VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (LHK) has reopened Mount Rinjani on Lombok Island and Mount Tambora on Sumbawa Island in West Nusa Tenggara to climbers and tourists since April 1, 2021.

Climbing tourism activities at the two sites had earlier been closed since January 1, 2021, due to inhospitable weather in the mountains that endanger human life, the ministry noted in a statement here on Thursday,

Head of the Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR) Dedy Asriady stated that the reopening of the two volcanoes was based on the directions of the Director General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems (KSDAE) of the Ministry of LHK.

"Climbing activities at Mount Rinjani are still limited to a maximum quota of 50 percent of the normal capacity, and the length of the climbers' stay is only three days and two nights," he remarked.

Tourists keen on conducting climbing activities should place an order for climbing tickets through the e-Rinjani application downloadable via the Playstore.

The TNGR Hall also enforces stringent COVID-19 health protocols on tourists, right from the entrance, at the tourist sites, and while leaving the national park area.

"The implementation of health protocols while conducting tourism activities at the TNGR area during the new normal period of the COVID-19 pandemic is in accordance with the direction of the director general of KSDAE," Asriady stated.

Meanwhile, Head of the Tambora National Park, Yuniadi, noted that the Mount Tambora climbing tours will also be started on April 1, 2021.

Every climber visiting Mount Tambora must adhere to the health protocols to stem the transmission of COVID-19 and carry a corona-free certificate.

"Every climber arriving by plane is required to conduct a free re-check for COVID-19 from hospitals, clinics/puskesmas (community health centers) in Bima and Dompu," he stated.

Yuniadi noted that the number of climbers reached a maximum of 30 percent of the normal capacity of the national park area. The climbers are only allowed to stay for three days and two nights in the area.

Every climber must register at every entrance to the climbing route and pay the entrance ticket to the Tambora National Park area according to the government-outlined provisions.

"We also remind climbers to always maintain cleanliness and not to commit acts of vandalism or other activities that disrupt the ecosystem of the national park area," he stated. (Antaranews)