Clergyman opposes higher ticket price to see famous Komodo dragons

Fr Marsel Agot criticised the government for raising entrance fee at the expense of the local community. At least 100 tourists cancelled their trip. The Ministry of Tourism says it wants to protect the Komodo National Park.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – As of today, visiting Komodo and Padar islands will cost 3.75 million Indonesian rupees (US$ 225).

Fr Marsel Agot, a local priest, wrote to the Ministry of Tourism last week expressing concern about the way, the price hike was down. “The government has never involved us as residents and local actors in the tourism industry,” the priest told AsiaNews.

“West Manggarai district was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the decision to increase the ticket price to Padar Island and Loh Liang will only undermine our efforts to revive local tourism,” he explained.

Part of the Komodo National Park in Manggarai regency (East Nusa Tenggara province), the two atolls are home to the famous Komodo monitor lizards, also known as Komodo dragons, large poisonous native lizards who attract tourists from all over the world.

The government said that the price was increased to reduce the number of tourists and safeguard the environment. "We decided to limit the total number of visitors to a maximum of 200,000 people a year,” said Caroline Noge of the Ministry of Tourism.

According to a local travel agency, at least 100 tourists (foreign and local) cancelled their visit after the price increase.

Last week, President Joko Widodo responded to the criticism, saying that, "The Komodo monitor lizard is the same on Rinca Island as well as Komodo Island. One can still go to Rinca if you don't want to go to Komodo or Padar."

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• komodo
• padar
• rinca
• islands
• monitor lizard
• komodo dragon
• ticket
• tourism