Experts says Komodo island against eco-based tourism
Experts have warned that allowing visitors to have close encounters with Komodo dragons would reduce reproductive fitness of the ancient lizards. ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA
LABUAN BAJO – A small seaside town known as the gateway to the land of the dragons – specifically the Komodo kind – has roared to life over the past decade, after it was first positioned as one of Indonesia's '10 New Balis' in a 2016 tourism push by the government.
Located at the western tip of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo is most famous for being the stepping stone to the famed Komodo National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site that is the largest habitat of its namesake reptile, the Komodo dragon.
But amid the buzz of a busy airport runway and waters studded with hotel boats and modern vessels, experts warn that it must avoid falling into overtourism, overdevelopment and environmental negligence – issues that affect tourist hot spot Bali.
The '10 New Balis' strategy targets specific locations such as Labuan Bajo to receive funding for infrastructure development. The aims are to alleviate overtourism in Bali and spread tourist revenue and boost regional economies within South-east Asia's most populous country .
Other locations include Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Mandalika in Lombok and Likupang in North Sulawesi.
The focus on these new areas has led to significant changes, such as the construction of an international motorcycle racing track in Mandalika that has hosted the FIM Superbike World Championship since 2021 and MotoGP Grand Prix motorcycle races since 2022.
But Labuan Bajo, which is a three-hour flight from Singapore and 2½ hours from Jakarta, stands out as it booked the largest incremental gains in terms of foreign tourist visits.
Its main attraction, the Komodo National Park, welcomed 334,206 visitors in 2024, two-thirds of whom were foreign tourists. In 2016, it saw about 100,000 visitors. Almost all tourists going to Labuan Bajo visit the Komodo National Park.
In the past decade, Labuan Bajo has seen the rise of new roads and amenities such as shopping centres, brand-name hotels and food courts, all built by the national government. Its main marina and airport have also been refurbished and revamped in the past four years, with the latter's runway being extended by 100m. Hotel operator Marriott International has built a luxury resort there and will soon be joined by another by the InterContinental Hotels Group.
In 2024, Labuan Bajo's Komodo Airport was declared an international airport, allowing the operation of direct flights to and from foreign cities. Previously, most overseas visitors would have to fly through Jakarta to get to Labuan Bajo, which is part of the West Manggarai Regency.
The national focus on developing the small fishing village has propelled Labuan Bajo on a rapid phase of development, Mr Stefanus Jemsifori , the most senior bureaucrat overseeing tourism affairs in the regency, told The Straits Times.
'Investment growth has since been growing tremendously fast, evidenced by the spawning of five-star hotels and 'pinisi' vessels offering luxury rooms on board,' he said , adding that tourism revenue has also contributed to economic growth. A pinisi vessel is a traditional Indonesian watercraft that typically carries seven to eight sails on two masts.
Puncak Waringin viewing point offers a picturesque sunset in Labuan Bajo.
ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA
According to visitor surveys in 2024, an individual foreign tourist to the town spends an average of 8 million rupiah (S$632) daily, staying an average of four to five days, while a domestic tourist spends about 2.7 million rupiah daily, spending an average of three days there.
During a visit to Labuan Bajo in early May, ST spoke to several Chinese and Singaporean tourists there.
'We get both the exercise and breathtaking scenery,' said a Singaporean man named Wilson, in his early 20s. He spoke to ST during a short visit to Labuan Bajo with his family, which included a hiking trip.
Mrs Shana Fatina, who runs a tour agency in Labuan Bajo, said the town has become popular with foreign tourists in the region.
'Singaporean tourists like to take a weekend getaway trip, staying in resorts or sailing vessels. They like shopping and enjoying food here,' said Mrs Shana, who noted that many foreign tourists in Labuan Bajo also travel there through Singapore.
While Labuan Bajo has benefited from a push to increase tourist footfall in the past decade, Professor Azril Azhari, a tourism expert from the Trisakti University in Jakarta, said that going forward there must be less emphasis on mass tourism. This is especially because the trend and behaviours for global travellers have now shifted towards ecotourism.
Prof Azril said that the '10 New Balis' strategy was developed some time ago, based on mass tourism models and a thorough evaluation of the programme has not been done. Although these models typically draw tourists and investment, there are instances where local communities do not reap these benefits .
Bali, often regarded as Indonesia's crown jewel of tourism, saw 6.33 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, an increase from 5.27 million in 2023. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, it had 6.28 million visitors in 2019. Although Bali frequently ranks as a top holiday destination, the problems of overtourism have become more apparent in recent times.
