Ket Gambar: Komodo Dragon (Varanus Komodoensis) at Komodo National Park.
Labuan Bajo | oborkeadilan.com | Tourism Authority Board (BOP) Labuan Bajo: Closure of Komodo Island Awaits the Results from the Natural Resource and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) Team in August 2019.
The plan for the closure of the Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara, which is under the authority of the KSDAE Directorate General, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia (KLHK), is still under discussion.
The closure, which is still planned to be implemented, starting from January 2020, will only be for Komodo Island. This plan has made uneasiness amongst the tourism businesses in West Manggarai, international tourists, and travel agencies.
Shana Fatina, Director of the Tourism Authority Board by phone from Jakarta on View days ago, explained that the KSDAE Directorate General is currently conducting studies by deploying a team to research the possibility of the temporary closure of Komodo Island in the Komodo National Park.
“At the moment, we continue to monitor the team’s results from the KSDAE Directorate General which are currently in the field. The result will be reported in August 2019.” As stated by Shana.
Shana also added that the decision to closed and fully re-open a national park is solely under the authority of the KSDAE Directorate General. This is based on scientific consideration, facts in the field, social and economic condition, as well as inputs from the Provincial Government, District Government, and other parties.
As added by Shana, “if the government plans for the temporary closure of certain parts or the park in its entirety, then it would need to be thoroughly planned, by providing sufficient deadline as it will have a significant social economic impact.”
According to the data from KLHK, with the admission ticket fare for international tourist valued at IDR 150, 000 and national tourist valued at IDR 5,000 –in accordance with Government Regulation Number 12/2014 on Non-Tax State Revenue (PNPB)- the income received from the Komodo National Park to the State revenue also increased, which amounted to IDR 5.4 Billion in 2014, IDR19.20 Billion in 2015, IDR 22.80 Billion in 2016, IDR 29.10 Billion in 2017, and 33.16 Billion in 2018.
The increased of tourist visiting the Komodo National Park has resulted in significant economic growth, particularly in the District of West Manggarai and its surrounding areas. Apart from Komodo, currently there are 42 diving and snorkeling spots, which have also gain attention from interested tourist. (LM)
