PHRI Calls Polemic Cost Of Visits To Komodo National Park Rp3.75 Million Just A Communication Problem

Komodo island. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Hariyadi Sukamdani revealed that the polemic of an increase in visiting fees of Rp3.75 million per person to enter the Komodo National Park (TN) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), was only a communication problem.

"Earlier, we continued (Menparekraf's explanation) about Labuan Bajo, friends, what we noticed was actually a problem of communication and socialization that was not well planned. So this we also want to straighten out that we from tourism certainly do not expect services to tourists to become disturbed," he explained after participating in the 2022 PHRI Biketour Gowes activity in Bogor City, West Java, quoted from Antara, Sunday 7 August.

Hariyadi on this occasion conveyed an apology for the protests of business actors around the Komodo National Park (TN), which also includes PRHI.

"So yesterday I also apologize if there was a bit of a riot there, where the PHRI also signed, so let's clarify what we mean, it's not like that," he said.

Hariyadi straightened out that business actors actually wanted better quality. However, there was communication and socialization regarding conservation on Komodo, Padar and Rica islands that had not been conveyed properly, resulting in protests.

"But Rica Island is a problem, it was closed yesterday. So there was communication that wasn't right. Then the waters of Komodo were also closed yesterday, which should not go to land, of course, but the waters shouldn't be a problem. coordination," he said.

The chairman of the PHRI hopes that with future coordination, the government's expectations regarding conservation as well as the desire of business actors to move the economy can work together.

"So this has actually been thought through carefully, but there was a lack of coordination in its implementation," he said.

Previously, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno ensured that there would be no cancellation or delay in the increase in the cost of visiting the Komodo National Park (TN) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) of IDR 3.75 million per person for a year.

Sandi explained that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has coordinated with the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) to follow up on better public communication through socialization and education about conservation and economic recovery efforts in Komodo Island and Labuan Bajo.

Then, he said, in accordance with President Jokowi's orders to monitor a conducive, safe, comfortable, enjoyable situation for tourists and creative economy players, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will also coordinate with the ministry of institutions and also with the local provincial and district governments.

He appealed not to let positive narratives about economic growth that have been built so far. According to the rankings released by the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021 published in May 2022, Indonesia's economy in the tourism sector has surpassed Thailand in position 32 out of 117 countries in the world.