Anticipating Potential Threats to Komodo Tourism

WWF Indonesia said waste in the Komodo National Park from residential sites reached an average of 12 cubic meters, or to 0.7 tons, per day.

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

Visitors enjoy the Aug. 29 sunset in Gili Lawa Darat, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara. Visitors must climb a hill to reach the best viewing point to watch the setting sun.

Tourists are flocking to Komodo Island National Park to see the reptile that has survived for millions of years. But what will happen when tourism leads to waste being scattered in the waters and corners of the island?

During sunset in Gili Lawa Darat on Monday, plastic packaging piled up on the beach, with plastic bottles scattered across its edge. The next morning on the other side of the island, on a path that tourists follow to enjoy the sunrise and sunset, piles of plastic waste was seen strewn across the bushes.