Labuan Bajo Tourism Resumes as Govt Calls for Caution

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Following an earthquake that shook several areas in Flores, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara has resumed normal tourism activities.

Although the government continues to urge tourists and business operators to prioritize safety amid ongoing aftershocks, various destinations, transport links, and tourism facilities in Labuan Bajo remain operational.

The government, through the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority, is monitoring tourism facilities to ensure safety.

“Labuan Bajo remains open to tourists, and tourism activities are generally proceeding as usual. However, we continue to ask all tourists and tourism stakeholders to prioritize safety and follow all directives from relevant authorities, as aftershocks are still occurring,” said Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana in an official statement confirmed in Jakarta on Sunday, August 23, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Based on monitoring by the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority as of Saturday, August 22 at 7 p.m. local time, Komodo National Park remains open, and tourism activities as well as boat trips to the area are proceeding normally.

Tourism activities at Rangko Cave are also running as usual, with facilities and infrastructure declared safe. Compang Liang Ndara Tourism Village reopened on Saturday, August 22, while Wae Lolos Tourism Village continues to welcome visitors.

Komodo International Airport and the ports of Labuan Bajo are operating normally, with no reported route deviations or requests for changes.

Current advisories concern the potential for high waves and strong winds in the waters south of the Sape Strait. As a result, weather conditions and navigational safety remain key considerations for marine tourism activities in the Labuan Bajo area.

To help tourists obtain up-to-date information, the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority operates an information service that responds to inquiries about destination conditions and travel safety following the earthquake.

While tourism activities in Labuan Bajo are gradually returning to normal, the government emphasizes that this does not necessarily reflect conditions throughout the Flores region. Several other areas still require further attention and safety assessments.

“Conditions vary by region. Therefore, we urge tourists planning to travel from Labuan Bajo to other parts of Flores to consistently check the latest information regarding the status of destinations, roads, airports, and telecommunication services,” Minister Widiyanti said.

As of Saturday, August 22, several major land routes in Flores had reopened, while repairs were still underway on others.

Meanwhile, the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority recorded thousands of aftershocks in the days following the main earthquake in Flores. The government advises tourists to remain calm and vigilant and to rely on official information when planning their travels.

Minister Widiyanti said the tourism sector’s recovery must go hand in hand with the recovery of communities affected by the earthquake across Flores. Resuming tourism activities in Labuan Bajo is key to restoring the destination and supporting post-disaster economic and community recovery. ***