Natural Tourism Business in Wildlife Conservations and National Parks

National wildlife conservation parks can be added to the list of zones that are host to ‘natural tourism’ under the newly-released Government Regulation No. 36 of 2010 on the Business of Natural Tourism in Wildlife Conservations, National Parks, Grand Forest Parks, and Natural Tour Parks. By adding national wildlife conservation parks to the list, the regulation repeals and replaces Government Regulation No. 18 of 1994 on the Business of Natural Tourism in Zones for National Parks, Grand Forest Parks, and Natural Tour Parks.

This regulation essentially elaborates the permit and licensing regime required for wildlife conservation business and tourism to take place in a protected area; natural tourism permits, rights and obligations beholden to permit-holders, and so on.

‘Natural tourism business’ is defined as including tourism services (e.g., information, tour guiding, transportation, food and beverage services) and the tourism facility business, including accommodation (i.e., hotels) - in this case, within a national park or protected area. Engaging in such activities requires permits; a Natural Tourism Business Permit, most importantly. For wildlife conservation, national parks, and natural tour parks, that Business Permit is distributed upon application to the Minister of Forestry, whereas for Grand Forest Parks, the Permit may be distributed upon application to the governor, or mayor/regent.

Obligations befalling to holders of Natural Tourism Business Permits are laid out in Article 21, and include payment of the tourism business fee. Meanwhile, their rights include the right to form a business association, and to seek legal protection for their business (Article 23). 

Depending on the tourism activity, a separate Tourism Service Permit may be required, application for which is to either the Minister of Forestry, governor, or regent/mayor, depending on the area in question. Similarly, depending on the activity and also the area classification, a Tourism Facilities Permit may be required, application for which is handled by those same parties.

Tourism Facilities Permits, however, are more involved. First, applicants must meet administrative and technical requirements, and if Minister, governor, or regent/mayor approve, they will issue an In Principle Approval, which sets out additional obligations. Those obligations include: preparation of a map of the business area, a tourism business plan, and an environmental monitoring and management plan, and; payment of the natural tourism business fee. Applicants have one year to meet those requirements. If approved, the relevant authority will issue a Tourism Facilities Permit valid for 55 years, and is extendable.

Facility permits are strictly not rights of ownership over any part of the national park, and may not be delegated or assigned to another party without written approval from the relevant issuing authority. Administrative sanctions for violations of this regulation could include any combination of written warnings, an order to temporarily freeze business activities, permit revocation, and financial reparation.

All related permits issued prior to the regulation continue to be valid until their expiry.

This regulation has been in force since 12 February 2010.