Komodo National Park Authority Admits Tourists Entering Without Tickets Due to Quota Exhaustion

The Komodo National Park Authority (BTNK) has confirmed that tourists have still visited Komodo National Park without purchasing tickets due to the quota being exhausted. BTNK has enforced a visitor quota of 1,000 tourists per day to Komodo National Park since 1 April 2026.

“Yes,” said BTNK Head Hendrikus Rani Siga, alias Hengki, after a Hearing Meeting (RDP) with the West Manggarai Regency DPRD on Wednesday (8/4/2026). The RDP discussed the controversy over the 1,000-tourist-per-day visitor quota to Komodo National Park.

So far, Hengki stated, there have been 24 tourists recorded entering Komodo National Park without buying tickets because the quota was full. They were detected by BTNK officers while preparing to trek to Padar Island. It is known that trekking activities to Padar Island also apply a quota of 1,000 people per day with three time sessions.

“Those 24 people (entered Komodo National Park without buying tickets) because the quota was full. Perhaps because they received information that it could be possible,” Hengki said.

Hengki said that the dozens of tourists eventually bought tickets on location after BTNK added quota for them. BTNK provided flexibility because the implementation of the 1,000-tourist-per-day quota is still in the transitional period up to now.

“Because this is a transitional period, there are policies that we must take to maintain stability,” Hengki said.

On the other hand, BTNK has not taken action against tour operators who still bring tourists to Komodo National Park without purchasing entry tickets on the SiOra application. According to him, BTNK is still providing education during this transitional period.

“This is an adaptation period, a transitional period. We hope they adapt to this policy. Because if not, this policy could run ineffectively,” Hengki said.

“Actually, they already knew before they forced entry. We continue to provide guidance and education so that it does not happen again,” he concluded.

Previously, Hengki said that the implementation of this quota is part of regulating data to support the carrying capacity of Komodo National Park. This also aims to mitigate the environmental impacts caused by tourism activities.