TNBBS Completely Closes Bromo Tourism Activities to Accelerate Firefighting Efforts
To ensure the effectiveness of fire management and suppression, all tourist visits to Mount Bromo from all entry points have been completely closed.
Malang, East Java (ANTARA) - The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBBS) has decided to totally close all tourism activities at Mount Bromo, East Java, to accelerate the firefighting process in the area.
The Head of TNBBS, Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha, through an official statement received in Malang on Saturday, stated that this policy is an adjustment to the environmental conditions in Bromo during the dry season, which has caused grasses to dry out, compounded by the potential for strong winds that could accelerate the spread of fire.
“To make fire handling and suppression more effective, tourist visits to Mount Bromo from all entry points are closed totally,” said Rudi.
All access routes to Bromo typically used by tourists—namely Jemplang in Malang Regency, Cemoro Lawang in Probolinggo Regency, Wonokitri in Pasuruan Regency, and Senduro in Lumajang Regency—are affected by the closure.
Rudi also stated that the decision to close all entry routes to the Mount Bromo area prioritises the safety and security of tourists. This is because the current conditions at the site are shrouded in thick smoke from the fires, which has the potential to impair visibility for drivers.
The closure of these tourist routes will remain in effect until an unspecified time, as the decision to reopen tourism activities will first consider the latest developments in the field, including the progress of firefighting efforts.
“Access to the fire site is strictly reserved for officers, partners, and volunteers involved in the handling and suppression activities in accordance with their duties and authority,” he said.
With this closure, the TNBBS administration is currently preparing mechanisms for rescheduling visits and refunding ticket purchases for the duration of the tourism suspension at Bromo.
As information, the TNBBS administration typically opens a daily visitor quota of 2,752 people. The authorities have requested that the public strictly adhere to this policy and avoid approaching the fire site.
Additionally, Rudi noted that tourism activities at Ranu Regulo remain open. “Visits to Ranu Regulo can still be conducted in accordance with the applicable regulations,” he said.
The fire in the Mount Bromo area, which falls within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, is the second occurrence within a month. The first fire occurred on Monday (3/8), starting in the Bantengan Block area and subsequently spreading to Watu Gede and the Pasuruan region.
The second fire occurred in the Saban Pengol area, which falls under the administrative region of Probolinggo Regency, on Thursday (10/9). At the onset of the second fire, the TNBBS administration had initially only closed partial access to Bromo, leaving only the Jemplang, Malang route open.