"We want tourists to have a sense of belonging to the islands' conservation, ecosystem sustainability, and the komodo's conservation. Komodo is unique, and we need to take care of them, and tourists must also participate (to preserve the Komodo species)," East Nusa Tenggara's Tourism and Creative Economy Office Head, Sony Z. Libing, noted here, Thursday.
The entry fee of Rp3.75 million was decided by the provincial government following research conducted by the Bogor Agricultural University and University of Indonesia researchers invited by the provincial authority to assess the two islands' capability, he stated.
The new tariff will be applied from August 1, he remarked while ensuring that travel agencies that had received payment for tourism services until December 2022 could continue to serve tourists with the old tariff.
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The official explained that the government will conduct further research on the komodo's ecosystem characteristics and food to bolster conservation efforts for the species.
The government will also organize training and provide guidance to improve the residents' economy and develop residents-based tourism, he added.
Libing stated that the authority will enhance security monitoring and coordination with relevant authorities to address the recurrence of illegal hunting, coral reef damage, and forest fires that disrupt the komodo habitat's ecosystem.
"The government will also improve waste management in the region and regulate tourism travel management," the office head noted.
He made assurance that the high fee would not negatively impact the residents' livelihood, as revenues from the entry fee, apart from increasing the non-tax state revenue and original regional revenue, would also be utilized in keeping with the residents' interests and for paying for promotional campaigns.
Through the enforcement of the new entry fee, the government and tourists have a collective role in maintaining the komodo's ecosystem, Libing added.
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Translator: Fransiska MN, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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