Labuan Bajo Welcomes 24 Cruise Ships, Attracting Over 23,000 Foreign Tourists in 2024
Labuan Bajo, The Gulf Observer: A total of 24 cruise ships have visited Labuan Bajo between January and September 2024, bringing an influx of tourists to the region, according to Jaya Mahendra, head of the Labuan Bajo Immigration Office. The ships carried 23,225 foreign tourists and 116 local visitors during this period.
Mahendra reported on Wednesday that the cruise ships docked in the Komodo National Park area, with the majority of visitors arriving from countries including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany.
The immigration checks for foreign nationals were conducted in collaboration with Customs, while oversight was provided by the Komodo National Park Office. Checks were performed on board the cruise ships to ensure the validity of passports and compliance with entry requirements.
“The checks are conducted to confirm that travelers are not on the deterrent list, meaning they are not blacklisted from entering Indonesia,” Mahendra explained. “It also involves verifying visa ownership. We check everything, and finally, we record the data.”
He emphasized that as long as foreign nationals possess valid documents and have not violated any laws, they are permitted to enter Indonesian territory, including Labuan Bajo in West Manggarai Regency.
In an effort to streamline the entry process for tourists, Mahendra urged foreign visitors and tourism service providers to utilize the e-visa service, which simplifies the visa application process.
“There is now a simplified process for issuing and obtaining visas electronically. We encourage both principal and local agencies to inform foreign tourists that immigration offers an easy policy with the e-visa service, which can be accessed anytime, anywhere,” he stated.
The continued influx of cruise ships and tourists underscores Labuan Bajo’s growing significance as a key destination in Indonesia’s tourism sector, especially within the popular Komodo National Park.
