BPOLBF: 29 of 57 Verified Flores Tourism Villages Receiving Visitors

Labuan Bajo — Tourism in Flores is gradually recovering from the 15 August 2026 earthquake, with the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF) reporting that 29 of 57 verified tourism villages are open to visitors while 28 remain temporarily closed, based on data updated as of 23 August 2026.

BPOLBF, an implementing agency under Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism, has been monitoring conditions across Flores together with local governments and reporting phased reopening of destinations. According to BPOLBF’s update published on 24 August 2026, 29 tourism villages had resumed receiving visitors, while 22 still closed or had not yet returned to normal operations. A subsequent report citing BPOLBF data, published on 27 August, clarified that the 29 open villages were part of 57 villages that had been verified, with the remaining 28 verified villages temporarily closed.

The verified villages form part of a broader tourism network recorded in Indonesia’s Jaringan Desa Wisata (JADESTA) database. According to BPOLBF, 87 tourism villages on Flores are listed in JADESTA, of which 57 had been verified by the authority as of late August. The open–closed figures therefore describe the verified subset, not all community-based tourism sites on the island.

Which villages are reported open

BPOLBF’s 23 August monitoring listed specific villages that had reopened for tourism. In West Manggarai, open destinations included Batu Cermin, Komodo National Park, Liang Ndara, Papagarang, Pasir Panjang, Siru, Todong Belang and Wae Lolos. In Manggarai, Todo Tourism Village was operating.

In Ende, open villages included Alam Waturaka, Destusoko Barat, Wologai traditional village, Koanara, Marilonga, Mbana Nua Sipi Jena, Nggela, Pemo Kelimutu, Rewarangga, Woloara and Wolotopo. In Sikka, Nita Tourism Village had reopened. In East Flores, Bantala, Helanlangowuyo, Lewoklouk, Leworahang, Neren Watotena, Nihaone (Ina Burak Beach), Oa Beach and Pledo were open to visitors.

BPOLBF emphasized that “open” does not mean every facility in these areas is operating without restrictions. Several villages were described as reopened for visits while continuing to undergo field assessments, and some destinations outside the verified list were still being checked with local governments.

Tourism hubs and transport links

Key hubs on the Labuan Bajo–Komodo circuit resumed normal operations relatively quickly after the earthquake. The Ministry of Tourism and BPOLBF reported that Labuan Bajo Marina Port was operating normally and that shipping access to Komodo National Park had been restored under controlled conditions, allowing tourist vessels to resume visits to Padar Island, Komodo Island, Rinca Island, Gili Lawa and nearby sites. Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo was also reported to be operating according to schedule.

BPOLBF and the ministry repeatedly urged tourists and tourism businesses to prioritise safety and to check official updates on destination status before travelling. The authority opened a dedicated WhatsApp hotline to provide information on destination conditions, tourism activities and recovery progress across the Labuan Bajo–Flores region.

Inland sites and uneven recovery

While coastal and marine tourism around Labuan Bajo and Komodo rebounded quickly, recovery across inland Flores has been more uneven. BPOLBF reports and independent coverage note that a number of tourism villages and attractions away from the main coastal circuit remained closed or operating under temporary restrictions pending safety checks and infrastructure repairs.

Authorities and local media highlight that the BPOLBF figures refer to verified tourism villages, not the full range of accommodations, transport services and informal tourism activities across Flores. Overland routes and telecommunications services in several districts were still being restored in stages, and visitors have been advised to confirm conditions in each destination before travelling.

BPOLBF and the Ministry of Tourism state that recovery is proceeding gradually, with the safety of tourists, local residents and tourism workers set as the primary consideration in reopening decisions.

Sources

• Badan Pelaksana Otorita Labuan Bajo Flores (BPOLBF) – Aktivitas Pariwisata Flores Berangsur Pulih Pascagempa, Keselamatan Wisatawan Tetap Jadi Prioritas
• Flores Inside – Pascagempa Flores, Pariwisata Mulai Pulih, BPOLBF Ingatkan Wisatawan Utamakan Keselamatan
• Traveltext.id – Labuan Bajo Tourism Backs to Normal, BPOLBF Assesses Earthquake Impact
• Netralnews – Flores Tourism Begins to Recover, Tourists Urged to Put Safety First After Earthquake
• Indoneo Compass – Flores earthquake split tourism in two. Only the coast is open.
• Hub Lombok – NTT Tourism Reopens Selectively After 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake