Gov't pledges more resilient tourism in Labuan Bajo post-earthquake
To achieve this, the ministry will strengthen disaster risk management and develop new land-based tourist attractions in West Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara.
“We want tourism to continue to grow, underpinned by enhanced safety and broader economic benefits for the local community,” Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said in a statement released here on Saturday.
On Friday (August 28), Minister Wardhana held a coordination meeting with the West Manggarai regional administration, industry players, and tourism associations in Labuan Bajo.
The meeting focused on recovery strategies for the region’s tourism sector following the August 15 quake, while also addressing Labuan Bajo’s broader development.
These measures are being prioritized based on the severity of damage, the operational readiness of tourism destinations, and the restoration of local livelihoods.
The recovery efforts will cover the entire tourism supply chain, including hotels, restaurants, tourism villages, tour boats, tour guides, as well as local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Beyond restoring the local economy and rebuilding market confidence, the efforts aim to strengthen standard operating procedures (SOPs) for emergency response, evacuation routes, and on-site crisis communication systems.
Head of West Manggarai District Edistasius Endi noted that tourism activities have been operating safely and normally since the earthquake. The district has recorded 2,854 boat departures and 32,692 tourist trips post-disaster.
Domestic and international flight traffic also remains stable. Komodo National Park and Padar Island have reopened to the public after passing rigorous safety assessments.
To sustain this positive trend, the Tourism Ministry will enhance marine tourism safety competencies through the Indonesian Tourism Workforce Certification (SATRIA) program. Simultaneously, the government will expand the development of land-based destinations, including Kukusan Island, Kelor Island, and Rangko Cave.
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Translator: Abdu Faisal, Uyu Liman