Because Tariffs Rise To IDR 3.7 Million, Tourists Strike Up To Tourists Canceling Their Trip To Komodo National Park

KUPANG - Chairman of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Indonesian Travel Association (Asita) Abed Frans said tourists chose to cancel visits to the Komodo National Plant (TN) due to a strike by tourist actors in Labuan Bajo.

"There have been many cancellations of tourist visits to be served by friends of tour operators, including my group," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, August 1.

This condition is related to the impact of the strike on tourist activities in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, as a form of protest against the implementation of the new tariff for visits to Komodo National Park amounting to IDR 3.7 million.

Abed said the strike caused losses for tourism actors because tourists who had booked tour packages to Komodo National Park had to be cancelled.

His party did not agree with the rapid implementation of the increase in the entrance fee to the Komodo National Park. But on the other hand, they also do not approve of the protest action by means of a strike carried out by tourism actors in Labuan Bajo.

"This action is actually making it difficult for us, for tourists, other business actors such as hotels, restaurants, transportation, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and others," he said.

According to him, this condition is indeed difficult, but it takes patience from tourism actors in dealing with this new tariff policy.

Abed encouraged tourism actors in Labuan Bajo to have a dialogue with the Governor of NTT directly to have a good discussion.

"So it must be discussed carefully and not with high emotions, especially anarchists," he said.

If the joint dialogue approach does not change anything, then we just have to wait for the results of the policy in the next month.

"Let time prove which one is the best. After all, back then, when the Komodo dragon was not as famous as it is now and got a lot of tourist visits, we were still alive," he said.