Sandiaga Uno on Pricey Fee to Komodo Island: 'Rinca Island is the Alternative for It'
Translator
Editor
26 July 2022 13:14 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said there is an alternative place to see Komodo dragons with cheaper ticket prices, which is Rinca Island. He made the statement in response to various criticisms regarding the hike in the ticket price to Komodo Island and Padar Island at Rp3.75 million per tourist.
“As quoted from President Joko Widodo's statement in a working visit to Labuan Bajo, komodo dragons on Rinca Island are the same as in Komodo Island. Their faces are the same, the body is the same, and the size is the same,” said Sandiaga in a statement quoted on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.
The plan to increase the ticket fee to Komodo National Park (TNK) to Rp3.75 million also applies to islands declared as conservation areas, namely Komodo Island and Padar Island. Meanwhile, Rinca Island's ticket fee is kept at Rp50,000 for local tourists, excluded a tour guide.
Sandiaga explained that Rinca Island is also the largest habitat for the world's largest lizard besides Komodo Island.
“But if tourists want to visit Komodo Island to see Komodo dragons whose the same face (as in Rinca), they will be asked to contribute more for conservation,” the minister underlined.
The ticket hike, he went on, was aimed at preserving the environment and population of the endemic animals in the National Park. Besides, the government planned to limit the number of visitors.
The Komodo National Park has 142 islands. “There are many other destinations that can be visited in Labuan Bajo, such as the Kampung Ujung Waterfront area, Labuan Bajo Marina, Batu Cermin Cave, Waecicu Beach, Rangko Cave, and others,” Sandiaga Uno outlined.
The Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (Astindo) in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, urged President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to cancel the planned increase in ticket prices for Komodo Island and Padar Island as it would disrupt the tourism climate.
“We also ask President Jokowi to issue a presidential decree or government regulation in which states that the management of Komodo National Park is not handed over to third parties,” said Astindo chairman Ignasius Suradin in Labuan Bajo, Thursday, July 21.
ANTARA
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo in Google News
