Tourism Actors Strike Due To Tariffs Rising To IDR 3.7 Million, NTT Governor Viktor Laiskodat Talks About Conservation Of Komodo Island

NTT Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat (fourth from right) while giving a statement to reporters related to the polemic of increasing entry fees to Komodo Island, Monday. (ANTARA/Benny Jahang)

KUPANG - The Provincial Government of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has intensively carried out socialization related to the purpose of setting an entrance fee to Komodo and Padar Islands, West Manggarai Regency, amounting to Rp.3.75 million, including efforts to maintain conservation in the two tourist destinations.

"Based on the decision of the Muspida meeting and the Chair of the NTT Provincial DPRD that socialization activities about the importance of conservation on the two islands are getting more serious, so that the public fully understands the purpose of increasing the entrance fee to Komodo Island and Padar Island which has been set by the NTT government of Rp3.75. million, including efforts to maintain conservation by the NTT Regional Government, for those two areas," said Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat in Kupang, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, August 1.

This statement was conveyed by Viktor Laiskodat in response to the polemic of increasing entry fees to Komodo Island and Padar Island which triggered the blocking of tourist facilities in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency.

According to him, socialization about the importance of maintaining conservation on Komodo and Padar Islands, so far has not been intensively carried out by the NTT Government before the entry tariff for Komodo Island was imposed on August 1, 2022.

Therefore, continued Viktor, the socialization carried out by the NTT Government was more focused on the purpose of conserving the Komodo and Padar Island tourist areas which were limited areas for tourists to visit.

"We are aware that socialization prior to setting tariffs for entry to Komodo Island has been lacking so far, so that in the future we will be more serious in conducting socialization," said Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat accompanied by members of the NTT Provincial Muspida.

The socialization carried out according to him is also more focused on efforts to maintain the conservation areas of Komodo Island and Padar Island on how to limit the number of tourist visits including the entrance fee for tourists visiting the two tourist areas which has been set at Rp3.75 million.

"Conservation efforts are being carried out on how to maintain the ecosystem in the Komodo and Padar Island areas so that they can be maintained properly through limiting tourist visits," said the Governor of NTT.

In addition, Viktor continued, conservation efforts were carried out to protect Komodo Island from various unlawful acts such as the rampant fish bombings that could have an impact on the damage to marine parks and the theft of Komodo food.

According to him, if there is no effort to maintain the conservation of the natural beauty of the sea around Komodo Island and Padar Island, then one day the beauty will be lost so that conservation is very important to do in the two tourist areas on the western tip of Flores Island.

Therefore, the NTT Provincial Government continues to impose an entry fee to Komodo Island and Padar Island of Rp3.75 million starting August 1, 2022.

"The entry fee for Komodo and Padar islands of IDR 3.75 million will still be implemented starting today. The entrance fee will still be applied and socialization will continue," said Viktor Laiskodat.