Beo Mano Sees Visitor Surge After August Flores Earthquake

Manggarai Timur — — Visitor numbers at Beo Mano, a community-based tourism destination in Mandosawu, East Manggarai, rose sharply in August and September 2026 after a strong earthquake struck Flores on 15 August, according to local tourism organisers.[1] The increase was linked to the peak holiday season and the temporary closure of several inland attractions across Flores.[1][4]

Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) reported that visits to Beo Mano remained stable during the earthquake and its immediate aftermath, then trended upward compared with the same period in previous years.[1] Denny, chair of the Beo Mano Tourism Awareness Group (Kelompok Sadar Wisata), told RRI on Friday, 18 September 2026, that the site recorded an increase of nearly 50 percent in visitor volume during August–September compared with the previous year.[1]

RRI did not publish the underlying monthly visitor totals for 2025 and 2026, nor did it specify the measurement method used by the community group.[1] The available accounts therefore indicate a significant rise in visitors but do not provide a formal data series or audited figures.

Alternative destination after the earthquake

On 15 August 2026 a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores, prompting authorities to temporarily close several tourism sites for safety inspections and infrastructure checks.[1][11] The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) confirmed that closures were imposed at attractions including Kelimutu National Park in Ende, Wae Rebo traditional village in Manggarai and Goa Rangko in West Manggarai.[11]

Travel and tourism advisories issued in the days after the earthquake also listed Mount Inerie trekking routes, Liang Bua cave near Ruteng and other inland destinations as closed pending assessments.[4][10] With several popular sites shut, visitors and tour operators looked for alternative itineraries, and RRI reported that Beo Mano became one of the destinations selected by travellers during this period.[1]

According to RRI, Denny attributed the rise in Beo Mano’s visitor numbers to a combination of factors: August’s role as a peak holiday month, the stability of visitor activity during and after the earthquake, and the temporary closure of other destinations that led travellers to seek substitutes.[1]

What Beo Mano offers

RRI described Beo Mano as a community-managed destination that combines a traditional village setting with a central compang (stone altar) surrounded by traditional houses, natural scenery and cultural activities.[1] The report noted that the location’s landscape and traditional architecture have drawn interest from domestic and foreign visitors.

Denny told RRI that some European visitors were particularly interested in the construction of traditional buildings at Beo Mano, comparing local techniques and materials — including wood and bamboo — with those used in their home countries.[1] He said locally sourced bamboo and the design of house foundations were among the aspects that attracted attention.[1]

The account suggests that Beo Mano’s appeal during the post-earthquake period was not limited to its availability as an alternative itinerary. Its cultural setting and natural surroundings also contributed to visitor interest, alongside the broader context of disrupted travel plans elsewhere on Flores.[1][10]

Reported change in visits

• Period compared: August–September 2026 against the same months in previous years[1]
• Reported change: visits up by almost 50 percent compared with the previous year[1]
• Earthquake date: 15 August 2026[1][11]
• Exact visitor totals and counting method: not disclosed in the RRI report[1]

Capacity and recovery questions

RRI reported that the Beo Mano tourism group is seeking faster reconstruction and recovery support after the earthquake, including easier access to financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises that depend on tourism.[1] This reflects wider concerns across Flores, where inland tourism routes and community destinations have faced closures, infrastructure checks and interruptions to visitor flows.[10][12]

The available reports do not provide detailed information on Beo Mano’s visitor capacity, facilities or emergency procedures, and they do not assess whether the increase in visits placed strain on local infrastructure.[1] Broader regional updates indicate that many affected villages and attractions are still working through safety evaluations and phased reopening plans, suggesting that community-based destinations like Beo Mano are part of a longer recovery process for inland Flores tourism.[10][12]

Travel advisories and tourism operators continue to highlight the distinction between coastal and marine circuits, which largely resumed operations soon after the earthquake, and inland routes, where closures and restrictions have lasted longer.[6][10] Within that split, Beo Mano’s reported visitor increase illustrates how some community destinations have absorbed demand when more established sites are temporarily off-limits.

Sources

• RRI.co.id - Jadi Destinasi Alternatif Pascagempa, Kunjungan Wisata ke Beo Mano Melonjak
• Khiri Travel - Flores Earthquake Situation
• VietnamPlus - Indonesia closes tourist sites after quake, activates nine health centres
• Indoneo - Flores earthquake split tourism in two. Only the coast is open.
• Ocean Earth Travels - Flores earthquake, August 2026 — status and official sources
• Komodo Resort - Is Komodo Island Closed? What Is Open in 2026
• Detik.com - 22 Desa Wisata Terdampak Gempa Flores Masih Ditutup untuk Wisatawan