United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Tourism agency: Komodo Island will shut down for a year in 2020
It seems Komodo Island will be closed to the public for a year beginning in 2020.
A temporary one-year closure has been mooted for several months and the East Nusa Tenggara Tourism Office says Indonesian President Joko Widodo has agreed to the closure.
"It is certain that we will close Komodo island to the public," said Wayan Darmawa, head of the tourism office, following discussions with government officials from the environment and forestry ministry.
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Viktor B. Laiskodat had pushed for a temporary closure due to concerns over unchecked growth of arrivals.
"We will rehabilitate Komodo Island," he said.
More than 176,000 tourists visited the Komodo National Park last year, up by more than a third.
The President had agreed some restrictions were needed to protect the region’s prized assets – the Komodo Dragons, and their habitat.
They are found nowhere else on earth except for a handful of islands within the Komodo National Park.
The iconic lizards are still found in fairly large numbers on nearby Rinca Island, which will remain open to the public.
They also inhabit the island of Gili Montang and a small area on the main island of Flores.
If the temporary closure does go ahead – there has been no official word from the central government yet – it is unclear if any further restrictions will be placed on daily visitor numbers.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm
British teen in serious condition after paraglider collision
JetBlue scraps London Gatwick flights