East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Tourism and Creative Economy, Zeth Sony Libing, said the new entrance fee of IDR 3.75 million on Padar and Komodo Island will remain in effect from January 1, 2023.
“There is no influence on a letter from the Environment and Forestry Minister asking the East Nusa Tenggara Government to review a number of articles in the East Nusa Tenggara Governor’s regulation regarding the management of the Komodo National Park area,” said Zeth Sony Libing, in Kupang on Friday, November 18, 2022.
The letter also does not contain an order from the minister to end the application of entrance fee, Libing said. Therefore, the new entrance fee on access to Komodo dragon habitat remains in effect.
The minister’s letter refers to a memorandum of understanding between the Director General of Conservation of Natural Resources Ecosystems of the Environment and Forestry Ministry and the East Nusa Tenggara Government on cooperation in strengthening protected areas and protecting biological natural resources and their ecosystem sustainable way in Komodo National Park.
Some Articles of The NTT Governor’s Regulation Will Be Reviewed
According to him, some articles of the NTT governor’s regulation will certainly be reviewed and amended soon, but this will not cancel the IDR 3.75 million issued by the NTT government.
The Governor Order of NTT No. 85 of 2022 of 28 July 2022 states in article 9 that non-contributing tourists shall be prohibited from entering the waters surrounding Komodo and Padar Islands and the surrounding sea area of 712.12 square meters.
According to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, this clause in the letter signed by Minister Sitinuvaya is highly inconsistent with legislation. According to the government number 12 of 2014, while using the PNBP ticket pay, the general public or tourists are free to use or enter the KPA area.
In fact, according to the Minister of Environment and Forestry, there is no single legal instrument in the Minister of Environment and Forestry regulation that requires donations from the public and prohibits the public from accessing or using them for natural recreational purposes as stated in the NTT Governor Regulation.
“Basically, the NTT government will revise some provisions of the NTT Governor’s Regulations, but the charges will continue to apply as previously set,” said Zeth Sony Libing.
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The Entrance Fee to Komodo Island Met with Protests from Locals
Plans to increase entrance fees to Komodo Island and surrounding areas have met with protests from local residents who depend on the tourism sector for their livelihoods. The increase in ticket prices from IDR 50,000 to IDR 3.75 million is expected to reduce tourist interest in visiting and affect their income as well.
“Women especially protested strongly. The situation in our village yesterday was rumbling and heated”, said Ramang, a souvenir trader on Komodo Island.
The government said the tariff hike is to support conservation efforts. Last July, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, said that determining the fee figure is the total maintenance cost based on the value of ecosystem services for one year.
The ticket fee charged to tourists is also included in the offering of souvenirs made by communities around Komodo Island.
“This policy will be able to attract more tourists who appreciate environmental protection efforts and participate in building other destinations in East Nusa Tenggara as a major tourist destination,” said Sandiaga Uno.
