In Front Of Protesters Refusing To Increase Entrance Ticket To Komodo National Park, West Manggarai Regent Invites Masses To Discuss Tomorrow

Visitors watch a number of Komodo dragons on Rinca Island, Komodo National Park Area, NTT, in December 2018. (Antara)

NTT - The government has officially increased the entrance fee to the Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to Rp3.75 million/person as of August 1st. The increase led to a number of rejections.

West Manggarai Regent Edistasius Endi also invited residents and tourism actors to have a dialogue regarding this matter tomorrow, Tuesday, July 19 at the Regent's Office. Endi's invitation was conveyed in front of residents who protested the increase in ticket prices at the West Manggarai Regent's Office, Monday, July 18.

"Tomorrow we will discuss it here. What we can be sure of, we will forward to the NTT Provincial and Central Governments to fight for what we all long for," he said.

He explained that the management of tourist attractions in the KNP area is the authority and authority of the Central Government, although administratively it is included in the West Manggarai area.

Therefore, the local government does not have the authority related to the management of the tourist zone.

Regent Edi emphasized that local governments must obey and submit to decisions from the central government as part of the framework of regional autonomy and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

The Regent invited the residents who are members of the West Manggarai Tourism Rescue Community Forum to have a dialogue and formulate joint thoughts to be brought to the province and the center.

As a regional head, he is concerned about the events experienced by tourism actors and the entire community who are directly affected by the policies that will be implemented.

However, Regent Edi made sure to continue and fight for the aspirations of the community together from the results of the dialogue.

"I hope that my friends and the local government will both fight for and guard so that what we all hope for becomes a reality," said Regent Edi.

On that occasion, Regent Edi said that regional regulations (perda) in the district must first be consulted with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

In addition, all local regulations relating to the receipt of either local taxes or levies are required to obtain a technical approval letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance prior to enactment. The West Manggarai Tourism Rescue Community Forum expressed a protest over the increase in ticket prices to several tourist points within the KNP area.According to According to them, the policy of increasing the entrance fee by Rp3.75 million per person for a period of 1 year effective August 1, 2022 is very detrimental to the people of West Manggarai in particular and NTT in general who have been living from the tourism sector. There are several important points surrounding the plan," said Chairman of the West Manggarai Tourism Rescue Community Forum, Rafael Todowela.