Indonesia commits to building earthquake-resilient tourism sector in Labuan Bajo

Gov't pledges more resilient tourism in Labuan Bajo post-earthquake

The Indonesian Tourism Ministry has committed to transforming Labuan Bajo into a more resilient destination following the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara on August 15, pledging to strengthen disaster risk management and develop new land-based tourist attractions in West Manggarai District.

"We want tourism to continue to grow, underpinned by enhanced safety and broader economic benefits for the local community,"

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said in a statement released on Saturday.

The August 15 earthquake killed at least 78 people and injured 1,182 others across East Nusa Tenggara province, with more than 29,000 homes damaged and over 1,300 public facilities including schools, health centers, and places of worship affected. More than 230 aftershocks occurred throughout the day, with the strongest measuring magnitude 6.2. Landslides triggered by the earthquake cut off the Trans-Flores highway, a roughly 435-mile road spanning Flores Island from Labuan Bajo to Larantuka, hampering rescue and relief efforts.

On Friday, Minister Wardhana held a coordination meeting with the West Manggarai regional administration, industry players, and tourism associations in Labuan Bajo to discuss recovery strategies and broader development plans for the region. The meeting focused on measures prioritized based on the severity of damage, operational readiness of tourism destinations, and restoration of local livelihoods.

Strategic importance and rapid recovery

The recovery efforts carry significant weight as the Indonesian government has designated Labuan Bajo as one of five super priority tourism destinations being developed to reduce overtourism in Bali. Over the past decade, Labuan Bajo has transformed from a quiet fishing town into one of Indonesia's fastest-growing tourism destinations. The region received 500,008 tourist visits in 2025, the highest in five years, with the tourism sector contributing Rp 2.3 billion to West Manggarai's local government revenue.

Head of West Manggarai District Edistasius Endi reported that tourism activities have been operating safely and normally since the earthquake. The district has recorded 2,854 boat departures and 32,692 tourist trips post-disaster, while domestic and international flight traffic remains stable.

Komodo National Park, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 for its extraordinary biodiversity as home to around 5,700 Komodo dragons found nowhere else in the world, has reopened to the public along with Padar Island after passing rigorous safety assessments. The park welcomed 334,206 visitors in 2024, with two-thirds being foreign tourists, demonstrating significant international appeal.

Comprehensive recovery measures

The recovery efforts will cover the entire tourism supply chain, including hotels, restaurants, tourism villages, tour boats, tour guides, as well as local micro, small, and medium enterprises. Beyond restoring the local economy and rebuilding market confidence, the initiatives aim to strengthen standard operating procedures for emergency response, evacuation routes, and on-site crisis communication systems.

To sustain the positive recovery trend, the Tourism Ministry will enhance marine tourism safety competencies through the Indonesian Tourism Workforce Certification (SATRIA) program. Simultaneously, the government will expand the development of land-based destinations, including Kukusan Island, Kelor Island, and Rangko Cave.

Historical context and geological reality

The focus on resilience takes on added significance given the region's seismic history. The same stretch of coastline in Flores was struck by a similarly powerful earthquake in December 1992 that, along with the tsunami it triggered, killed more than 2,500 people.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is one of the world's most seismically active countries, with more than 270 million people spread across roughly 17,000 islands. This geological reality makes disaster preparedness a critical national priority for the country's tourism industry, particularly for destinations with global significance like Labuan Bajo.