Labuan Bajo Tourism Recovery Spurs New Disaster-Risk Measures

Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry is using the response to the 15 August 2026 magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Flores to strengthen disaster-risk management for tourism in Labuan Bajo, focusing on emergency procedures, evacuation routes and crisis communication, according to officials and local media reports.

The initiative was outlined in late August as part of the wider tourism recovery agenda for Labuan Bajo and West Manggarai, where authorities say visitor flows have largely stabilised and key attractions remain open.

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has said that strengthening disaster-risk management is a core focus of recovery in Labuan Bajo, with the government seeking to ensure that tourism growth is matched by tighter safety protections and broader economic benefits for local communities.

According to coverage based on the ministry’s official statement, the post-earthquake momentum is being used to reinforce standard operating procedures for emergency response, designate and improve evacuation routes, and develop crisis communication systems in the field.

Tourism activity and safety measures

The 15 August quake, recorded at magnitude 7.7 in Flores, briefly disrupted tourism and transport but did not lead to a prolonged shutdown of Labuan Bajo or Komodo National Park.

The Ministry of Tourism and the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF) reported that by 16 August 2026 tourism activities in Labuan Bajo were operating normally and under controlled conditions, including at Marina Labuan Bajo Port.

Access by sea to Komodo National Park was reopened after the Labuan Bajo Harbormaster (KSOP) authorised sailing activities, allowing tourist boats to resume trips to destinations such as Padar, Komodo, Rinca and Gili Lawa.

Government updates cited by local outlets indicate that Komodo National Park and Padar Island are open and receiving visitors following safety evaluations, with the emphasis now on strengthening preparedness rather than closing major attractions.

Integrating recovery and preparedness

Media reports on 29 August describe the ministry’s recovery strategy for Labuan Bajo as combining the repair and reopening of tourism operations with a systematic review of disaster preparedness for hotels, restaurants, tourist villages, tour boats, guides and local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Authorities and tourism bodies have highlighted the need for clearer on-the-ground procedures during future emergencies, including how operators and visitors receive verified instructions and how evacuation routes are managed.

Regional officials have also released data snapshots illustrating the rapid resumption of activity after the quake, including high levels of boat departures and tourist movements once sailing and access to Komodo National Park were restored.

Workforce skills and destination development

The Tourism Ministry is expected to support maritime-tourism safety skills through the Indonesian Tourism Workforce Certification programme, known by its Indonesian acronym SATRIA, as part of the broader resilience agenda for Labuan Bajo.

Alongside the focus on safety, authorities are promoting land-based tourism sites around West Manggarai — including destinations such as Kelor Island, Rangko Cave and other village-based attractions — to diversify the visitor offering while recovery proceeds.

Updates from national and regional bodies indicate that attractions in and around Manggarai Barat, including coastal viewpoints, caves and cultural villages, are operating with visitor flows described as stable, reinforcing Labuan Bajo’s position as a gateway to Komodo and the wider Flores region.

For travellers, the main message from officials and local tourism operators is that Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park remain open, with boat trips and flights running, while the government moves to tighten emergency procedures, evacuation planning and crisis communication as part of making the destination more resilient to future shocks.

Sources

• Validnews – Pascagempa, Labuan Bajo Perkuat Manajemen Risiko Bencana Pariwisata
• RRI – Labuan Bajo Tourism Activities Resume After Flores Earthquake
• Medcom – Labuan Bajo Tak Cuma Pulih dari Gempa, Kemenpar Dorong Jadi Destinasi Makin Tangguh
• Travel and Tour World – Indonesia Flores Travel Recovery Advances