BPOLBF secures Parapuar land-rights certificate for planned tourism zone

Labuan Bajo — The Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF) has received a state land management right for the Parapuar tourism area above Labuan Bajo, with an HPL certificate covering about 129.6 hectares in Zone 1 as part of a wider 400-hectare development plan.

The certificate for Zone 1 was issued on 12 September 2023 and formally handed over at Parapuar on 15 September 2023 by Deputy Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency Raja Juli Antoni, in a ceremony attended by Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Angela Tanoesoedibjo, according to investment guidance material and local reporting.

BPOLBF has presented Parapuar as a new integrated tourism destination intended to lengthen visitor stays in Labuan Bajo while generating jobs and local economic activity.

Scale and zoning of the Parapuar plan

Planning documents and government-backed promotional material describe Parapuar as a roughly 400-hectare state-managed tourism area divided into four main zones: a Cultural Zone, a Leisure Zone, a Wildlife Zone and an Adventure Zone.

Public descriptions of the Cultural Zone indicate an area of about 114.73 hectares, including a cultural center, research facilities, an area for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and space for museums and galleries that highlight the culture of East Nusa Tenggara.

The Leisure Zone is described at around 63.59 hectares, focusing on resort accommodation, hospitality and spa or wellness tourism.

The Wildlife Zone covers about 89.25 hectares, preserving forest character and hosting wildlife-related attractions such as educational facilities linked to the Komodo biosphere.

The Adventure Zone is the largest, at roughly 132.43 hectares, planned for hiking, adventure activities and other outdoor experiences, and has been promoted with concepts such as cable cars and panoramic viewpoints.

The certified HPL area of approximately 129.6 hectares corresponds to Zone 1 within this broader footprint, where BPOLBF holds the land management right that allows it to structure partnerships with private investors.

Development footprint and "green" commitments

BPOLBF and tourism officials have repeatedly framed Parapuar as a sustainable tourism project, stating that the majority of the area will remain green forest with only a portion set aside for built structures.

Promotional material targeted at investors explains that the HPL certificate enables BPOLBF to offer defined lots inside Zone 1 while maintaining the wider planning vision of a predominantly green landscape and forest buffer around core visitor facilities.

The Wildlife Zone in particular is described as functioning as a buffer between built infrastructure and the surrounding canopy, with a focus on conservation messaging and environmental education.

However, publicly available information so far focuses on the concept and zoning rather than detailed enforcement mechanisms, monitoring arrangements or binding limits on construction density.

Investment and community implications

The handover of the HPL certificate is presented by BPOLBF and tourism authorities as a key step to improve legal certainty for investors considering projects in Parapuar.

Independent investment guidance based on official data notes that the certified 129.6-hectare Zone 1 is being divided into a series of investment lots for private partners, with BPOLBF acting as the state authority managing the land and overseeing development.

Government and agency communications emphasise that Parapuar is expected to support local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through dedicated commercial areas and cultural facilities, and to create employment linked to tourism, hospitality and supporting services.

At the same time, critical reporting from local media has highlighted concerns among residents and environmental groups about building tourism businesses in a forest area above Labuan Bajo and the risk of worsening ecological stress if safeguards are not strictly enforced.

As of the latest publicly available information, Parapuar’s development is still framed in terms of zoning, investment offerings and concept descriptions rather than a detailed construction schedule, and questions continue about how community participation and benefit-sharing will be organised in practice.

Sources

• BPOLBF Explained: The Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority
• Labuan Bajo enters new phase in development project
• Jalan Mulus BPO-LBF Berbisnis di Kawasan Hutan yang Dikhawatirkan Perparah Krisis Ekologi Labuan Bajo
• Labuan Bajo – Parapuar destination page
• Mengenal Parapuar, Paket Lengkap Destinasi Wisata Baru di Labuan Bajo