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Masked officers stand guard at the entrance of Kelor Island in Komodo National Park, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara province on Saturday (July 18, 2020). (ANTARA/Kornelis Kaha/sw)

Tourists planning to visit Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park in the new normal period will need to register online through a certified, local travel agent, the Tourism Bureau of West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, stated.

“During the new normal (period), we (will) limit (the number of) tourists visiting Labuan Bajo as well as Komodo National Park. Hence, everyone (planning to visit the areas will) have to first secure online registration,” head of the bureau, Agustinus Rinus, told ANTARA on Wednesday.

“They will also need to choose an official travel agent who is registered on our database, (and) who has an office here in Labuan Bajo. Other than that, they would not be permitted (to visit the areas),” he elaborated, adding that the measure has been taken to help travel agents sustain their businesses.

The bureau plans to allow up to 25 tourists a day with a view to curb coronavirus transmission. Tourists can register themselves on https://booking.labuanbajoflores.id/.

“Boats entering tourism spots will also be limited. Here, the online registration would help us to record, (and) avoid boat crowding at each spot,” Rinus noted.

The Tourism Bureau of West Manggarai has allowed Labuan Bajo Tourism Authorities and the Komodo National Park Office to reopen in three phases. The first phase began on July 6, 2020, with the areas throwing their gates open to local tourists only.

In the second phase, the two tourist spots will allow domestic visitors, and in the last phase, domestic as well as international tourists will be allowed entry into the areas, with the implementation of health protocols. (ANTARA)