As the Lebaran holiday approaches, the Indonesian government is making significant preparations aimed at ensuring the safety and enjoyment of visitors at national parks and natural tourism areas. On March 18, 2025, the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, convened a virtual meeting with all Technical Implementation Units (UPT) under the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) from Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) to discuss critical strategies to manage the expected influx of visitors during this busy season.
The rapid increase in tourists during the Lebaran holiday necessitates thorough strategies to ensure smooth and sustainable visitation across these conservation areas. The Minister emphasized six main aspects during the virtual gathering: setting carrying capacity, implementing cashless payment systems, waste management, ensuring visitor safety and security, organizing patrolling services, and procedures for temporarily closing certain areas.
One of the crucial aspects addressed was the necessity for conservation area managers to enforce carrying capacity restrictions. "To maintain ecosystem balance and tourist comfort, I instruct conservation area managers to implement carrying capacity restrictions," stated Raja Antoni. This directive aims to prevent overcrowding while accommodating the anticipated rise in visitors.
To further refine visitor management, a shift system could be employed, ensuring that visitor numbers remain within controlled limits. This includes staggered entry times for vehicular access, and managers are encouraged to promote this system through social media, radio broadcasts, and informational signage to facilitate smooth visitor flow.
Given the complexity of managing a surge in tourism, the Minister also mandated that cashless payment devices are fully operational across all conservation areas. Tickets will only be available through digital platforms such as QRIS and Electronic Data Capture (EDC) machines, to streamline entry and reduce paper waste.
In addition to effective visitor management strategies, waste management was another area of importance highlighted by the Minister. Emphasizing a zero-waste principle, Raja Antoni called for periodic waste patrols and the placement of garbage bins in high-visitation areas throughout the holiday period. "I expect UPT to actively educate visitors about the sharing of visiting times and visitor quotas for each shift to ensure smooth tourism activities within conservation areas," he insisted.
Moreover, Raja Antoni underscored the importance of ensuring visitor comfort and safety by ensuring the installation of clear signage and warning boards throughout the parks. Coordination with nearby healthcare facilities is essential to prepare for any emergencies or incidents during the holiday season, as well as with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency and the volcanology center to monitor weather patterns and geological activity.
In addition to the management strategies outlined, the Director General of KSDAE, Satyawan Pudyatmoko, provided crucial updates on the status of various national parks leading up to the holiday period. Currently, due to varying conditions, 12 national parks, three natural tourism parks, and one wildlife sanctuary remain closed temporarily, particularly for climbing tours.
Some notable closures include TN Gunung Ciremai, with all climbing routes closed from February 28 until April 2, 2025, although non-climbing tourism remains open. TN Baluran will restrict all tourist visits from March 29 to March 31, 2025, and TN Tambora will keep climbing activities suspended until April 13, 2025, with non-climbing tours continuing. Similar restrictions apply to other parks such as TN Rawa Aopa Watumohai, TN Gunung Rinjani, and even TWA Gunung Baung.
Raja Antoni's preparations for the Lebaran holiday come as the government aims to balance conservation efforts with tourism demands. Tourist safety and satisfaction are paramount, and through strict adherence to the outlined protocols, the Ministry hopes to maintain ecological integrity while ensuring visitors can enjoy the splendor of Indonesia's natural parks.
The government also encourages the public to respect these regulations during the Lebaran holiday. Raja Antoni reiterated that adherence to these established guidelines is key to preserving ecological balance and enabling the public to enjoy the beautiful landscapes safely.
For further inquiries, the public can reach Nandang Prihadi, Director of Environmental Service Utilization at KSDAE, through contact number 081388808922. For media inquiries, reach out to Krisdianto, Head of Public Relations Bureau and International Cooperation, Kementerian Kehutanan, via email. The communications ahead of this holiday season indicate a significant collaborative effort aimed at safeguarding both natural resources and visitor experiences.
