The Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Labuan Bajo in Indonesia is calling upon the government to prioritise the welfare of both the people and the environment when it comes to tourism in the region.
According to Bishop Maksimus Regus, tourism in Labuan Bajo may only thrive in an ecosystem that is both healthy and sustainable.
In a Lenten pastoral letter to his constituents released on 7th April, Regus said: “If development does not take ecological balance into account, the tourism sector will face serious threats. The orientation towards economic profit alone without strengthening the basis of ecological sustainability will only pose danger for future generations.”
The bishop explained that any form of tourism that ignores the preservation of nature and the interests of local communities will only bring disaster to communities in affected areas, taking on the form of environmental disaster, economic chaos, and social conflict.
Not quite the new Bali
The previous administration under Joko Widodo listed Labuan Bajo as one of a host of locations to be developed as New Bali, offering an alternative to Indonesia’s most popular island destination.
It should be noted that Widodo ordered the transfer of 400 hectares of forest land to the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority for the development of hotels and resorts back in 2018, but this was vehemently opposed by local residents..
This dissent continues to make itself felt throughout Labuan Bajo, as locals and advocates oppose what they find an unacceptable developmental model that puts economic development ahead of both public and environmental welfare.
According to experts, this state-sponsored expansion of tourism initiatives could end up sidelining local communities whilst causing considerable damage to the environment as construction will entail the destruction of local forests and the reclamation of wetlands.
Indeed, Labuan Bajo found itself flooded for the first time in its history in January of this year; more recently, local residents came up against security personnel at a beachfront hotel who prevented them from going to the beach which had previously been open to all.
