VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) authorities reopened the Padar Island tourist resort in Komodo National Park (TN), West Manggarai District, to tourists after being shut since July 5 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Director of the Executing Agency for the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority (BPOLBF) Shana Fatina stated here on Tuesday that the tourist area was opened since July 19, 2021.

"It has been reopened after being closed for approximately 14 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic," she stated.

Tourists visiting the island are requested to adhere to stringent health protocols as set by the agency and the national park authority.

The number of tourists visiting the park is limited to a maximum of 300 people. The visitor cap is deemed necessary, as the protected park has only one trekking path spanning 522 meters.

The visiting hours for tourists are also limited to only between 5:30 and 7:30 WITA (local time) and from 8:00 WITA to 10:00 WITA and between 15:00 and 18:00 WITA.

"The entry hours have been split into several segments to prevent crowds at the Komodo National Park area," she explained.

Fatina remarked that tourists arriving at Padar Island are required to wear face masks or face shields, maintain a distance of about a meter from one another, and get their body temperature checked upon arrival at the island's dock.

Padar Island, though small, is the third-largest island of Komodo National Park, and was once a stomping ground for large Komodo dragons that gave the reserve its name.

The island is about 20 miles (30 km) from Labuan Bajo, a fishing town on the westernmost part of Flores. (Antaranews)