So, while everyone’s panicking about the supposed closure of Komodo National Park in 2025, guess what? Tourist visits to this Jurassic Park haven are actually on the rise.
Yep, despite the chatter about shutting it down, people can’t seem to stay away from Komodo National Park in Manggarai Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). According to the park’s data, tourist numbers have been climbing steadily since 2010, peaking at over 300,000 in 2023. That’s way more than the pre-COVID high of 221,000 in 2019.
Sure, the pandemic threw a wrench in the works in 2020 and 2021, with visits plummeting. But since then, domestic tourists have been flocking back, taking over the foreign visitors who used to dominate the scene. The top five countries sending tourists in 2023 were Indonesia, the US, China, Germany, and France.
Why Close the Park?
There are four main reasons why closing Komodo National Park might actually be a good idea:
Give Nature a Break: The park needs a breather from all the tourist activity. It’s been like a non-stop party for the Komodo dragons, and they need some downtime.
Boost Other Spots in Flores: Apparently, there’s more to see in Flores than just Komodo dragons. The idea is to get tourists to explore other parts of the island too.
Help Local Economies: By spreading tourists around, more local communities can cash in on the tourism boom. Sharing the wealth, you know?
Better Management: It’s also about sprucing up the park’s management, infrastructure, and relationships with local communities.
Of course, all this needs thorough scientific study and input from everyone involved.
So, while we wait to see if the park will really close, tourists are making the most of it. Who can blame them? If you’re going to see dragons, you might as well do it before they close the gates.