Komodo, the largest lizards live in the present, resides in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). (Image via CNN Indonesia)

Indonesia to close Komodo Island in 2020

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Social & Life
Travel
Aug 27, 2019
2312
NTT - Indonesian Government determined to close Komodo Island for a year, starting in January 2020. Komodo Island is located in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Province, between Sumbawa and Flores Island. It is home to the biggest lizards in the world, as a part of conservation areas of Komodo National Park, and also one of the most well-known tourist destinations in Indonesia.

In 2018, more than 176,000 tourists came to see the Komodo. Komodo is the only tourist attraction there.

The head of the Tourism Agency of NTT, Wayan Darmawa, confirmed the issue. Furthermore, he stated that the Ministry of Environment & Forestry, NTT provincial administration, and the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo had agreed to the matter beforehand.

“It is definite. The closure of Komodo Island is starting next year,” said Darmawa at a press conference.

Darmawa further explained that the action was important to protect and conserve the remaining population of Komodo on the island. Comparing the status of Komodo Island to Padar Island, Darmawa asserted that the Indonesian government would not want to make the same mistake.

Komodo National Park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, consisting of 3 major islands: Komodo, Padar, and Rinca. Padar Island used to be as populated as Komodo Island in 1980s-1990s. However, the population is gradually decreasing due to forest fire and poaching.

“Padar Island used to be home for Komodo Dragons. But, they went extinct. We need to revitalize Komodo Island so that it will not bear the same fate as Padar Island,” said Darmawa.

The revitalization aims to upgrade the island to a first-class tourist destination. The charge aims to be raised to at least Rp 7 million for a tourist, compared to its former charge at Rp 140,000 per tourist.

As the Komodo sees this as a plan, the people on the land see this as a threat. The plan sees that about 2,000 people had to go from the island. They are not having it. Settling on the island since a long time ago, the residents of Komodo Island cried out that they had lost their land for the conservation. In exchange, the locals had to rely on tourism to support their income.

The local environment activists called the government for more humane revitalization efforts of Komodo Island, without having to leave the people behind. They also struggle for the fate and opportunity for residents should the Island reopen once more.

Source: https://www.voaindonesia.com/a/pemerintah-rencanakan-tutup-pulau-komodo-untuk-publik-selama-setahun/5057728.html

ASEAN , Indonesia , Travel , Tourism , NTT , Komodo , Biodiversity