JAKARTA, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian government annulled on Monday the planned shutdown of Komodo Island, a popular destination in eastern region, over conservancy concerns.
The plan cancellation was decided in a meeting attended by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affair Luhut Pandjaitan, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province Governor Viktor Laiskodat who oversees Komodo Island.
"What we will do next is to reorganize the concurrent authority jointly executed by the environment and forestry ministry and the NTT provincial government so as to address tourism business, community livelihood, conservancy and investments in Komodo Island," Siti Nurbaya said on the sidelines of the meeting.
Among the planned reorganizations were improvements of tour spots, site management, promotion, rangers' capacity, patrol facility, trained guides, amenities, public toilets and piers so as to make Komodo Island part of world-class destination, the minister said.
"Investments in tourism sector should be coordinated with provincial investment agency and private sector," she said, adding that the investment is crucially needed to develop conservancy-interest tourism and wild adventures.
Total population of komodo dragons in the Komodo National Park that covers three islands of Komodo, Rinca and Gili Motang are currently 2,897 ones, according to the data issued by the environment and forestry ministry.
The plan to totally shut Komodo Island from tourism activity next year was announced by NTT Governor Viktor Laiskodat recently over rampant deer poaching in Komodo Island.
The drastic decrease of deer population in the island was feared to affect population and livelihood of komodo dragons in the island. The island shut down was intended to bring back balanced natural condition in the wild.
The plan also includes relocation of residents out from the island.
During the closure of Komodo Island, NTT provincial government would leave Rinca Island still opened for tourism activities.
