REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, LABUAN BAJO - Komodo National Park in Komodo Island was visited by tourist from 104 countries during January-December, 2013. Most of them came from United States, Russia, Germany, Italy and South Korea. 

"Number of foreign tourists in 2013 reaches 60 thousand tourists and they came from 104 countries. The number increased compared to 50 thousand tourists in previous year," Head of Komodo National park, Sustyo Iriono said on Saturday.

Komodo Island is also one of sites of Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB-UNESCO) to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development based on local community efforts and science.

The tourist visit has contributed to non-tax state revenue (PNPB) worth 4.5 billion IDR. This figure is smaller compared to the national park management funding which needs worth 12 billion IDR from State Budget 2013. Hence, management of Komodo National Park can be changed from cost based into profit based as tourist visits today continue to rise.

"Currently, admission cost for domestic tourist is only 2,000 IDR per person or 20 thousand IDR per person for foreign tourist," Iriono added. He also hopes that the construction of local airport will help to open opportunity to develop Komodo Island.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika