Visitor Restrictions Strengthen Komodo National Park as a World-Class Destination
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Tourism Expert Council of BA Center, Taufan Rahmadi, states that the policy of limiting visits to Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara is appropriate and can propel it to become a world-class destination.
“Visitor restrictions do not immediately damage the image of Komodo National Park. On the contrary, if designed and communicated properly, this policy can strengthen Komodo’s positioning as a world-class destination that prioritises quality and sustainability,” Taufan said when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Thursday.
Taufan highlighted that the surge in visits to Komodo National Park exceeding its carrying capacity is a strong signal that Indonesian tourism is at a crossroads between preserving natural heritage and maintaining community economic sustainability.
He stated that the policy needs to be refined and precise, starting from zoning-based restrictions, visit timing arrangements, and a transparent digital system that will bring fairness as well as effectiveness.
“Komodo is not a uniform space. Each island has different characteristics and carrying capacities. Therefore, a one-size-fits-all approach has the potential to create new imbalances, both in tourist distribution and economic impacts for local actors,” he said.
In zoning-based restrictions, he said the government needs to consider the visitor capacity of each zone scientifically.
The next aspect that he believes the government should pay attention to is visit timing arrangements to avoid tourist build-ups at certain hours that could disrupt animal behaviour and reduce the quality of the tourist experience.
Meanwhile, a transparent digital system that brings fairness and effectiveness can be realised by implementing real-time visit reservations up to monitoring tourist movements.
Furthermore, from the environmental carrying capacity side, the government is expected to conduct data-based management periodically. Evaluations must be carried out continuously regarding environmental conditions and tourism pressures based on dynamic current situations.
“The key is that policy design must be adaptive, data-based, and consider the balance between conservation and the quality of the tourist experience,” said Taufan, who also serves as an expert on the National Solidarity Movement (GSN) Council.
Previously, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that the visitor quota restriction at Komodo National Park is implemented to prevent over-tourism or the arrival of tourists exceeding the conservation area’s capacity, which impacts the environment.
The restriction is a strategic step to protect Komodo National Park as a major habitat for wildlife, especially the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), which can only be found in Indonesia, and local communities.
The quota restriction focuses on three main destinations: Padar Island, Rinca Island, and Komodo Island, including 23 diving sites around them. Starting 1 April 2026, the visitor quota is set at 1,000 people per day or around 365,000 people per year.
He emphasised that the policy was not taken hastily but has gone through a long process since May 2025 through various discussions with stakeholders and business actors in Labuan Bajo.