DPR Urges Padar Island Project To Stop: Threatening Labuan Bajo Tourism
Member of Commission VII DPR RI, Emperor Abu Hanifah, urged the government to stop large-scale tourism projects on Padar Island, Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), because they were considered to be threatening the preservation of nature and main attraction of Labuan Bajo tourism. Moreover, this project also received rejection from various circles of society.
"Tourism development cannot only be oriented towards economic benefits alone. There must be principles of environmental sustainability and cultural conservation," the Emperor told reporters, Friday, August 8.
"If on Padar Island a tourism project is built that destroys the natural beauty, then the project must be stopped. Do not let it be for economic reasons, instead we sacrifice the charm of nature which is the main attraction," he said.
Based on information, the project includes the construction of 619 facility units. Consisting of 448 villas as well as various other facilities such as restaurants, gyms, spas, wedding chapels, and other supporting facilities.
According to the Emperor, this development scale will change the natural landscape of Padar Island, which has been known as an NTT tourist icon, and even enshrined in the 2016 edition of the Rp50,000 denomination.
The PKB legislator from the DIY electoral district emphasized that Padar Island is famous for its view of green hills combined with blue seas, as well as climbing spots that serve three bay panoramas with white, black, and pink beach sand.
"Imagine if this enchanting beauty is replaced by hundreds of villas and other buildings. Natural authenticity will disappear, and ultimately kill the potential tourism of the region. A beautiful ecosystem should not be sacrificed for projects that ignore environmental sustainability," said the Emperor.
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He also reminded that Padar Island is an important habitat for Komodo dragons. Therefore, large-scale development is feared to expel endemic animals from their natural environment.
The Komodo ecosystem, which has been well maintained so far, will be threatened if this development is still forced. Once their habitat is disrupted, we are at risk of losing the Komodo dragon from Padar Island," he concluded.