Since April of this year, the Komodo National Parks Agency (BTNK), has established a new regulation that limits the quota of tourist visits to 1,000 visitors per day to protect the local ecosystem of the Island of Komodo – one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in the world.
It should be remembered that Komodo National Park is home to the endangered Komodo dragon, along with various marine ecosystems and local communities living in and around the area.
In this framework of reduced visits, in the first half of 2026, between 200,985 and 232,354 people were received, of which 171,444 tourists, represent international tourism, and 29,541 were local visitors.
The policy implemented is part of a broader effort to protect the park’s ecosystem while maintaining sustainable tourism. The authorities stressed that limiting the number of visitors is essential to prevent environmental degradation caused by the increase in tourist activity.
BTNK recorded that tourist visits reached 429,509 visitors in 2025 with 68 percent of that total composed of international tourists and the goal is to reduce that number this year.
Where the restrictions apply
The fee will mainly affect high-traffic destinations within the park, including:
Padar Island, Rinca Island, Komodo Island and 23 popular diving sites nearby.
These areas are considered ecologically sensitive and require stricter management.
New system
To manage the daily limit, visits are divided into three time slots:
05:00 – 08:00
08:00 – 11:00
15:00 – 18:00
This system helps distribute the flow of visitors and reduce overcrowding throughout the day.
With this new system, in total, the annual visitor capacity is estimated at around 365,000 people.
Research-backed policy
The government stated that the decision was not made suddenly.
Planning began in 2025 and involved discussions with tourism stakeholders in Labuan Bajo, followed by testing and monitoring in early 2026.
The visitor quota is based on environmental load capacity studies carried out in 2018 and updated in 2022.
In addition to limiting tourism, Indonesia is expanding conservation programs for the Komodo dragon.
Through collaboration with other organizations, efforts are being made to support Komodo populations on multiple islands, including Ontoloe Island.
Programs include habitat restoration, population monitoring, and community engagement initiatives.
Therefore, travelers planning a trip to Komodo National Park must:
Book tickets in advance
Plan visits according to time intervals
Expect stricter entry management
While the new rule may limit flexibility, it is expected to improve the overall visitor experience and protect the park’s natural environment.