LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — The turquoise waters off Labuan Bajo have looked deceptively calm in recent days. Sunshine has returned, and the harbor appears serene. Yet for tour operators and travelers hoping to sail toward Komodo National Park, the pause button remains firmly pressed.
Authorities have continued a full suspension of tourist boat operations in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, a measure that has been in place since December 29, 2025. Traditional wooden phinisi vessels and speedboats are still not permitted to depart for Komodo and surrounding waters, even as weather conditions on land have improved.
The decision, officials say, is guided not by appearances but by maritime forecasts.
Stephanus Risdiyanto, head of the Class III Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP) in Labuan Bajo, explained that the closure follows marine weather predictions issued by Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), specifically the Maritime Meteorology Station in Tenau, Kupang. Tourist vessels will only be cleared to sail once sea conditions are officially deemed safe.
“The suspension remains in effect until we receive updated information on wave heights from BMKG Tenau Kupang,” Mr. Risdiyanto said on Friday, January 2, 2026.
KSOP Labuan Bajo formally requested updated marine weather data from the BMKG station on January 1 and is still awaiting a response. Until that guidance arrives, the authority has stopped issuing Sailing Approval Letters, known locally as SPB, for all tourism-related vessels.
The restriction, however, is not a blanket shutdown of maritime traffic. Larger commercial ships, including Pelni passenger vessels and ferry services, continue to operate in Labuan Bajo waters.
“This closure applies specifically to tourism navigation,” Mr. Risdiyanto said. “Commercial passenger ships and ferry crossings remain open.”
For visitors and expatriates based in Bali and Flores, the ongoing suspension is a reminder of how quickly travel plans in eastern Indonesia can hinge on maritime safety assessments rather than visible weather alone. Labuan Bajo’s appeal lies in its open seas and remote islands, but those same waters demand caution, especially during seasonal shifts.
For now, Komodo’s dragons and pink beaches remain just beyond reach, waiting not for clearer skies, but for calmer seas confirmed on paper.