Large amounts of Bali's groundwater are channelled to hotels, pools and golf courses, leaving local residents to struggle for access to clean water. Meanwhile, its iconic padi fields are vanishing as the land is transformed into commercial or residential property.
Prof Azril warned about the risks of Labuan Bajo following in Bali's footsteps, especially when it comes to balancing conservation, development and tourism.
As Komodo National Park and its ancient lizards gain popularity, Prof Azril emphasised the need to manage both visitor numbers and interactions with the reptiles. Failing to do so could lead to stress for these endangered animals.
The Komodo National Park, welcomed 334,206 visitors in 2024, two-thirds of whom were foreign tourists.
ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA
Mrs Shana said that perhaps a no-visitor season should be implemented annually to reduce overtourism.
'Good communications with the tour operators to carry out such an endeavour must be done because many sell trip packages a year ahead,' she said.
The national government had earlier planned to limit the number of visitors to Komodo National Park to 219,000 a year to conserve the ecosystem and protect the wildlife.
It also planned to raise the price of entrance tickets to the park to 3.75 million rupiah each for international visitors starting on Aug 1, 2022, from as low as 250,000 rupiah now. B ut the plan did not proceed due to opposition by the local residents and tourism businesses, arguing that the move would reduce their income.
Labuan Bajo's natural landscapes and waters rich with marine life are precisely what will keep tourists returning.
Chinese tourist Yang Guang Li, 25, said that his final stop at Labuan Bajo was the highlight of his seven-day trip through multiple places in Indonesia, as he had the chance to encounter a reef manta ray during a diving tour.
'I was most satisfied with my Komodo National Park trip. Unfortunately, we were only brought here for one night. I still want to go back to Komodo (Labuan Bajo) ,' said Mr Yang.
Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja has been Indonesia correspondent at The Straits Times since 2008, and is based in Jakarta.
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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Labuan Bajo on Indonesia's famed Komodo island is buzzing but overtourism could hurt it
Experts have warned that allowing visitors to have close encounters with Komodo dragons would reduce reproductive fitness of the ancient lizards. ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA – A small seaside town known as the gateway to the land of the dragons – specifically the Komodo kind – has roared to life over the past decade, after it was first positioned as one of Indonesia's '10 New Balis' in a 2016 tourism push by the government. Located at the western tip of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo is most famous for being the stepping stone to the famed Komodo National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site that is the largest habitat of its namesake reptile, the Komodo dragon. But amid the buzz of a busy airport runway and waters studded with hotel boats and modern vessels, experts warn that it must avoid falling into overtourism, overdevelopment and environmental negligence – issues that affect tourist hot spot Bali. The '10 New Balis' strategy targets specific locations such as Labuan Bajo to receive funding for infrastructure development. The aims are to alleviate overtourism in Bali, and spread tourist revenue and boost regional economies within South-east Asia's most populous country . Other locations include Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Mandalika in Lombok and Likupang in North Sulawesi. The focus on these new areas has led to significant changes, such as the construction of an international motorcycle racing track in Mandalika that has hosted the FIM Superbike World Championship since 2021 and MotoGP Grand Prix motorcycle races since 2022. But Labuan Bajo, which is a three-hour flight from Singapore and 2½ hours from Jakarta, stands out as it booked the largest incremental gains in terms of foreign tourist visits. Its main attraction, Komodo National Park, welcomed 334,206 visitors in 2024, two-thirds of whom were foreign tourists. In 2016, it saw about 100,000 visitors. Almost all tourists going to Labuan Bajo visit Komodo National Park. In the past decade, Labuan Bajo has seen the rise of new roads and amenities such as shopping centres, brand-name hotels and foodcourts, all built by the national government. Its main marina and airport have also been refurbished and revamped in the past four years, with the latter's runway being extended by 100m. Hotel operator Marriott International has built a luxury resort there, and it will soon be joined by another by the InterContinental Hotels Group. In 2024, Labuan Bajo's Komodo Airport was declared an international airport, allowing the operation of direct flights to and from foreign cities. Previously, most overseas visitors would have to fly through Jakarta to get to Labuan Bajo, which is part of the West Manggarai regency. The national focus on developing the small fishing village has propelled Labuan Bajo into a rapid phase of development, Mr Stefanus Jemsifori , the most senior bureaucrat overseeing tourism affairs in the regency, told The Straits Times. 'Investment growth has since been growing tremendously fast, evidenced by the spawning of five-star hotels and 'pinisi' vessels offering luxury rooms on board,' he said , adding that tourism revenue has also contributed to economic growth. A pinisi vessel is a traditional Indonesian watercraft that typically carries seven to eight sails on two masts. Puncak Waringin viewing point offers a picturesque sunset in Labuan Bajo. ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA According to visitor surveys in 2024, an individual foreign tourist to the town spends an average of 8 million rupiah (S$632) daily, staying an average of four to five days, while a domestic tourist spends about 2.7 million rupiah daily, spending an average of three days there. During a visit to Labuan Bajo in early May, ST spoke to several Chinese and Singaporean tourists there. 'We get both the exercise and breathtaking scenery,' said a Singaporean man named Wilson, in his early 20s. He spoke to ST during a short visit to Labuan Bajo with his family, which included a hiking trip. Mrs Shana Fatina, who runs a tour agency in Labuan Bajo, said the town has become popular with foreign tourists in the region. 'Singaporean tourists like to take a weekend getaway trip, staying in resorts or sailing vessels. They like shopping and enjoying food here,' said Mrs Shana, who noted that many foreign tourists in Labuan Bajo also travel to the town through Singapore. While Labuan Bajo has benefited from a push to increase tourist footfall in the past decade, Professor Azril Azhari, a tourism expert from Trisakti University in Jakarta, said that going forward, there must be less emphasis on mass tourism. This is especially because the trend and behaviours among global travellers have now shifted towards ecotourism. Prof Azril said that the '10 New Balis' strategy was developed some time ago based on mass tourism models, and a thorough evaluation of the programme has not been done. Although these models typically draw tourists and investment, there are instances where local communities do not reap these benefits . Bali, often regarded as Indonesia's crown jewel of tourism, saw 6.33 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, an increase from 5.27 million in 2023. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, it had 6.28 million visitors in 2019. Although Bali frequently ranks as a top holiday destination, the problems of overtourism have become more apparent in recent times. Large amounts of Bali's groundwater are channelled to hotels, pools and golf courses, leaving local residents struggling for access to clean water. Meanwhile, its iconic padi fields are vanishing as the land is transformed into commercial or residential property. Prof Azril warned about the risks of Labuan Bajo following in Bali's footsteps, especially when it comes to balancing conservation, development and tourism. As Komodo National Park and its ancient lizards gain popularity, Prof Azril emphasised the need to manage both visitor numbers and interactions with the reptiles. Failing to do so could lead to stress for these endangered animals. The Komodo National Park, welcomed 334,206 visitors in 2024, two-thirds of whom were foreign tourists. ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA Mrs Shana said that perhaps a no-visitor season should be implemented annually to reduce overtourism. 'Good communications with the tour operators to carry out such an endeavour must be done because many sell trip packages a year ahead,' she said. The national government had earlier planned to limit the number of visitors to Komodo National Park to 219,000 a year to conserve the ecosystem and protect the wildlife. It had also planned to raise the price of entrance tickets to the park to 3.75 million rupiah each for international visitors starting on Aug 1, 2022, from as low as 250,000 rupiah now. B ut the plan did not proceed due to opposition from the local residents and tourism businesses, arguing that the move would reduce their income. Labuan Bajo's natural landscapes and waters rich with marine life are precisely what will keep tourists returning. Chinese tourist Yang Guang Li, 25, said that his final stop at Labuan Bajo was the highlight of his seven-day trip through multiple places in Indonesia, as he had the chance to encounter a reef manta ray during a diving tour. 'I was most satisfied with my Komodo National Park trip. Unfortunately, we were brought here for only one night. I still want to go back to Komodo (Labuan Bajo) ,' said Mr Yang. Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja has been Indonesia correspondent at The Straits Times since 2008, and is based in Jakarta. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Straits Times
Experts says Komodo island against eco-based tourism
Experts have warned that allowing visitors to have close encounters with Komodo dragons would reduce reproductive fitness of the ancient lizards. ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA LABUAN BAJO – A small seaside town known as the gateway to the land of the dragons – specifically the Komodo kind – has roared to life over the past decade, after it was first positioned as one of Indonesia's '10 New Balis' in a 2016 tourism push by the government. Located at the western tip of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo is most famous for being the stepping stone to the famed Komodo National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site that is the largest habitat of its namesake reptile, the Komodo dragon. But amid the buzz of a busy airport runway and waters studded with hotel boats and modern vessels, experts warn that it must avoid falling into overtourism, overdevelopment and environmental negligence – issues that affect tourist hot spot Bali. The '10 New Balis' strategy targets specific locations such as Labuan Bajo to receive funding for infrastructure development. The aims are to alleviate overtourism in Bali and spread