Indonesia has officially introduced a daily visitor limit at Komodo National Park, capping the number of tourists at 1,000 people per day starting April 1, 2026.
The policy was announced by Raja Juli Antoni as part of a broader effort to protect the park’s ecosystem while maintaining sustainable tourism.
🌿 A Move to Protect Nature and Local Communities
According to the Ministry of Forestry, the restriction is designed to preserve the park’s role as a natural habitat—not just a tourist destination.
Komodo National Park is home to the endangered Komodo dragon, along with diverse marine ecosystems and local communities living within and around the area.
Authorities emphasized that limiting visitor numbers is essential to prevent environmental degradation caused by increasing tourism activity.
📍 Where the Restrictions Apply
The quota will mainly affect high-traffic destinations within the park, including:
- Padar Island
- Rinca Island
- Komodo Island
- 23 popular diving locations nearby
These areas are considered ecologically sensitive and require stricter management.
⏰ How the New System Works
To manage the daily cap, visits are divided into three time slots:
- 05:00 – 08:00
- 08:00 – 11:00
- 15:00 – 18:00
This system helps distribute visitor flow and reduce overcrowding throughout the day.
In total, the annual visitor capacity is estimated at around 365,000 people.
📊 Policy Backed by Research
The government stated that the decision was not made suddenly.
Planning began in 2025 and involved discussions with tourism stakeholders in Labuan Bajo, followed by trial runs and monitoring in early 2026.
The visitor quota is based on environmental carrying capacity studies conducted in 2018 and updated in 2022.
🐉 Ongoing Conservation Efforts
In addition to limiting tourism, Indonesia is expanding conservation programs for the Komodo dragon.
Through collaboration with organizations such as United Nations Development Programme and Global Environment Facility, efforts are underway to support Komodo populations across multiple islands, including Ontoloe Island.
Programs include habitat restoration, population monitoring, and community engagement initiatives.
✈️ Travel Tips for Visitors
Travelers planning a trip to Komodo National Park should:
- Book tickets in advance
- Plan visits according to time slots
- Expect stricter entry management
While the new rule may limit flexibility, it is expected to improve the overall visitor experience and protect the park’s natural environment.
🔗 Source
This article is based on reporting from Kumparan News:
“Menhut Beberkan Alasan Pembatasan Kuota Wisatawan TN Komodo 1.000 Orang per Hari”
https://kumparan.com/kumparannews/menhut-beberkan-alasan-pembatasan-kuota-wisatawan-tn-komodo-1-000-orang-per-hari-27CkEf3FKXg/full