A boat tour agent in Labuan Bajo has complained about the decline in tourist guests in the last 8 months. The decline in tourism interest is due to the threat of Covid 19 and several countries that are closed for foreign tourist visits.
“In January 2020 we still have visitors, but in February, as soon as an announcement from China was hit by the virus, immediately there were no enthusiasts traveling to Labuan Bajo,” said the owner of Intimesea Boat Trip Travel Agent, Ilvit Kelnis confirmed Thursday (22/10/ 2020).
Ilvit said, “I have started this business since 2016, i used to work in a boat travel agency before, therefore i think the prospects for this business is very good in the future, especially in Komodo Island which has become an international tourism destination and has been recognized by UNESCO,”
She said, when Corona virus was first announced in China, orders for trip to sail around Komodo Island and its surroundings began to decrease. In generally, in a month she could get income around twenty million Rupiah per month in the low season, and about fifty million Rupiah per month in the high season.
Ilvit added “During the Covid 19 pandemic, visitors were really quiet,almost none. Especially foreign tourists. I can be sure that my income has really dropped, down to 90%, there is no income at all these days. So my travel business is currently collapsing, ”
Ilvit admitted that she could only hope for domestic tourists, even though in the last few months visitors were still less enthusiastic, they are still paranoid about the dangers of Corona virus. She said “These day, I only hope from domestic tourism.
Anang Fadhilah/Arum Sari
