Komodo National Park access: what the 2026 quota trial changed

Komodo National Park’s visitor rules are shifting from simple entry to managed access. A trial quota of 1,000 people per day ran from January to March 2026, with visits distributed through the SiOra system, while the park’s operator has also advised visitors to reserve before arrival and scan e-tickets at entry points.

What changed in 2026?

The Balai Taman Nasional Komodo tested a daily quota of 1,000 people from January through March 2026 as part of a carrying-capacity and capacity study, according to the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority, reporting a February 18, 2026 multi-stakeholder meeting.

The report says visits were distributed gradually through SiOra. It describes the measure as a trial, rather than evidence that the same limit automatically applies throughout the year.

How does SiOra affect a visit?

SiOra is the park’s digital system for destination information, regulations, reservations and ticket payments, according to the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority in a February 12, 2025 report updated on December 10, 2025. The system also includes zoning information, self-guided interpretation and visitor-location tracing.

The same report says visitors are advised to reserve before their visit and scan the e-ticket at each available entrance. Divers and people taking other water activities can scan at the Komodo Visitor Center.

Does the quota apply to every nearby spot?

The 1,000-person figure is described specifically in connection with the Komodo National Park area and the January–March 2026 trial. It should not be treated as a published capacity for every destination around Labuan Bajo, including places outside the park.

The Labuan Bajo Flores Authority separately reported that authorities were preparing stricter travel guidance covering what visitors may and may not do in Labuan Bajo, in coordination with the park and local government, according to its August 19, 2025 report.

Why does this matter for access?

Pressure on access is occurring alongside substantial transport activity. By 2025, 812 vessels were registered and recorded passenger visits totalled 582,245, according to the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority’s February 18, 2026 report.

Tourism demand also reached accommodation and air transport: BPS East Nusa Tenggara reported that Manggarai Barat had the province’s highest star-hotel occupancy rate in July 2025, at 73.53 percent, while Komodo Airport recorded 234 flights that month.

Sources

• Badan Pelaksana Otorita Labuan Bajo Flores
• BPS Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur