Labuan Bajo diocese urges response to tourism pressure on local communities

Labuan Bajo — The Diocese of Labuan Bajo has called for a listening-based pastoral approach as tourism investment and social-economic change reshape communities in the area, according to a pastoral message published on 9 November 2026.

Why it matters: The message highlights social pressures from tourism growth for local communities, while no change to Komodo National Park access, fees or operating rules is reported.

Bishop Maksimus Regus said the local church should listen to marginalised voices, including young people, women, children and customary elders, the Ekorantt report said. The message linked the approach to protecting local identity and responding to changing social conditions.

The report said rapidly expanding tourism investment can threaten local people’s living space. It called for concrete pastoral action, including support for community-based economic activity, environmental advocacy and youth development.

Tourism growth and local participation

Research published in the Journal of Dharmawangsa University identified economic disparities among local communities and environmental pressure as weaknesses and threats in Labuan Bajo’s super-priority tourism development. It said proposed responses included infrastructure improvements, support for micro, small and medium enterprises, skills development and sustainable-tourism principles.

Academic research has also described a shift among island residents from fishing towards tourism-service work as contact with tourists, tourism businesses and government agencies increases. Another study found that tourism development has brought economic opportunities while also creating unequal distribution of benefits, pressure on living space and reduced access for local communities.

The pastoral message proposed a three-stage method: listening to community realities, assessing them through pastoral discernment and deciding on practical policies. It said those policies should help local people avoid becoming spectators on their own land.

The development described in the sources is a pastoral and analytical response, not a reported change to Komodo National Park access, visitor fees or operating rules.

Sources

• Ekorantt
• Dharmawangsa University Journal
• Veredas
• JCU Journals