Closure of Mount Bromo Does Not Dampen Tourist Interest

RRI.CO.ID, Batu, Malang - Safety is a key factor determining the sustainability of a tourism destination. Expert Staff for Tourism Crisis Management at the Ministry of Tourism, Fadjar Hutomo, stated on Tuesday evening, September 15, 2026, that tourist perceptions of safety influence their interest in revisiting a destination.

“Tourism is all about perception. When a nature-based tourism destination is perceived as safe to visit, tourist interest in returning remains high. Conversely, when a destination is perceived as unsafe—due to poorly managed natural disasters, frequent accidents, or crime—it becomes a barrier to sustainable tourism,” said Fadjar.

Fadjar cited the example of Mount Bromo National Park in East Java, which had previously been closed due to forest and land fires. Despite this, he noted that the situation did not dampen tourist interest, as Bromo was still perceived as a safe destination to visit.

“Tourists have a high level of awareness regarding the preservation of Bromo. Even though it experienced forest and land fires, tourists still perceived Bromo as safe to visit,” Fadjar conveyed during the *Ngobrolin Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif* (Ngoprek) forum—a discussion on tourism and the creative economy—organized by the Tourism and Creative Economy Journalists Forum (Forwaparekraf) at Wisata Party, Batu City, East Java.

According to a release received by RRI Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday, September 16th 2026, the "Ngoprek" event, initiated by Forwaparekraf, featured the theme "Safety Tourism, Sustainable Future: Building Safe, Educational, and Sustainable Tourism." The event hosted speakers Rio Imam Sendjojo (Director of Jawa Timur Park Group), Suryo Widodo (Director of Jawa Timur Park 3), and Titik S. Ariyanto (Marketing & PR Manager of Jawa Timur Park Group).

Fadjar Hutomo noted that tourism is driven by perception; when a nature tourism destination is perceived as safe, tourist interest in revisiting remains high. Conversely, if a destination is perceived as unsafe—due to poorly managed natural disasters, frequent accidents, or crime—it creates a significant barrier to sustainable tourism.

"Safety is a crucial aspect. The Minister of Tourism has designated tourism safety as a priority program. Ultimately, tourism is not only about beauty but also about safety," Fadjar Hutomo said. He emphasized that safety, comfort, and nature conservation are the primary focuses in developing high-quality, sustainable nature tourism at Mount Bromo National Park.

The Ministry of Tourism identifies human negligence such as using flares for pre-wedding photos, carelessly discarding cigarette butts in savanna areas, and failing to properly extinguish campfire as frequent causes of fires. Additionally, natural factors during the dry season—specifically extreme heat combined with strong winds can cause small sparks to spread rapidly and intensify, igniting the dry savanna and making the fire difficult to control.

The Ministry of Tourism calls upon all relevant parties to maintain a high level of vigilance and strict oversight regarding the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the public and tourists. "The Ministry collaborates with the media to educate tourists, aiming to foster a positive perception of tourism destinations," said Fadjar Hutomo.

Director of the Jatim Park Group, Rio Imam Sendjojonoted conveyed that the group—a tourism destination combining education, recreational entertainment, and conservation—has now reached its 25th anniversary. Following the development of Jatim Park 1, 2, and 3, the group is set to open the Mega Science Center and Cultural educational attraction this September.

"The attraction serves as a learning space where schoolchildren can study science—including chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics—as well as culture; it also features an area with robots capable of performing and mimicking human behavior," he said. At the same event, Suryo Widodo, Director of Jatim Park 3, emphasized that Batu City—surrounded by mountains such as Mount Bromo, Mount Arjuna, and Mount Welirang—has historically remained safe from the impacts of volcanic eruptions and flash floods.