Komodo National Park is one of the most extraordinary marine parks in the world — and starting April 2026, visitor access is changing. The Indonesian government will introduce a Komodo National Park Quota quota system, limiting the number of people who can enter the park each day.
The goal? To protect Komodo’s fragile ecosystem while ensuring tourism remains sustainable. But it also raises an important question for divers, travelers, and conservationists alike:
Is limiting the number of visitors the best way to protect Komodo, or could responsible tourism itself play a bigger role?
The Komodo National Park Quota will limit entry to 365,000 visitors per year, which breaks down to just 1,000 visitors per day.
Currently, the park sees around 1,600 visitors per day, including divers, snorkellers, liveaboard guests, independent land tourists and cruise trippers. Reducing the daily limit to 1,000 visitors per day will help park authorities better manage tourism and protect Komodo’s natural wonders.
Komodo National Park is located right in the heart of the Coral Triangle — home to vibrant coral reefs, manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, and thousands of other marine species. On land, it’s the only place in the world where you can see Komodo dragons in their natural habitat.
Because of this incredible biodiversity, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Protecting it is critical for both the animals that call this area home and the local communities who rely on tourism to sustain their livelihood.
The Komodo National Park Quota applies to all visitors, not just divers.
This includes:
The Komodo National Park Quota includes anybody crossing the boundary & visiting the National Park. All activities are included.
The daily permit costs 275,000 IDR for divers. This fee applies to foreigners. The permit fees for Indonesian nationals is less. This fee is applicable to every day that you are in the National Park. So if you are doing 4 days of diving with us you will need to pay 275,000 IDR x 4 = 1,100,000 IDR.
The fee itself is not a new figure and our guests have been paying this for some time. The difference now is that with the introduction of the Komodo National Park Quota the amount of permits are limited each day.
Permits are issued for specific dates so booking early is essential.
Supporters of the Komodo National Park Quota believe that limiting visitor numbers is key to protecting Komodo’s ecosystems. Large groups can put pressure on coral reefs, wildlife habitats, terrestrial and dive sites, leading to damage over time.
Reducing daily visitors aims to:
Many other world-class dive destinations, including Sipadan Island and Raja Ampat, already use visitor limits to protect fragile ecosystems.
While government quotas are a “top-down” solution, local dive operators in Komodo are already taking steps to self-regulate tourism responsibly.
For example, at popular dive sites like Batu Bolong, Crystal Rock, and Castle Rock, operators have implemented the 20-minute rule. This rule is an agreement by all operators to ensure a safer, less crowded and more enjoyable experience for all. This agreement ensures that 2 dive boats will not jump at the same dive site within 20 minutes of each other. These means that there are not lots of divers jumping at the same site at the same site.
This rule has already improved over capacity issues at dive sites as well as guest enjoyment and experience.
Many operators also follow the Green Fins Code of Conduct, including Scuba Junkie, which reduces environmental impact through careful site management and diver education. We are a very proud Green Fins Centre and work hard to ensure our operations remain in line with Green Fins standars.
This raises an interesting question:
If the industry can manage tourism effectively, is a strict quota really necessary, or could better diver education and conduct achieve the same goal?
Tourism isn’t just a threat — it’s also a powerful tool for conservation.
Dive tourism generates funding for local communities, marine protection programs, and environmental research. Visitors who experience Komodo’s underwater world often become passionate advocates for protecting the ocean.
Fewer visitors might help reduce environmental stress, but it could also limit funding and awareness for conservation efforts.
With the Komodo National Park Quota taking effect in April 2026, early planning is more important than ever.
Permits need to be purchased well in advance to ensure our guests are able to enter the National Park. Permits are allocated to specific individuals and tied to specific dates. So securing them ahead of time will ensure a smooth experience.
At Scuba Junkie Komodo Resort, our booking team can help arrange permits and guide you through the process, letting you focus on exploring Komodo’s incredible reefs and marine life.
The Komodo National Park Quota is part of a larger global conversation: How do we protect the natural wonders we love while still allowing people to experience them?
Have you dived in Komodo?
Do you think the Komodo National Park Quota will help protect Komodo National Park?
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Photos Courtesy of our guests: Raphael Walker, Emir Rizal & Lukasz Halbryt.
