"Currently the Komodo National Park is crowded with visitors because of the long holidays,"
Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Many tourists mostly foreign tourists have visited the Komodo National Park, an island in East Nusatenggara, special for its ancient Komodo dragon.

The number of domestic tourists also grew spending some time of the long holidays ahead and during Ied ul Fitr, to see the giant lizard not found in other place in the world.

"Currently the Komodo National Park is crowded with visitors because of the long holidays," Budi Kurniawan, head of the National Park said on Monday.

Budi said since early June, 2018, more tourists mainly foreign tourists have visited the island , now one of the world`s seven wonders of nature.

Normally more tourists visit the island until the high season in August, he said.

"In long holidays there are always more visitors especially foreign tourists to visit the island," he said.

It is not rare that tour operators reject demand for their service because of limited availability of vessels for transport to that island, he said.

"All vessels available in that area have been rented by other groups of tourists," Budi said.

Based on data at the Komodo National Park, 45,630 tourists mostly foreign tourists visited the island, which is one of the country`s 10 main tourist destination areas, in the first four months of the year.

Foreign tourists made up 27,550 of the total number of visitors with domestic visitors 17,640.

The number of visitors rose significantly from 38,147 in the same period in 2017.

"Normally the number of tourists was higher in June until peak season in August," Budi said. (AS)


Reporter: Aloysius Lewokeda
Editor: Bambang Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018