Indonesia forest fire haze disrupts flights to Tanjung Puting tourism hotspot

Thick haze from ongoing forest and land fires has begun to disrupt tourism in West Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. International tourists heading to the popular Tanjung Puting National Park are experiencing flight delays, causing concern for local tourism officials.

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International tourists are facing delay issues. Guests who were supposed to arrive on schedule are hindered by the increasingly dense smoke

Muhammad Alwan, head of Tourism Destination Development for West Kotawaringin, stated that the haze is creating significant obstacles for foreign visitors with scheduled travel to Tanjung Puting. "International tourists are facing delay issues. Guests who were supposed to arrive on schedule are hindered by the increasingly dense smoke," Alwan said on Tuesday. While the impact so far is limited to flight delays, with no reports of cancellations, the regional government is closely watching the situation.

Authorities are worried that if the haze intensifies and spreads further, it could lead to greater disruptions for air travel and tourist journeys. The period from June to early October is typically a peak season for international visitors to Tanjung Puting. "From June to early October, there are usually many international tourists coming to Tanjung Puting," Alwan noted.

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We are monitoring the situation and conditions for the next two weeks, whether this smoke will spread further

The Indonesian Travel Agents Association (ASTINDO) in West Kotawaringin has also shared information about the travel disruptions. Tourism operators view the prolonged haze as a serious problem that could not only affect flights but also diminish the comfort of tourists during their travel to the Tanjung Puting area.

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From June to early October, there are usually many international tourists coming to Tanjung Puting