tourist revenue and boost regional economies within South-east Asia's most populous country . Other locations include Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Mandalika in Lombok and Likupang in North Sulawesi. The focus on these new areas has led to significant changes, such as the construction of an international motorcycle racing track in Mandalika that has hosted the FIM Superbike World Championship since 2021 and MotoGP Grand Prix motorcycle races since 2022. But Labuan Bajo, which is a three-hour flight from Singapore and 2½ hours from Jakarta, stands out as it booked the largest incremental gains in terms of foreign tourist visits. Its main attraction, the Komodo National Park, welcomed 334,206 visitors in 2024, two-thirds of whom were foreign tourists. In 2016, it saw about 100,000 visitors. Almost all tourists going to Labuan Bajo visit the Komodo National Park. In the past decade, Labuan Bajo has seen the rise of new roads and amenities such as shopping centres, brand-name hotels and food courts, all built by the national government. Its main marina and airport have also been refurbished and revamped in the past four years, with the latter's runway being extended by 100m. Hotel operator Marriott International has built a luxury resort there and will soon be joined by another by the InterContinental Hotels Group. In 2024, Labuan Bajo's Komodo Airport was declared an international airport, allowing the operation of direct flights to and from foreign cities. Previously, most overseas visitors would have to fly through Jakarta to get to Labuan Bajo, which is part of the West Manggarai Regency. The national focus on developing the small fishing village has propelled Labuan Bajo on a rapid phase of development, Mr Stefanus Jemsifori , the most senior bureaucrat overseeing tourism affairs in the regency, told The Straits Times. 'Investment growth has since been growing tremendously fast, evidenced by the spawning of five-star hotels and 'pinisi' vessels offering luxury rooms on board,' he said , adding that tourism revenue has also contributed to economic growth. A pinisi vessel is a traditional Indonesian watercraft that typically carries seven to eight sails on two masts. Puncak Waringin viewing point offers a picturesque sunset in Labuan Bajo. ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA According to visitor surveys in 2024, an individual foreign tourist to the town spends an average of 8 million rupiah (S$632) daily, staying an average of four to five days, while a domestic tourist spends about 2.7 million rupiah daily, spending an average of three days there. During a visit to Labuan Bajo in early May, ST spoke to several Chinese and Singaporean tourists there. 'We get both the exercise and breathtaking scenery,' said a Singaporean man named Wilson, in his early 20s. He spoke to ST during a short visit to Labuan Bajo with his family, which included a hiking trip. Mrs Shana Fatina, who runs a tour agency in Labuan Bajo, said the town has become popular with foreign tourists in the region. 'Singaporean tourists like to take a weekend getaway trip, staying in resorts or sailing vessels. They like shopping and enjoying food here,' said Mrs Shana, who noted that many foreign tourists in Labuan Bajo also travel there through Singapore. While Labuan Bajo has benefited from a push to increase tourist footfall in the past decade, Professor Azril Azhari, a tourism expert from the Trisakti University in Jakarta, said that going forward there must be less emphasis on mass tourism. This is especially because the trend and behaviours for global travellers have now shifted towards ecotourism. Prof Azril said that the '10 New Balis' strategy was developed some time ago, based on mass tourism models and a thorough evaluation of the programme has not been done. Although these models typically draw tourists and investment, there are instances where local communities do not reap these benefits . Bali, often regarded as Indonesia's crown jewel of tourism, saw 6.33 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, an increase from 5.27 million in 2023. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, it had 6.28 million visitors in 2019. Although Bali frequently ranks as a top holiday destination, the problems of overtourism have become more apparent in recent times. Large amounts of Bali's groundwater are channelled to hotels, pools and golf courses, leaving local residents to struggle for access to clean water. Meanwhile, its iconic padi fields are vanishing as the land is transformed into commercial or residential property. Prof Azril warned about the risks of Labuan Bajo following in Bali's footsteps, especially when it comes to balancing conservation, development and tourism. As Komodo National Park and its ancient lizards gain popularity, Prof Azril emphasised the need to manage both visitor numbers and interactions with the reptiles. Failing to do so could lead to stress for these endangered animals. The Komodo National Park, welcomed 334,206 visitors in 2024, two-thirds of whom were foreign tourists. ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA Mrs Shana said that perhaps a no-visitor season should be implemented annually to reduce overtourism. 