Komodo Island may close to tourists for one year

Komodo Island, home to the incredible but vulnerable Komodo dragon, may close to tourists for one year.

The Indonesian island may no longer allow visitors starting in January 2020, according to local media, with the closure lasting for an entire year. Recent months have seen a number of media reports indicating that officials believe the island may need to limit visitor numbers, but according to the Jakarta Post, authorities decided to shut the island down after an attempted smuggling of more than 40 of the formidable monitor lizards.

The closure will reportedly only apply to Komodo Island itself, not the larger Komodo National Park, which encompasses more islands. However, the Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia, told Lonely Planet in a statement: “At the moment, the potential closure of Komodo National Park has not been confirmed or implemented. The decision process is ongoing because it involves multiple institutions”.

The World Wildlife Fund notes that because the lizards live in a limited number of areas, they are very vulnerable to human impact. While there are about 6000 left, only about 350 of those are breeding females.

While it remains unclear whether the closure will actually go ahead, it is a stark reminder that the island and its inhabitants could be under threat as more travellers choose to visit. So far, Komodo Island has been a good example of sustainable tourism, but there are many things to be mindful of as traveller numbers increase. The park can only be accessed on an organized boat tour, and choosing a reputable tour is important. Find out more about visiting Komodo National Park here.

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