach 1.2 billion to 1.5 billion visits, while for foreign tourists the target is set at 17 million visits. The Ministry has also determined five super-priority tourist destinations, namely Borobudur Temple, Mandalika, Lake Toba, Likupang, and Labuan Bajo.
Previously, the East Nusa Tenggara Province Tourism and Creative Economy Office admitted that it had not received detailed information regarding the plan to temporarily close the Komodo National Park Area.
East Nusa Tenggara Tourism and Creative Economy Office Head Noldy Pelokila stated in Kupang on July 25, 2024, that the policy regarding the plan to temporarily close the Komodo National Park lies with the park's management and BPOLBF in Labuan Bajo.
Source: travel.tempo.co