Rogue Travel Agents in Labuan Bajo Face Blacklist Threat
Rogue travel agents and tour operators in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), are facing the threat of being blacklisted. Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has stressed that enforcement will be carried out together with the regional government to protect the tourism image of Labuan Bajo.
Fraudulent practices against tourists by travel agents and tour operators have been occurring frequently in Labuan Bajo recently. In some cases, groups of tourists have suffered losses amounting to hundreds of millions of rupiah.
The Ministry of Tourism, together with the regional government, will crack down on rogue agents and operators that are tarnishing the image of Labuan Bajo as a super-priority tourism destination. Widiyanti said the enforcement is one aspect of strengthening tourism governance in Labuan Bajo following the earthquake disaster.
“There were several items discussed: governance, accommodation, live-on-board vessels, and also travel agents and tour operators that need to be brought into line. We will work with the regional government,” Widiyanti said in Labuan Bajo on Friday (28/8/2026).
Widiyanti made the remarks after chairing a coordination meeting on the recovery of Labuan Bajo tourism following the earthquake at the West Manggarai Regent’s Office hall. The meeting was attended by various tourism associations in Labuan Bajo, the West Manggarai Regency Government, BPOLBF, and other stakeholders.
Widiyanti welcomed input from tourism industry players in Labuan Bajo on strengthening tourism governance at the destination famous for its Komodo dragons.
“The various inputs I received today will be followed up to support the recovery process and strengthen governance,” Widiyanti said.
West Manggarai Regent Edistasius Endi supported Widiyanti’s firm stance on taking action against rogue travel agents and tour operators in Labuan Bajo.
“This time the Minister has committed, together with the region, to bringing order to tour operators, travel agents, and also business owners who are not compliant,” Edi Endi said while accompanying Widiyanti at a press briefing after the meeting.
According to him, rogue travel agents and tour operators in Labuan Bajo must be dealt with immediately. One measure could be to blacklist the offending travel agents and tour operators. This is being done to protect the image of Labuan Bajo tourism and Indonesia in general in the eyes of the world.
“This must be addressed immediately. The action is to blacklist them directly, Madam Minister. That way, the image of tourism in Labuan Bajo, in West Manggarai, in Flores, in NTT, and in Indonesia will be very good,” Edi Endi stressed.
Cases of tourist fraud by travel agents have been occurring frequently in Labuan Bajo recently. There have been groups of tourists who had paid in full for tour packages to Komodo National Park but were left stranded upon arrival in Labuan Bajo because no boat was available to serve them.
Several fraud perpetrators have been reported to the West Manggarai Police. There have also been cases resolved through mediation after victims’ money was returned.