Temporary Closure Planned for Komodo National Park in 2025

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Komodo National Park Office (BTNK) in West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), is mulling over a plan for regular, temporary closures of the park in 2025. This initiative aims to reduce the pressure in the park, minimize the negative impact of tourist activities, and revive alternative tourist destinations surrounding the park area.

Hendrikus Rani Siga, Head of BTNK, emphasized that the closure plan is currently under informal discussion. “The concept is that if we close the park for a day, tourists will hopefully explore attractions outside the KNP. This could potentially encourage them to extend their stay in Labuan Bajo,” he explained in Labuan Bajo on July 15, 2024.

Scientific Backing

Hendrikus stressed that scientific studies will precede any implementation of temporary closures. These studies will focus on the park's carrying capacity, determining the optimal number of visitors that can balance environmental conservation with the needs of the tourism industry.

On closure days, he went on, tourist packages would be designed to focus on attractions outside the park. He expected improved management and organization of these alternative destinations to enhance the tourist experience.

The Center for Tourism Studies at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), with the support of BPOLBF, is already conducting a study to determine the KNP's carrying capacity. This research is critical for ensuring the park's long-term sustainability, especially considering the significant rise in tourist arrivals. 

In 2023, the Komodo National Park welcomed 300,488 visitors, a substantial increase compared to 170,354 in the previous year.

SiOra App

The Komodo National Park Office (BTNK) is also developing an application called SiOra to monitor visitor numbers within the park. This app will offer functionalities, such as ticket booking for various KNP destinations, and provide valuable tourist information.

“This app allows us to track visitation numbers across various destinations. This data will serve as a baseline, and the app will be further developed to control access. If the maximum number of visitors is reached on a particular day, the park will be temporarily closed,” Hendrikus remarked.

Regional Government's Support

The West Manggarai Tourism, Creative Economy, and Culture Agency (Disparekrafbud) wholeheartedly supported the discourse on temporary closures for the sake of conservation and long-term sustainability.

“The temporary closures can also have a positive impact by encouraging tourists to explore destinations beyond the KNP, fostering a more balanced distribution of visitors and benefiting local villages,” stated Stefan Jemsifori, Head of Disparekrafbud, in Labuan Bajo.

Komodo National Park, encompassing 173,300 hectares of land and sea, boasts five main islands: Komodo Island, Padar Island, Rinca Island, Gili Motang, Nusa Kode, and numerous smaller islands. This treasured national park is a haven for diverse wildlife, including the iconic Komodo dragon. 

ANTARA

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