Exorbitant Tariffs To Enter Komodo-Padar Island Have Been Postponed, It's Time For The Ministry Of Tourism And Creative Economy To Absorb Aspirations

Photo by Fransisca Zagita on Unsplash

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy continues to accommodate various inputs from tourism and creative economy actors in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), regarding the increase in the entrance ticket price for Komodo National Park by Rp3.75 million.

“This discussion plays an important role so that there is a beneficial solution for the various parties involved. We also want that conservation efforts and economic recovery efforts can be carried out in tandem," said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Sandiaga Uno, Wednesday, August 10.

Sandiaga emphasized that the planned entry ticket policy for Komodo National Park amounting to Rp3.75 million had been postponed until 2023. The postponement of the increase had been announced by the NTT Provincial Government.

"The new Padar-Komodo tariff has been postponed until the end of 2022, so it will only take effect January 1, 2023," said Sandi.

Furthermore, the postponement is considered to be in accordance with the public aspirations that have been accommodated by the government. "Now is the time for us to conduct a public discourse so that we can carry out our efforts for this (economic) revival," he said.

Deputy for Destination Development and Infrastructure of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf), Vinsensius Jemadu added that the situation in Labuan Bajo is now conducive.

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy along with the local government and related parties had a dialogue with tourism actors in Labuan Bajo on Thursday 4 August 2022 and Monday, 8 August 2022.

In the dialogue, a number of agreements were obtained regarding the postponement of the increase in the price of Komodo National Park entrance tickets until 2023.

Thus, the entrance fee for Komodo National Park still refers to Government Regulation Number 12 of 2014 concerning Types and Tariffs for Non-Tax State Revenues applicable to the Ministry of Forestry, which is around Rp. 150,000.

"The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and relevant stakeholders will also develop a mechanism and supervision of the implementation of public communication so as to minimize miscommunication in the media and the public," he said.