Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana confirmed that tourism activities in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, have resumed following the M7.7 earthquake that struck Flores on August 15, 2026.
Based on monitoring conducted by the Ministry of Tourism through the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Agency (BPOLBF) as of Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. WITA, Komodo National Park remains open and operating normally, with boat services to the area continuing as usual.
Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo is also operating normally according to its scheduled flight services.
“Labuan Bajo remains open to tourists, and tourism activities are generally continuing. However, all tourists and tourism stakeholders must prioritize safety and follow all directions from the relevant authorities, as aftershocks are still occurring,” said Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana.
Several tourist attractions in West Manggarai have also resumed operations. Rangko Cave has returned to normal tourism activities, with its facilities and infrastructure declared safe. Compang Liang Ndara Tourism Village reopened to visitors on August 22, 2026, while Wae Lolos Tourism Village continues to welcome tourists.
BPOLBF Continues Monitoring and Providing Assistance
Minister Widiyanti explained that the Ministry of Tourism, through BPOLBF, continues to monitor the condition of hotels, restaurants, cafés, tourist destinations, public facilities, and accessibility in Labuan Bajo and across Flores.
BPOLBF is also operating an information service to respond to tourists’ inquiries regarding destination conditions and travel safety following the earthquake.
A number of international tourists from Italy, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, as well as groups planning trips to Labuan Bajo and Flores, have received updates on the latest conditions at tourism destinations.
“Fast and accurate information is extremely important in situations like this. We must ensure the safety of tourists while also preventing misinformation from causing unnecessary concern. Tourists and stakeholders should rely only on official government information when making travel decisions,” the Minister said.
BPOLBF has also coordinated with the Harbourmaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) of Labuan Bajo to clarify reports circulating about the temporary closure of boat services to Padar Island and Komodo Harbour. Based on clarification from the relevant authorities, the reports of closure are not true. The current advisory concerns the potential for high waves and strong winds in the southern part of the Sape Strait.
Labuan Bajo Connectivity Operating Normally
In terms of connectivity, Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo operated normally according to its flight schedule on August 22, 2026. All monitored ports also continued to serve vessels and passengers, while maintaining safety as the top priority.
Pioneer shipping services also continue to operate, and there have been no requests for route deviations.
The Minister emphasized that the situation in Labuan Bajo should be distinguished from that of several other areas in Flores that still require further safety assessments and recovery efforts.
“Conditions vary from one area to another. Therefore, tourists planning to continue their journey from Labuan Bajo to other parts of Flores must always check the latest information regarding destinations, roads, airports, and telecommunications services,” the Minister said.
As of August 22, 2026, several major land routes across Flores had resumed operations, while others were still undergoing repairs and recovery.
Remain Alert to Aftershocks
According to data compiled in the BPOLBF report, thousands of aftershocks had been recorded following the main Flores earthquake as of August 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. WIB.
Therefore, the Minister urged tourists to remain calm but vigilant and to rely on official government information when making travel decisions.
“We want tourism activities to continue, but this must not come at the expense of vigilance. The safety of tourists, tourism workers, and local communities must always come before anything else,” Minister Widiyanti said.
The Minister also emphasized that tourism recovery must go hand in hand with the recovery of communities affected by the earthquake in various parts of Flores.
“Labuan Bajo is an important gateway for tourism in Flores. As activities in Labuan Bajo begin to recover, we hope this will help sustain economic activity for local communities. At the same time, our attention and support must continue to be extended to our fellow Indonesians in areas of Flores that are still in the emergency response and recovery phase,” said Minister Widiyanti.
The Ministry of Tourism, through BPOLBF, will continue cross-sectoral coordination, provide updated information on destination conditions and accessibility, and ensure that tourists receive accurate and reliable information throughout the recovery process following the Flores earthquake. The Ministry remains committed to supporting tourism recovery while prioritizing the safety of tourists and local communities.
Source : https://kemenpar.go.id/
