Minister: Labuan Bajo Tourism Activities Remain Open After Earthquake
Tourism Minister Putri Wardhana has confirmed that tourism activities in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, remain operational following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Flores on 15 August 2026.
Based on monitoring by the Ministry of Tourism through the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF) up to Saturday (22/8/2026) at 19.00 WITA, Komodo National Park remains open and activities in the area are running normally. Sailing to the Komodo National Park area is also operating as usual. Meanwhile, Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo is operating normally according to flight schedules.
“Labuan Bajo remains open for tourists and tourism activities are generally running,” the minister said in an official statement on Sunday (23/8).
A number of tourist attractions in West Manggarai have also resumed operations. Rangko Cave is running normal tourism activities with facilities and infrastructure declared safe. Compang Liang Ndara Tourism Village reopened on 22 August 2026, while Wae Lolos Tourism Village continues to receive tourist visits.
Although tourism activities in Labuan Bajo are running normally, the minister asked tourists and tourism operators to continue prioritising safety and follow every directive from the relevant authorities, given that aftershocks are still occurring.
Through BPOLBF, the Ministry of Tourism continues to monitor the condition of hotels, restaurants, cafes, tourist destinations, public facilities, and accessibility in Labuan Bajo and the Flores region. BPOLBF is also operating an information service to respond to tourist inquiries regarding destination conditions and travel safety after the earthquake.
A number of foreign tourists from Italy, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, including tourist groups with travel plans to Labuan Bajo and Flores, have received information on the latest developments regarding destination conditions.
“Fast and accurate information is very important in situations like this. We must maintain tourist safety while preventing incorrect information from causing unnecessary concern,” the minister said.
In the monitoring, BPOLBF also coordinated with the Labuan Bajo Harbourmaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) to clarify information regarding the temporary closure of sailing to Padar Island and Komodo Port. Based on clarification from the relevant authorities, the information about the closure is not true. The advisory in force relates to the potential for high waves and strong winds in the southern Sape Strait.
In terms of connectivity, Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo operated normally according to flight schedules on 22 August 2026. All monitored ports are also still serving ship and passenger operations while prioritising safety. Pioneer services continue to run and there have been no requests for route deviations.
The minister stressed that the condition of Labuan Bajo needs to be distinguished from a number of other areas in Flores that still require further handling and safety assessment. According to her, conditions in each area are not the same, so tourists continuing their journey from Labuan Bajo to other areas in Flores need to pay attention to the latest developments.
“Therefore, tourists who will continue their journey from Labuan Bajo to other areas in Flores are asked to always check the latest information regarding the condition of destinations, roads, airports, and telecommunications services,” the minister said.
As of 22 August 2026, a number of main land routes in Flores have returned to function, while some other routes are still being handled. Based on data compiled in the BPOLBF report, as of 22 August 2026 at 18.00 WIB, thousands of aftershocks have been recorded after the main Flores earthquake.
Therefore, the minister asked tourists to remain calm but alert and to use official government information as a reference when travelling.
“We want tourism activities to continue, but we must not reduce vigilance. The safety of tourists, tourism workers, and the community must always be above other interests,” the minister said.
The minister stressed that tourism recovery must go hand in hand with the recovery of communities affected by the earthquake in various areas of Flores. According to her, Labuan Bajo is an important entry point for Flores tourism, so the recovery of activities in the area is expected to help maintain the economic movement of the community.
“When activities in Labuan Bajo begin to recover, we hope this will help maintain the economic movement of the community. But at the same time, our attention and support must continue to be given to our brothers and sisters in the Flores region who are still in the emergency response and recovery period,” she said.
The Ministry of Tourism through BPOLBF will continue to carry out cross-sectoral coordination, update information regarding destination conditions and accessibility, and ensure tourists receive accurate information during the post-earthquake recovery process in Flores.