20 Years Without Visiting Labuan Bajo, Titiek Soeharto: Mashallah, So Beautiful
Chair of DPR RI Commission IV, Siti Hediati Hariyadi or Titiek Soeharto, admitted to being impressed by the beauty of Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The daughter of the late president Soeharto said her last visit to Labuan Bajo was about 20 years ago.
She revealed this while leading a DPR RI Commission IV delegation in discussions with the Ministry of Forestry and tourism stakeholders on the tourist quota for Komodo National Park, in Labuan Bajo on Friday (24/4/2026).
“For me personally, I am very pleased to be able to return to Labuan Bajo today after perhaps 20 years since I last came here,” Titiek stated.
“I was completely taken aback earlier; I arrived late at night and couldn’t see (the beauty of Labuan Bajo), but this morning, mashallah, it’s so beautiful here,” added the Gerindra party politician.
Titiek arrived in Labuan Bajo on Thursday (23/4/2026) night. The discussion venue was a restaurant with a sea view of Labuan Bajo. From the restaurant, hundreds of anchored pinisi ships and clusters of beautiful small islands could be seen.
Titiek was also impressed by the conditions along the Labuan Bajo road, which she deemed clean. “The entire road here is good and clean; I greatly appreciate that,” Titiek said.
Rp100 Billion to the Centre, West Manggarai Regent Complains of Getting Nothing
West Manggarai Regent Edistasius Endi complained that his region receives no share from Komodo National Park (TNK). In 2025, non-tax state revenue (PNBP) from TNK tourist entrance tickets reached over Rp100 billion. All of it was deposited to the central government.
Endi voiced this complaint to Titiek during the DPR RI Commission IV discussion with the Ministry of Forestry and tourism stakeholders on the TNK tourist quota.
“Yesterday, the Regent complained that the revenues (from TNK) are all pulled to the centre, and here we only get a little, right?” Titiek asked.
Endi immediately responded. He emphasised that not a single rupiah from TNK’s earnings is shared with the West Manggarai Regency government. “Madam Chair, if it’s a little, that’s still something, but here it’s nothing, zero,” Endi firmly stated.
Titiek promised to follow up on Endi’s complaint. “Regent, this actually isn’t under Commission IV’s purview, but insyaallah, we will try to convey it so that this region gets a share. Because the amount is quite substantial; how much PNBP is collected in a year?” Titiek said.
Endi replied that TNK’s PNBP in 2025 reached Rp100 billion. Titiek then followed up. “Rp100 billion, and you get zero, just zero?” she said.
Endi then responded by saying that West Manggarai not only receives no earnings from TNK but is actually at a loss. “Empty; if it’s empty, that’s still okay, but we’re actually losing out, ma’am,” Endi said. Endi’s statement drew laughter from Commission IV members and other discussion participants.
Although receiving no earnings from TNK, Titiek mentioned to Endi that West Manggarai’s Regional Original Revenue (PAD) reached Rp136 billion in 2025. “But your PAD is Rp127 (billion),” Titiek said. (Note: There appears to be a discrepancy in the original figures; using the contextually consistent Rp127 billion as per dialogue.)
Endi acknowledged the PAD realisation. However, the NasDem party politician emphasised that none of that PAD comes directly from TNK.
“The Rp127 billion PAD comes again from sources not from Komodo National Park. It’s from hotel and restaurant taxes on land,” Endi said.
He acknowledged that West Manggarai’s PAD correlates with the TNK tourism destination. However, no PAD comes directly from TNK. “Whether there is a correlation related to the spots in TNK, yes,” Endi firmly stated.
Titiek then affirmed the same, that there is a correlation between PAD and TNK. “There is, right?” Titiek said.
Endi confirmed it but emphasised that it does not contribute directly to PAD. “There is, again, there is a correlation, but is it direct? No, ma’am,” he said.