The policy of increasing the entrance fee for Komodo National Park had been postponed, with dispensations for foreign tourists who wanted to visit Komodo National Park with normal prices.
Foreign tourists photographing Komodo dragons on Loh Liang beach, the entrance to the Komodo National Park area, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (24/8/2016).
LABUAN BAJO, KOMPAS — Tourism in Komodo National Park in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, is gradually returning to normal after being quiet over the past few days. Currently, visits are still dominated by foreign tourists.
A Labuan Bajo tour guide, Latif, on Tuesday (9/8/2022) said the number of foreign tourists had increased ahead of the raised entrance fees for Komodo National Park and demonstrations were held in Labuan Bajo. "It’s not clear whether they want to see the protest or simply want to see the situation and condition on Komodo Island and Padar Island after the government increased the entrance fee," he said.
Meanwhile, since 1 August 2022 very few local tourists have come to Labuan Bajo. Before the cost of conservation and tariff increases were announced, the number of local tourists was much higher than that of foreign tourists.
Chairman of the West Manggarai branch of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), Silvester Wanggel, explained that currently it was the holiday season for tourists from Europe. In addition, after the Covid-19 pandemic foreign tourists want to travel, with one destination being Labuan Bajo.
Wanggel said that when demonstrations against the tariff increase were held for several days in Labuan Bajo, around 1,000 tourists withdrew money from hotels in Labuan Bajo. However, they could reschedule their visit.
Wanggel believes the increase in the entrance fee to Komodo Island and Padar Island should be Rp 1 million (US$67.21) per person per visit.
"If it's Rp 3.75 million per person for a year, it doesn't make sense. It is impossible for one person to come many times in a year. In one visit, it's already boring. Can the same ticket be transferred to someone else? It's impossible," he said.
KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO (AGS)
Two Komodo dragons on Loh Liang beach, the entrance to the Komodo National Park area, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (24/8/2016).
End of December
Separately, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency Head Sandiaga Uno said the implementation of the conservation fee plus Komodo Island and Padar Island entrance ticket of Rp 3.75 million would be postponed until the end of December 2022. So, the new entrance fees would take effect from 1 January 2023.
During the delay period, the entrance fee to Komodo National Park and Padar Island again refers to Government Regulation (PP) No. 12 of 2014 on types and tariffs of non-tax state revenues applicable to the Forestry Ministry at around Rp 150,000. At the same time, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency together with relevant policymakers are developing a monitoring mechanism for the implementation of public communications to minimize miscommunication in the media and the public.
According to Sandiaga, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry/the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency was continuing to receive input from tourism and creative economy business actors in Labuan Bajo and its surroundings. “This delay is in accordance with public aspirations that the government has accommodated. Now is the time for us to conduct public discourse so that efforts to maintain economic revival can be carried out," he said.
The Association of Indonesian Maritime and Tirta Tourism Entrepreneurs (Gahawisri) deputy chairman of the Labuan Bajo branch, Budi Widjaja, said that tourism businesses hoped the government would invite them to jointly formulate the conservation costs plus the entrance tickets. During the dialogue process, they expect that there would be transparency in the discussion of the Komodo National Park conservation program.
According to him, the reenactment of PP No. 12/2014 was not the right step. So far, tourist business actors have paid a levy, but the realization of the conservation program is less concrete.
“What we hope is that the government is transparent and opens a dialogue that involves all associations of tourist business actors. Therefore, the conservation program or the cost can be formulated together,” said Budi.
Program for Strengthening the Functions of the Komodo National Park coordinator Carolina Noge said that the policy of increasing the entrance fee for Komodo National Park had been postponed, with dispensations for foreign tourists who wanted to visit Komodo National Park with normal prices.
In other words, the Rp 3.75 million tariff that includes a conservation contribution fee is now optional for tourists. When visiting Komodo National Park, tourists are welcome to choose the normal fee of Rp 200,000 or willing to contribute Rp 3.75 million.
The conservation program or the cost can be formulated together.
"For tourists who care and want to contribute to conservation, they can pay Rp 3.75 million and [their tickets] are valid until December 2022," said Carolina on Tuesday.
Regarding visitor restrictions, the policy remains in effect in accordance with the provisions of the Komodo National Park. However, tourists are not required to use the Inisa application for trip reservations and activities in Komodo National Park.
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