Tourism Actors in Labuan Bajo Concerned Over Potential Tourist Cancellations Due to Increased Komodo National Park Ticket Prices
Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara – Tourism actors in Labuan Bajo are expressing their concerns over the potential impact of increased ticket prices to Komodo National Park (KNP) on tourist visits. The manager of Nusa Flores Wisata, Robert Waka, shared his worries about the possible cancellation of visits by tourists due to the price hike.
With around 80 guests expected to visit in August, Robert emphasized the need for the government to reconsider the discourse, highlighting the importance of KNP as both a conservation area and a tourist destination. He stressed that any policy changes in the area would have implications on various sectors, including tourism, economy, and business.
The proposed increase in ticket prices, according to Robert, did not involve a joint study among stakeholders, raising concerns about its impact on tourist interest in Labuan Bajo and KNP. Ignasius Suradin, chairman of the Indonesian Travel Agent Association (Astindo) in Labuan Bajo, echoed similar sentiments, noting that the local economy had not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suradin emphasized the need for policies that support economic recovery and increased tourist visits, pointing out that the price hike contradicted the government’s efforts to boost the national economy. The potential consequences of the increased ticket prices, including pending or canceled tour bookings, could further strain the economic conditions of tourism stakeholders and the local community in Labuan Bajo.
As the tourism industry in Labuan Bajo strives to recover from the pandemic, stakeholders are calling for a balanced approach that considers the interests of all sectors involved in KNP. The ongoing discourse on ticket prices highlights the challenges faced by tourism actors in navigating the delicate balance between conservation efforts and economic sustainability.