UNESCO Asks Indonesia To Stop Projects In Komodo National Park, Sandiaga Uno Guarantees Ecosystem Development Prioritizes

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said the development of the Komodo National Park in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) would consider an environmental impact analysis or Amdal.

The statement was in response to a letter from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee asking the government to stop the existing project in Komodo National Park. This is because the project is considered to have an impact on extraordinary universal value or outstanding universal value until the Amdal.

Furthermore, Sandiaga guarantees that projects, especially infrastructure in the tourist area, will prioritize the continuation of the Komodo dragon ecosystem.

"In the end, this goal will also direct us to the Komodo National Park, which is managed with utmost care. For biodiversity, so that the ecosystem is not disturbed," he said in a weekly press briefing, Monday, August 2.

Sandiaga said, in the future there will also be preparation of a travel pattern that develops other sides of Labuan Bajo as a super priority destination. So there will be several destinations that will later be aimed at more tourist visits.

"Meanwhile, specifically in this very, very limited area, the visits are based on ecotourism," he explained.

The former deputy governor of DKI Jakarta said his ministry would coordinate with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry regarding the evaluation of the AMDAL for the Komodo National Park development project.

Furthermore, he said he would hold a meeting with UNESCO to follow up on the letter requesting the temporary termination of the project. Because, according to him, there is a slight difference in information from UNESCO's letter that developed in the community and notes from the Committee to the government.

"Because this development may be slightly different from what we recorded in the meeting that took place at UNESCO, including the issue of outstanding universal value regarding the government's strategic plan, losses, and so on," he said.

Not only that, Sandiaga also ensured that the letter from UNESCO would not change the government's plans. Especially for the preparation of the Labuan Bajo area as the location for the implementation of the G20 international agenda in 2022.

"Labuan Bajo has been chosen as the G20 side event venue. What has been decided previously, decided at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, we must pay attention to and make it happen," he said.