'Good communications with the tour operators to carry out such an endeavour must be done because many sell trip packages a year ahead,' she said. The national government had earlier planned to limit the number of visitors to Komodo National Park to 219,000 a year to conserve the ecosystem and protect the wildlife. It also planned to raise the price of entrance tickets to the park to 3.75 million rupiah each for international visitors starting on Aug 1, 2022, from as low as 250,000 rupiah now. B ut the plan did not proceed due to opposition by the local residents and tourism businesses, arguing that the move would reduce their income. Labuan Bajo's natural landscapes and waters rich with marine life are precisely what will keep tourists returning. Chinese tourist Yang Guang Li, 25, said that his final stop at Labuan Bajo was the highlight of his seven-day trip through multiple places in Indonesia, as he had the chance to encounter a reef manta ray during a diving tour. 'I was most satisfied with my Komodo National Park trip. Unfortunately, we were only brought here for one night. I still want to go back to Komodo (Labuan Bajo) ,' said Mr Yang. Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja has been Indonesia correspondent at The Straits Times since 2008, and is based in Jakarta. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Straits Times
New bus service 230M linking Kim Keat and Toa Payoh Bus Interchange to start on June 8
Service 230M, which will be run by public transport operator SBS Transit, will operate from Toa Payoh Bus Interchange and loop at Kim Keat Avenue. PHOTO: ST FILE New bus service 230M linking Kim Keat and Toa Payoh Bus Interchange to start on June 8 SINGAPORE – From June 8 , Toa Payoh residents living in Kim Keat estate will be able to travel directly to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange via a new supplementary bus service. Service 230M will operate from Toa Payoh Bus Interchange, ply Lorong 6 Toa Payoh and Toa Payoh East, before looping at Kim Keat Avenue and returning to the interchange . Operating from 6.30am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 9pm on weekends and public holidays , the new service is a variant of service 230 and takes commuters from Kim Keat to the Toa Payoh interchange directly. It is a shorter route serving 10 selected bus stops along the Service 230 route. Service 230 serves only bus stops close to Toa Payoh Hub and no longer stops at the interchange after a recent route revision. Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Saktiandi Supaa t, who oversees the Toa Payoh East area, told The Straits Times on May 19 that he had received feedback from some residents who wanted a direct bus service from Kim Keat to Toa Payoh Interchange, instead of merely the bus stops outside Toa Payoh Hub. He noted that service 230M would allow residents to access Toa Payoh Hub and Toa Payoh Interchange without crossing the road or taking the underpass. As the new supplementary bus service does not ply Lorong 7 Toa Payoh and Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, Mr Saktiandi said some residents may enjoy the shorter commute to and from Toa Payoh Interchange. Introduced in September 2023 , service 230 is a loop service that originally served 12 bus stops along Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, Toa Payoh East, Kim Keat Avenue as well as Toa Payoh Interchange. Its route was extended and amended in January under the Land Transport Authority's Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP), so the service now starts and ends at Caldecott MRT station – an interchange station on the Thomson-East Coast Line and Circle Line. Following the amendment, service 230 covers more stops in Lorong 7 Toa Payoh and Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, and no longer serves Toa Payoh Interchange. Launched in July 2024 , BCEP is a $900 million initiative to improve public bus connectivity for residents of new housing projects. 230M, which will be run by public transport operator SBS Transit, was one of the new bus services announced in April under the BCEP. He added that they will also have an alternative bus service to take if they want to get to Toa Payoh Polyclinic, Pei Chun Public School and Kim Keat Palm Market and Food Centre. 'Residents in the wider Toa Payoh East area, not just those in Kim Keat, will have access to both Caldecott MRT station and Toa Payoh interchange,' said Mr Saktiandi, adding that both 230 and 230M services will benefit residents beyond those in the newer Build-To-Order (BTO) estates, including Kim Keat Beacon. Residents interviewed by ST welcomed the new service, with most saying that having another bus service is always beneficial. Mr Lim Jin Xing , a Kim Keat resident of over three decades who will be moving into the new BTO estate Kim Keat Ripples, said the reintroduction of a bus service that takes people to and from Toa Payoh Interchange will alleviate the overcrowding on buses during the morning peak hour. As the software engineer , 35 , frequently commutes to Toa Payoh Hub for meals and Toa Payoh Interchange to get to work, he said he was happy when the launch of the parent service 230 was announced as the other available bus service – 238, which begins its route at Toa Payoh Interchange – is often crowded. When the route of service 230 was amended in early 2025 to exclude Toa Payoh Interchange, Mr Lim said residents living in the area were affected, although he was not personally inconvenienced. He is glad that there will now be more buses connecting Toa Payoh Interchange to Kim Keat Avenue. Ms Karen Siow , 62 , echoed this, adding that it is good that the new bus service will remove the need to walk from the bus stop near Toa Payoh Interchange, which is tiring for elderly persons with mobility issues. The procurement executive said she takes service 230 to Toa Payoh Swimming Complex, before alighting and getting onto another bus that can take her to Toa Payoh Interchange. So she was happy to find out that service 230M will stop at Toa Payoh Interchange, and said it was 'much needed'. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
