NTT Governor: Quota for tourists in Komodo National Park to be evaluated after 3-6 months

Kupang (ANTARA) - East Nusa Tenggara Governor Melki Laka Lena stated that the policy of a daily quota of 1,000 tourists entering Komodo National Park will be re-evaluated after three to six months of implementation. “The essence is that we will review the impacts in about three to six months ahead. Because it will be evaluated,” he said in Kupang, NTT, on Thursday. He made this statement after attending and opening the Regional Coordination Meeting (Rakorda) for the Bangga Kencana NTT 2026 Programme held by the NTT Representative of BKKBN. He said that fundamentally, he supports the central government’s decision and hopes it will have positive impacts on other sectors. Melki admitted to having consulted with the central government, particularly relevant ministries, and the ministries have calculated various positive impacts from the policy. “The central government has calculated the impacts and will attempt to implement it starting from the Komodo’s ecology, as well as others in the Komodo National Park area and around West Manggarai, even various conservation matters have been calculated,” he said. Melki stated that he appreciates the various aspirations voiced by the community and tourism actors in Labuan Bajo in recent days. On the other hand, he also views that the policy will have positive impacts on the tourism sector in Labuan Bajo, as it will keep tourists staying longer in the area and economic activities will increase. Previously, it was reported that the Komodo National Park Authority (BTN) has set a policy of a 1,000 tourist quota per day in the Komodo National Park area. That policy has started to be enforced from 1 April 2026.