Jakarta 10th August : Indonesia has postponed an increase of a significant amount to the entry fee to Komodo Island where live the massive lizards, called Komodo dragons in the wake of a strike by operators of tourism. The annual fee for membership of 3.75 million rupiah ($252) will be charged in the month of January in 2023.Gusti Hendriyani who is the spokesperson of the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry told reporters on Tuesday.
“The delay is in accordance with the public’s aspirations,” she said.
Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said the strike was canceled following a dialogue between officials from local governments and protesters.
Tourism workers and operators in Labuan Bajo, the town located on Flores island, where the majority of tourists to Komodo are staying, declared the start of a strike for one month on August 1st the day that authorities announced the new cost.
Prior to the change, visitors from the US were charged $5 per visit and foreign visitors had to pay $10.However, no single-entry options were available in the current pricing.
The government wants to restrict the number of visitors to its sites in the course of conservation efforts.
However, tourism operators have demanded the old fee structure to be restored, claiming the new price was affecting their business, as a large number of prospective tourists cancelled their bookings.
According to National Geographic as one of the top 10 destinations in the world, Komodo National Park is home to more than five thousand rare giant lizards.
The first time the government proposed the idea of restricting access to Komodo island in the year 2018.
The island usually takes in more than 10,000 visitors each month.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) stated in the past year that the Komodo dragon is becoming increasingly threatened by the effects of the climate change.
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