Tourist Quota for Entering Komodo Island Set at 1,000 People per Day

The quota for tourist visits to Komodo National Park in West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, has been officially set at 1,000 tourists per day. The Komodo National Park Authority has established new regulations regarding this matter, which have been in effect since early April 2026. “The regulation has been in place since 1 April 2026 and is already being implemented,” stated Maria Rosdalima Panggur, Coordinator for Public Relations, Cooperation, and Licensing Services at the Komodo National Park Authority, on Tuesday, 14 April 2026. Maria explained that the purpose of the new regulation is to reduce the significant pressure on the ecology within Komodo National Park. This is because the number of tourist visits to the area is high each year, raising concerns about ecological impacts. The Komodo National Park Authority recorded 429,509 visitors to Komodo National Park in 2025. The proportion of international tourists averaged 68 percent compared to domestic tourists. According to her, this number has exceeded the carrying capacity of the entire area, both on land and in the waters, which is 366,108 visitors per year, or based on a 2022 study, 378,870 visitors per year. This total value of visitors consistent with the carrying capacity is the cumulative value of the tourist carrying capacity and capacity for the major islands and marine areas. The carrying capacity for Komodo Island in 2018 was 187,245 people per year, for Rinca Island 44,165 people, and for Padar Island 17,885 people. Meanwhile, the carrying capacity and tourist capacity for the waters at 23 dive sites is 116,813 visitors per person. “The increase in visitor numbers has a significant impact on regional economic growth, but on the other hand, it exerts considerable pressure on the ecology,” she stated. She added that high human activity intensity can cause demographic changes and a decline in the vigilance response behaviour of Komodo dragons. In the marine areas, there has been degradation in coral reef health. Furthermore, a sudden surge in visitors without comprehensive destination management in terms of management and policy aspects leads to overcrowding in the Komodo National Park area. The Komodo National Park Authority stated that although a quota has been set, they predict that the number of tourist visits in 2026 will at least match that of 2025, even with policies regulating visits based on carrying capacity and tourist capacity.