Komodo Island, which is the original habitat of the Komodo dragon, a typical Indonesian animal, has not been closed to tourists. The government plans that they must have a premium membership card of US$ 1,000 or around Rp. 14 million. Currently, tourists only pay around US$ 10-20 to enter the island.
Beautiful bird-eye view of Komodo Island, Indonesia
In July, there were plans that the island would be closed in January 2020 to protect the Komodo dragon and its habitat. In 2018, 176,000 people visited Komodo. The rapid increase in the number of visitors has caused damage to the ecosystem in Komodo National Park, mainly due to illegal fishing and waste pollution.
Finally, the Ministry of Environment and the local governor agreed that the island would not be closed, but a membership system would be put in place. There will be two levels of membership: premium members for a fee of US$1,000 will be allowed to visit Komodo Island, while non-premium members will be able to visit other islands in Komodo National Park to see the Komodo dragons. Details of the membership system are still in the finalization stage.
This membership program is not only intended to limit the number of tourists but also to protect the number of Komodo dragons and conserve their habitat. In addition, there will also be stricter regulations to limit the number of cruise ships.
Komodo is the largest lizard in the world which has a size of up to 3 meters and has sharp teeth and a poisonous bite. About 1,700 Komodo dragons live on Komodo Island, and about 1,000 others live on Rinca Island. Komodo National Park is a tourist spot that is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Center.
