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Kelimutu National Park contributes Rp 3b to national nontax revenue
Kelimutu National Park contributed more than Rp 3 billion (US$220,456) to national nontax revenue in 2019, surpassing the Rp 2.8 billion target.
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Visitors gather near volcanic crater lakes at Kelimutu National Park in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, in this undated photo. (Courtesy of Kelimutu National Park/-)
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elimutu National Park on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, contributed more than Rp 3 billion (US$220,456) to national nontax revenue in 2019, surpassing the Rp 2.8 billion target.
The popular tourist destination, famous for its three volcanic crater lakes of different colors, recorded 86,439 visitors throughout last year, 15,255 of whom were foreigners.
Kelimutu National Park Center head Agus Sitepu said that, despite the park’s overall positive financial performance, the number of tourist arrivals last year was down by around 1,000 visitors from the previous year. He attributed the slight decline in visitors to limited flights to Ende city in Ende regency, especially from Labuan Bajo in West Manggarai regency.
The decline in foreign tourist arrivals has affected the region’s revenue, he said.
“Our revenue surpassed the government’s Rp 2.8 billion target last year, but it still fell short of the profit we booked in the previous year by almost 20 percent due to the decline in foreign tourist arrivals,” Agus said.
He went on to say the government had set a Rp 3 billion target for the park’s contribution to national nontax revenue this year. In accordance with the prevailing government regulation the entrance fee to the park remains at Rp 5,000 per domestic visitor and Rp 150,000 per international tourist.
Kelimutu is located around 450 kilometers from Labuan Bajo, a popular tourist destination -- also on Flores Island that has been designated by the government as one of the country's five super-priority destinations. The government is developing the new destinations as it strives to make tourism one of Indonesia's new economic growth drivers amid plunging investment and exports.
Agus said the Kelimutu National Park Center would focus on improving facilities and amenities to ensure a quality experience for tourists throughout the year.
“Not only is the Kelimutu National Park home to the colorful [Triwarna Lakes], but it also boasts a wide variety of natural beauty, such as the protected Flores eagle and the garugiwa bird, which is the icon of Kelimutu,” he said. (rfa)
