BPOLBF tourism hotline guides Flores visitors after August 2026 earthquake

Labuan Bajo — The Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF) and Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism have activated a tourism information hotline, +62 811-3879-4555, for visitors and tourism businesses seeking updates on conditions in Flores after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake of 15 August 2026.

According to an official BPOLBF release dated 17 August, the WhatsApp hotline is intended to provide information on destination conditions, tourism activities and access across the Floratama area, which includes Labuan Bajo, Komodo National Park and other parts of Flores. A later statement on 24 August described the same number as BPOLBF’s public information service for travellers and residents needing verified updates on post-earthquake tourism.

The earthquake and its aftershocks prompted temporary closures and transport changes across Flores. Indonesia’s disaster agency BNPB reported on 18 August that several prominent destinations, including Goa Rangko in West Manggarai, Wae Rebo in Manggarai and Kelimutu National Park in Ende, were closed while infrastructure safety was assessed. BNPB said tourist authorities would update reopening information after on-site verification, underscoring the need for current, destination-specific guidance.

What the hotline is for

In its 17 August communication, BPOLBF said tourists and stakeholders could contact the hotline to obtain information on destination conditions and tourism activities across Floratama. A 24 August BPOLBF update added that the WhatsApp PPID BPOLBF number 0811-3879-4555 is a public information channel for questions about destinations, tourism activities and the wider situation in Labuan Bajo Flores.

A separate English-language report on 17 August by RRI stated that travellers and tourism businesses can use the BPOLBF WhatsApp hotline to check conditions across Floratama, including Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park. An explainer published by the Jakarta Globe on 20 August likewise advised visitors to contact the BPOLBF hotline for updates on destination status, transportation access and accommodation following the quake.

These descriptions indicate that the hotline is designed as a central point for non-emergency tourism information, rather than a general emergency number.

Destinations and access after the quake

BNPB’s 18 August briefing said some tourism areas in Flores had to remain closed temporarily for inspection and repairs, including Wae Rebo village, Kelimutu National Park and other attractions where infrastructure needed safety checks. At the same time, national park authorities and the Tourism Ministry confirmed that tourism activities in Komodo National Park and around Labuan Bajo continued without reported incidents and remained accessible to domestic and international visitors.

The Tourism Ministry and BPOLBF stated on 17 August that activities in Labuan Bajo had returned to normal, with sailing and visits to Komodo National Park resuming under safety monitoring. A later English-language report from RRI said tourism in Labuan Bajo had resumed, while the ministry and BPOLBF continued to monitor conditions and verify destinations and facilities.

Operating hours and contact arrangements

Initial BPOLBF releases in August 2026 did not specify daily operating hours or language options for the tourism hotline. In early September, BPOLBF and media reports described the same number as part of the Tourism Information Center in Labuan Bajo, giving travellers a direct WhatsApp contact for consultations on tourism conditions.

A detailed September article on the Tourism Information Center stated that the BPOLBF WhatsApp contact +62 811-3879-4555 operates every day from 08:00 to 16:00 Central Indonesia Time (WITA). The same report said visitors can also ask questions in person at the BPOLBF office on Jalan Soekarno-Hatta No. 88 in Labuan Bajo during those hours.

None of the available official releases and press reports specify which languages are supported on the line, or whether separate contacts exist for emergency response. Indonesian sources primarily describe the hotline as a tourism information and consultation service.

Practical tips for travellers

Before travelling, visitors are advised by the Tourism Ministry and BPOLBF to prioritise safety, monitor information from official channels and contact BPOLBF’s hotline to verify the status of their specific destination, route and accommodation.

Travellers can use the hotline to ask whether particular attractions are open, whether roads, ports and airports on their route are operating normally, and whether their chosen accommodation has been assessed as structurally safe rather than simply accepting bookings. Given ongoing verification work after the earthquake, visitors should ask for the date and time of the latest assessment when planning trips to affected districts.

For immediate life-threatening situations, local emergency numbers and disaster-agency contacts remain the appropriate first resort; the BPOLBF hotline is presented in official and media material as a tourism information and consultation line rather than an emergency-response service.

Post-quake assurances

On its public-information page, BPOLBF later listed “Statement Letter Wisata Aman di Labuan Bajo Flores Pascagempa” and an English-language “Statement Letter Regarding Safe Tourism in Labuan Bajo, Flores, Following the Earthquake,” both dated 3 September 2026. The entries indicate that local government and BPOLBF issued joint assurances on the readiness and safety of Labuan Bajo’s tourism industry after field verification, though the statements themselves are not directly accessible from the listing.

Those assurances, together with the ongoing operation of the BPOLBF hotline, form part of the authorities’ effort to manage tourism recovery in Flores while responding to safety concerns raised by the August 2026 earthquake.

Sources

• Badan Pelaksana Otorita Labuan Bajo Flores (BPOLBF) – "Pariwisata Labuan Bajo Kembali Berjalan Normal, BPOLBF Lanjutkan Pendataan Dampak Gempa di Floratama"
• AMPHURI.org – "Pariwisata Labuan Bajo dan Taman Nasional Komodo Berangsur Normal"
• RRI.co.id – "Labuan Bajo Tourism Activities Resume After Flores Earthquake"
• Jakarta Globe – "Is Komodo Island Safe? What Tourists Need to Know After Eastern Indonesia's 7.7 Earthquake"
• Tirto.id summarising BNPB briefing – "Pascagempa NTT, Sejumlah Objek Wisata Unggulan Flores Ditutup Sementara"
• RiauRealita.com – "Labuan Bajo Flores Pascagempa: BPOLBF Buka Pusat Informasi Wisata, Cek Kontaknya"
• Tirto.id – "Pemulihan Wisata Labuan Bajo, BPOLBF Terapkan 'Safe Before Open'"
• Tribun Network – "Gempa Flores dan Erupsi Krakatau Tak Lumpuhkan Pariwisata Labuan Bajo NTT"