"We can still implement partial closures. This means that if sailing to Padar Island and Komodo Island, or more distant tourist spots, is deemed dangerous due to bad weather, permission will still be granted to nearby destinations that are still open for visitors," said Oyan Kristian, Head of ASITA NTT, when contacted from Kupang on Tuesday.
According to him, tourists wishing to see Komodo dragons, for example, can be directed to Rinca Island. Meanwhile, snorkeling can be done at spots near Labuan Bajo that are considered safe, such as Seraya and Kanawa Islands.
He made this statement in response to a circular from the Labuan Bajo Class III Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) which temporarily closed cruise activities for tourist ships and other vessels due to the potential for extreme weather in the area, on January 20-27, 2026.
Oyan explained that the closure of cruises, which has been in effect since the end of December 2025 and continues to this day, has triggered numerous trip cancellations and refund issues in the local tourism sector.
"The trip cancellations due to the ban on sailing to the waters around Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park have had a significant impact on the economy of the people of NTT, especially Labuan Bajo, which is heavily dependent on the tourism sector," he said.
He emphasized that the authority to grant sailing permits rests entirely with the authorities, namely the Port Authority (KSOP) or Harbor Master. However, ASITA hopes the closure policy can be reviewed to prevent it from being implemented across the board.
"We continue to emphasize that our top priority is guest safety, security, and comfort. If, based on BMKG data, an area is deemed unsafe, we will of course leave the decision entirely to the KSOP or Harbor Master," he said.
He added that if partial shipping could be implemented through safer and closer alternative destinations, it would certainly maintain the sustainability of tourism and the local economy.
"This needs to be our collective concern to ensure that tourism in Labuan Bajo doesn't come to a complete halt, as it's a key sector in this region. If tourism activities and destinations are closed, it will undoubtedly have a direct impact on people's lives," he said.
