Edition 11: Komodo Island Tourism Workers Went on Strike as Price Hike Threatens Local Jobs
Komodo Island Tourism Workers Went on Strike as Price Hike Threatens Local Jobs
Source : Rizknas / Unsplash
The UNESCO protected Komodo Island, which has been a popular tourist destination for years, is now under threat by new regulations that will increase the entry fee to $250 (Rp 3.75 million) from $10 (Rp 150,000).
The new policy will also limit the amount of tourists that can visit the island to a maximum of 200,000 people per year, nearly a 50% reduction in visitors.
The Government stated that the move is aimed at supporting conservation efforts on the island, a statement that has been staunchly debated by locals.
Locals state that these price hikes will impact the local tourism industry, the lifeblood for many residents of the island. The effects have already been felt with a wave of trip cancellations happening following news of the price hike, according to the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies Association.
Nuri Resti Chayyani, an economist at the Indonesian Institute (TII), believes that raising entry fees to Komodo and Padar Islands in East Nusa Tenggara will bring down the number of tourists, both domestic and foreign. As a result, hotel occupancy will fall, local micro-small-medium enterprises’ (UMKM)' revenues could collapse, and individuals who rely on tourism would also lose their employment.
Around 700 workers resorted to protests and strikes on the 1st of August in opposition to the new regulations. This resulted in foreign tourists having to rely on public transportation to get around the area as travel agencies went on strike last week.
Efforts to support the conservation of Komodo Island through the private sector had been attempted before via the Komodo Collaborative Management Initiative (KCMI) in 2005, which ended disastrously with missing funds and the subsequent renationalization of the site.
After local protests, where many were arrested for disorderly conduct by law enforcement, the government caved in and said that the price hike policy will be postponed for re-evaluation until December 2022, committing to improved consultation with the local hospitality industry.
The strike has subsequently grinded to a halt as of the 4th of August following the government’s announcement that the $10 entry fee will stay in the meantime.
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