By Omer Faruk Yildiz
JAKARTA (AA) - A popular tourist destination Komodo Island will be closed to residence and tourism as of the beginning of 2020, the tourism agency of East Nusa Tenggara said on Thursday.
The shutdown is planned to be a year long to improve the ecological conditions and to preserve the environment.
Officials say Indonesian President Joko Widodo confirmed the decision after visiting the island.
The estimated amount for the island's rehabilitation is 100 billion rupiahs ($7million).
Residents of Komodo Island protested the plan to evacuate the island.
Komodo Island is one of Indonesia's 12 largest marine tourism centers.
*Writing by Dilara Hamit from Ankara