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Activists condemn ‘repressive’ treatment of Komodo ticket-price-hike protests
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A statue of a Komodo dragon welcomes visitors to the Komodo National Park in this picture taken on Nov. 22, 2019. (AFP/Goh Chai Hin)
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ctivists have condemned police treatment of protests against the Komodo ticket-price hike, saying that it shows the government has responded with repression to criticism against the Labuan Bajo development that disenfranchised local residents and the tourism industry.
On Aug. 1, the government increased the ticket price to Komodo and Padar Islands of the Komodo National Park to Rp 3.75 million (US$251), from the previous ticket price of around Rp 200,000.
The move was intended to limit the number of visitors to protect the Komodo habitat, with a study by the Komodo National Park Agency recommending ideal yearly visitor numbers of 219,000 for Komodo Island and 39,420 for Padar Island.
However, local community and tourism providers have opposed the plan, arguing that a lower number of overall visitors at the national park would reduce their income while the designation of Rinca Island for mass tourism would put pressure on it and undermine conservation efforts.
In protest, tourism providers in the Komodo National Park began a month-long strike starting last week, with at least 700 workers participating in it.
Among the rallies held was at the Komodo Airport, during which the police detained at least three protesters.
