The Chairman of the Rinjani Circular Tourism Forum (FWLR), Royal\nSembahulking, has rejected the policy to restrict climbing activities on\nMount Rinjani, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The policy is\ndeemed detrimental to tourism service entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n
Royal assessed that the policy issued by the Minister of Forestry\nthrough the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem\nConservation (KSDAE) impacts the local economy, particularly for those\ninvolved in tourism around Mount Rinjani.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the midst of difficult economic conditions and declining tourist\nvisits, these restrictions are certainly very burdensome. We must ensure\nthat the policies issued do not end up harming the community,\u201d Royal\nstated on Wednesday (2\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
Currently, Royal continued, more than 1,000 porters, approximately\n600 guides, and over 200 tour operators (TO) depend on their economic\nactivities on Mount Rinjani. The impact is also potentially felt in the\ntransport, hotel, and other tourism sectors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen tourists are already in Indonesia, they can find information\nabout Rinjani, become interested, and make bookings. If bookings are\nclosed, this economic chain is broken,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Royal emphasised that his group supports government measures to\nprevent forest and land fires (Karhutla). However, the implementation of\nthis policy in Mount Rinjani needs to be evaluated, as the conditions of\nthe Rinjani area are considered different from other regions facing fire\nthreats.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe support fire prevention. We also do not want fires to occur in\nRinjani. But the government must understand the conditions of the area\nthey manage,\u201d said Royal.<\/p>\n
Royal noted that fires in Mount Rinjani occur almost every year.\nAccording to him, the burnt areas are dominated by savannah and are not\nalways located on climbing trails.<\/p>\n
He explained that several previous fires occurred in agricultural\nareas due to land-clearing activities, and the fire points were far from\nthe climbing routes.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking at the history of fires in Rinjani, the points do not always\noriginate from climber activities. Therefore, we question why Rinjani\nmust be subject to the same policy as areas in Kalimantan,\u201d said\nRoyal.<\/p>\n
Royal also highlighted the suspension of online climbing bookings\nthat took effect on 1 September. In his view, although described as a\nrestriction, the cessation of bookings could practically lead to the\ntotal halt of climbing activities.<\/p>\n
Previously, the Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR) restricted\nclimbing activities on Mount Rinjani, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara\n(NTB), starting Tuesday (1\/9\/2026). The restrictions were implemented to\nprevent forest and land fires.<\/p>\n
The policy is a follow-up to the Circular Letter from the Director\nGeneral of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, Ministry of\nForestry, regarding the temporary closure and limited opening of\nmountain climbing tourism to prevent forest fires.<\/p>\n
Based on the official announcement by TNGR, the limited opening\nincludes climbing tourism, rituals, religious, cultural, social, and\nresearch activities.<\/p>\n
During this period of limited opening, TNGR will conduct\nsocialisation for prospective climbers and tourism service providers\nregarding the vulnerability to forest fires. Additionally, patrols and\ninspections of belongings that could potentially be sources of fire will\nbe tightened.<\/p>\n
TNGR will also increase its preparedness for forest fire management.\nThis includes the readiness of personnel and infrastructure, as well as\ncoordination with local governments, BNPB, BPBD, TNI\/Polri, the\ncommunity, and relevant stakeholders.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tourism-operators-reject-rinjani-climbing-restrictions-questioning-comparison-to-kalimantan-1788393171", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }