Raja Ampat, West Papua
We are pleased to provide information on a new set of local Government fees
that are designed to help perserve the pristine nature of the area of the
Indonesian Archipelago called Raja Ampat.
The following set of fees and explainations of same are as follows:
The Raja Ampat Regency Government is proud to announce the introduction of a
tourism entrance fee system effective August 12th 2007. In accordance with
Regency Law Number 63 and 64, the 2007 entrance fee for foreign visitors is Rp
500,000 (approximately US$55) for which they will receive a waterproof plastic
entrance tag. The annual tag will normally be valid from January 1st until
January 31st of the following year. The 2007 the tags will be valid from 12
August 2007 until 31 January 2008. All Indonesian visitors from outside Raja
Ampat are required to pay Rp 250,000. For 2007 Indonesian tourists will get a
tag, but in future years they will receive an entry card. Visitors are required
to carry their tags or cards at all times and they can be easily fixed to
guests’ snorkeling or diving gear or to their kit bag. The entrance fee system
has been adapted from the very successful Bonaire and Bunaken Marine Park
systems. The 2007 tag features the endemic epaulette shark Hemiscyllium
freycineti, one of over 1200 fish species found in Raja Ampat, THE most
biodiverse marine region in the world recorded to date.
Tags will be available for purchase at the Sorong, Indonesia airport, the main
point of entry for Raja Ampat. Additionally, tags can be purchased in advance
from the Conservation International (CI) office in Bali, Indonesia. Tags should
be purchased in advance by boats entering Raja Ampat from ports other than
Sorong. Each tag purchase will result in two receipts, one for Rp150,000 for the
Raja Ampat government tourism management fee and another one for Rp 350,000 for
the Raja Ampat conservation and community development fee. Enforcement of the
entrance fee system will be by spot checks by official patrols. The revenues
from the entrance fee are managed by a multi-stakeholder “Raja Ampat Tourism
Entrance Fee Management Team” which includes representatives from the fisheries
department, tourism department, conservation organizations, tourism stakeholders
and community representatives. According to the law, 100% of the tourism
management fee will fund tourism department programs, whereas the conservation
and community development fee is split as follows: 40% for conservation and
enforcement programs, 40% for community development programs and 20% to
administer the fee system.
We greatly appreciate your support and cooperation with this fee system.
Conservation of Raja Ampat’s spectacular marine habitats and biodiversity
requires long term funding. In addition, the local communities who own these
reefs need to see direct benefits of tourism through community programs that
will improve their quality of life. For more information about Raja Ampat and
the user fee system please visit our web site at
www.diverajaampat.org
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