Widiyanti outlines four priorities for Labuan Bajo post-quake recovery
Indonesia’s tourism minister Widiyanti Putri used a 28 August 2026 visit to Labuan Bajo to outline four priorities for Flores’ post-quake tourism recovery: safety and information, destination and community restoration, market confidence…
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 5 min read
Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s tourism minister Widiyanti Putri has outlined a four-part strategy to restore and strengthen Flores’ tourism sector after the 15 August magnitude 7.7 earthquake, following a 28 August 2026 working visit to Labuan Bajo with local government and industry representatives.
Floresinside.com reports that Widiyanti met the West Manggarai regency government, tourism associations and other stakeholders in Labuan Bajo on Friday 28 August to hear first-hand accounts of how the quake affected tourism and what support is needed for recovery, citing a ministry statement. Mediaindonesia.com carries a similar account of the visit and its focus on post-earthquake tourism recovery in Labuan Bajo and Flores.
The minister’s stated approach divides recovery into four broad priorities: ensuring safety and reliable public information, restoring destinations and local economies, rebuilding market confidence, and strengthening disaster preparedness so that Flores’ tourism can better withstand future shocks. These priorities are described in a ministry release quoted by national outlets, which frame the meeting as part of wider efforts to make Labuan Bajo not only recover but become a more resilient destination.
Tourism operations reopen with safety focus
The 15 August quake, recorded at magnitude 7.7 by Indonesia’s disaster agency and monitoring posts, initially disrupted access and led to temporary adjustments in transport and tourism operations across Flores. By 17–19 August, the tourism ministry and the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Implementation Agency (BPOLBF) reported that activity in Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park was generally back to normal, including Marina Labuan Bajo port and sailings to key sites such as Padar Island and Komodo, Rinca and Gili Lawa.
BPOLBF’s 24 August update noted that tourism activity in Manggarai Barat was running again, with destinations like Komodo National Park, Gua Rangko, Batu Cermin and Puncak Waringin operating normally, although some sites elsewhere in Flores remained closed as a precaution. National coverage quoting BPOLBF and the ministry similarly stated that Labuan Bajo and Komodo were open to visitors, while urging travellers to prioritise safety and follow official guidance due to ongoing aftershocks.
In its communications, BPOLBF emphasised that visitors should verify the status of destinations before travelling, check accommodation conditions especially in affected areas, and follow instructions from destination managers and authorities. It also provided a WhatsApp hotline for up-to-date information on tourism conditions in Labuan Bajo and Flores.
Risk management and workforce competence
Coverage of Widiyanti’s 28 August visit describes disaster risk management as a central theme. According to Medcom.id and other outlets drawing on ministry statements, the minister wants Labuan Bajo’s recovery to be accompanied by stronger risk management systems, clearer communication protocols and better coordination among tourism actors.
Widiyanti also highlighted the importance of marine tourism safety in a destination where boat travel connects visitors to major attractions, calling for improvements in workforce competence and standard operating procedures for operators. Ministry programmes such as competency-based training and certification schemes were referenced in national reporting as part of a broader push to ensure that guides, crews and hospitality workers can respond effectively in emergencies, although detailed targets and enforcement mechanisms have not been set out in the available coverage.
Recovery beyond visitor numbers
Reports on the Labuan Bajo meeting indicate that the discussion involved both public agencies and private-sector representatives, including tourism associations, with the aim of aligning recovery efforts with the needs of operators and communities. Widiyanti has been quoted as saying that Labuan Bajo must recover while at the same time becoming more resilient and delivering wider economic benefits, underscoring that recovery should reach local residents and businesses as well as headline visitor numbers.
Several outlets note that the ministry is encouraging Labuan Bajo to develop a broader range of attractions to lengthen visitor stays and spread tourism benefits more widely across West Manggarai, though specific project lists, funding details and timetables were not disclosed in the reports reviewed.
At the same time, national and local coverage of the earthquake’s impact shows that damage was uneven across Flores: while parts of the island suffered structural impacts on hotels and other facilities, Labuan Bajo and Komodo were generally reported as safe and operating, subject to ongoing monitoring.
The central government’s wider disaster response, including emergency status declarations and support for affected regions, provides the backdrop for the tourism-specific measures. However, publicly available reports on the Labuan Bajo meeting do not yet spell out how national recovery funds will be allocated to tourism businesses, or what specific financial assistance instruments will be used.
Media accounts of Widiyanti’s visit say the ministry will follow up recommendations from the Labuan Bajo discussions, but as of late August they had not reported a detailed timetable or agency-by-agency responsibility for implementing each measure.
Sources
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