Tourism Organization In Labuan Bajo Has Agreed To Reject The Increase In Komodo Island Ticket Prices

Visitors saw a Komodo dragon on Komodo Island, West Manggaraj, NTT, some time ago (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - A total of 13 tourism organizations in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) agreed to refuse an increase in ticket prices to Komodo Island.

Deputy Chairperson of the NTT Indonesian Travel Agents Association (Astindo) DPD Robert Waka said the 13 tourism organizations included the Association of Indonesian Travel Companies (ASITA), the Tourism Ship Association (Askawi), the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI).

"In addition, there is also the Indonesian Tourism Pre-Tourism Association (HPI), the Land Tourism Transportation Association (Awstar), the Tourism Rescue Community Forum (Formapp), Astindo, Indonesian Tourism Personnel (IPI), the Komodo Community Operators Dive (DOK), the Recreation Ship Network (Janggar), the Labuan Bajo Entrepreneurs Front (BPLB) and the Association of Unitas Business Groups (Akunity)," explained Robert Waka, Friday, July 8, quoted from Antara.

Robert said that he had submitted a statement of attitude from a number of tourism tourism organizations to the Head of the Sony Libing NTT Tourism Office. The hope is that the NTT Provincial Government can consider an increase in the price of entrance tickets to Komodo National Park (TN) to Rp3.75 million per person.

According to them, the increase in ticket prices to Komodo Island will only be reached by the upper middle and upper markets. There has not even been a survey related to the number of segments.

According to them, the increase in ticket prices will have an impact on reducing the number of tourist visits and even worse is the cancellation of bookings by prospective travel agents in the area.

In the statement of attitude, they also considered that there was no assessment which indicated that an increase in the number of tourist visits had an impact on reducing the number of Komodo populations.

In fact, Robert continued as of March 2, 2022, the Komodo National Park Office (BTN) has released that the Komodo population has always increased from 2018-2021.

"In addition, the Komodo Island tourist utilization zone is 1.3 percent of the total area of Komodo Island, 1,300 hectares," he added.

Based on data, the number of Komodo dragons in the tourist utilization zone of Komodo Island is in the range of 60-70 from 1,700 Komodo's population on the island, while the majority of Komodo live in the core zone.

Even a maximum of dozens of tail that are usually found when tourists are trekking in the tourist utilization zone.

He added that research related to Komodo's behavior was carried out in 2018. Based on this research, feeding activities are prohibited.

"However, from 2018-2022 there will be no new research related to Komodo's behavior. This means that the results of research in 2018 will not become valid arguments as a basis for policy to increase ticket prices," he added.

Robert also added that the government itself imposes different conservation policies on the same tourist attraction. The same Komodo can be seen by tourists on Rinca Island, but on Komodo Island only a few people can see, because it is not as friendly as Rinca.

Oleh karena itu, mereka mendesak pemerintah NTT dan kabupaten Manggarai Barat untuk menolak pernyataannya yang menyatakan mendukung penerapan kebijakan kenaikan tersebut karena alasan konservasi.