The Ministry Of Tourism And Creative Economy For Labuan Bajo To Be A Super Priority Tourism Destination During Christmas And New Year Holidays

JAKARTA - In an effort to support economic revival and the opening of employment opportunities, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) will make maximum efforts to increase tourist visits during the 2022 Christmas and New Year 2023 (Nataru) holidays to various Indonesian destinations, including Labuan Bajo as one of the super priority tourism destinations (DPSP).

"We will optimize tourist visits during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Labuan Bajo can be one of the destinations for tourism destinations for #DiIndonesiaAja. We guarantee that there will be no increase in tariffs (entering the Komodo National Park) and of course we will prioritize security and comfort for tourists," said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno in his written statement, Tuesday, December 20.

With the various tourist attractions and the creative economy owned by Labuan Bajo, as well as the government's development and arrangement of the Labuan Bajo area, it is hoped that it will further strengthen the interest of tourist visits to these favorite destinations.

As of November, the number of domestic tourist visits to Labuan Bajo has reached 155,712 tourists. This figure shows a significant increase compared to the previous year.

This year, the arrangement of the inner area of Labuan Bajo City has been completed, with areas open to the public, such as the marine watersfront area, the city's inner pedestrian area, and iconic buildings that add to the beautiful face of the city of Labuan Bajo.

The addition of new attractions was also driven by the holding of various national-scale events born from local ideas.

Various promotions were also carried out for the Labuan Bajo membraneing as MICE destinations. "We will continue to strive to increase tourist visits to Labuan Bajo," said Sandiaga.

Moreover, with the cancellation of the Komodo TN tariff increase of IDR 3.7 million, it will increase tourist interest.

Nevertheless, Sandiaga said, conservation efforts to preserve biological natural resources and their ecosystems in the Komodo National Park will still be of great concern.

"We really appreciate the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government for officially revoking the NTT Governor Regulation number 85 of 2022 and of course this will be reviewed for conservation, because we want to ensure carrying capacity and maintain long-term sustainability which will be the main priority of tourism policies in Labuan Bajo," he said.

Meanwhile, the President Director of the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Agency (BPOLBF), guided Fatina, said that tourist interest in visiting Labuan Bajo had increased.

"Many prospective tourists initially refused to visit, then now they have confirmed their trip to Labuan Bajo. Friends of the operators (tourism) are also easier to get certainty, especially for travel next year," said

To ensure the carrying capacity at the Komodo National Park, said komodo, there will be two ways to do it. First, the implementation of a queue system to minimize the accumulation of tourists at the Komodo National Park destination location.

Later, this will be integrated with the harbormaster, as well as ship operators as the main mode of transportation to mobilize tourists to Komodo National Park destinations.

"Secondly, we know that Labuan Bajo has prepared with his new face, starting from waterfronts, pedestrians, and iconic buildings that can be alternative destinations, including places to eat, restaurants, which areas can also be a waiting room for tourists," he added.

Especially during the Nataru holiday, InJourney (BUMN holdings engaged in aviation and tourism) will hold a year-end concert at the watersfront, which is targeted to be closed at the end of the year in Labuan Bajo.

"In addition, there are many more year-end activity offerings from each hotel spread along the West Coast of Flores Island, which can be an option for colleagues when visiting Labuan Bajo to spend the end of the year," concluded