Labuan Bajo Promotes Mainland Tourism Amid Komodo Visitor Limits

RRI.CO.ID, Labuan Bajo - Travelers unable to secure a spot within the restricted gates of Komodo National Park in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) are being encouraged to explore the hidden gems of mainland Flores, as authorities solidify a new quota-based entry system to protect the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Following the formal implementation of visitor limits earlier this year, the Komodo National Park Center (BTN Komodo) is pivoting its strategy to promote "terrestrial tourism" as a viable and equally stunning alternative for those caught in the backlog of the park’s new digital booking queue. The initiative aims to alleviate pressure on the sensitive island ecosystems while ensuring the local tourism economy remains vibrant.

Coordinator of Public Relations, Cooperation, and Licensing at the Komodo National Park Office, Maria Rosdalima Panggur, noted that the region offers much more than just its famous lizards.

"If visitors are already in Labuan Bajo, they can travel to other destinations in Labuan Bajo and its surroundings while waiting for their scheduled visit to Komodo National Park," Maria said from Kupang on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The push for mainland exploration comes as BTN Komodo reinforces a strict daily limit on visitors, a policy born from extensive ecological studies on carrying capacity. Maria emphasized that the mainland of West Manggarai boasts scenic landscapes and cultural sites that rival the beauty of the national park’s waters.

To avoid travel disruptions, authorities are urging agencies to be more proactive in their communications. "We hope that tourism business actors can convey to potential visitors to book tourism activity tickets well in advance by ensuring the availability of quotas on the day of the visit," Maria added.

She further advised that tourists must remain "aware" and constantly update themselves on their destination info to avoid the disappointment of being turned away. The transition to this regulated system has been a year-long journey.

"The initiation of visit management based on tourism carrying capacity and capacity started in May 2025," she said.

This was followed by a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with various stakeholders, including leisure trip associations like Association of The Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) and Indonesian Tourist Guide Association (HPI) in June 2025, marine tourism groups such as DOCK and Gahawisri in July, and transport providers in late July.

The current framework was chosen because it was designed to be practical yet protective. Maria explained that the selected scheme at least has an optimal positive impact on the environment, but does not significantly disrupt current economic and social conditions.

After the policy was officially announced on February 4, 2026, a massive evaluation was held a week later involving government agencies and association members. While the system is now active, BTN Komodo admits the transition is a work in progress.

"However, with other dynamics that continue to develop, it will be a special attention for BTN Komodo," Maria added, noting that the office remains open to discussions to refine the policy. ***