Residents of Komodo Island in West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, are taking full advantage of the growing number of cruise ships bringing thousands of foreign tourists to the province’s most famous tourism destination.

Rangers on Komodo provide services to the cruise passengers stopping at the island to observe the protected giant lizard, the Komodo dragon, at Loh Liang, the main tourist area of the Komodo National Park.

Meanwhile, residents of Komodo village sell souvenirs such as sculptures of the lizard and traditional Flores fabrics made locally, Komodo Dive Operator Community head Ica Marta Muslin told The Jakarta Post.

The local art and culture community also benefits from the growth in cruise ship tourism as various performances are staged to welcome the arrivals.

The passengers aboard the cruise ships that dock at Komodo Island can ...