Padar Island Drone Permit Snafu: Travel Blogger Voices Frustration Over Confusing Regulations
A travel blogger’s dream of capturing the perfect sunset shot over Padar Island in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), Indonesia, turned into a frustrating ordeal due to conflicting permit requirements. Harival Zayuka, the blogger in question, took to social media to express his disappointment after being barred from flying his drone despite having paid the official permit fee through the designated application.
Zayuka stated he paid Rp 2,050,000, which he believed covered the drone permit and entrance fee for one person. “I already paid the Rp 2,050,000 for the drone permit, including the entrance ticket for one person,” he told Kompas.com on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
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His troubles began just as he was preparing to launch his drone to capture the stunning sunset. According to Zayuka, a park ranger approached him and prohibited the flight. “Suddenly, a ranger came up to me and said I couldn’t fly the drone. I showed him my proof of payment, but he said I didn’t have SIMAKSI,” Zayuka explained, referring to the Surat Izin Masuk Kawasan Konservasi, a conservation area entry permit typically required in certain protected zones.
This unexpected hurdle caused him to miss the sunset, a moment he had meticulously planned for. He lamented the lack of clarity in the system, especially since the official SIORA application had processed his payment without flagging the missing SIMAKSI document.
“The sun was setting. The moment I was chasing… gone. All that’s left is a question mark,” he expressed.
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Lack of Integration Between Drone Permits and SIMAKSI Questioned
This incident highlights a potential flaw in Indonesia’s digital tourism permit system, specifically within the Komodo National Park (BTNK) management: the apparent lack of integration between drone permits and conservation area permits like SIMAKSI.
Zayuka questioned why the system didn’t implement stricter verification protocols from the outset and why the on-site ranger didn’t offer a more helpful approach.
“If SIMAKSI was required from the beginning, why did the permit system allow me to proceed without it? Why could the SIORA application accept payment for the drone flight permit when the SIMAKSI document hadn’t been attached?” he questioned.
Furthermore, Zayuka criticized the ranger’s communication style, which he found less than helpful.
“It would be different if the ranger had explained things clearly, but he was emotional. The money is gone, but who will compensate for the lost moment and time?” he asked.
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He also wondered why he couldn’t have been allowed to fly the drone first and then sort out the missing paperwork afterward, especially since a refund was not an option.
“Now, a refund isn’t possible. So, what happens now?” he asked.
Zayuka concluded his post by inviting other travelers to share similar experiences.
“If you’ve ever experienced something similar, please share. Because I’m sure… I’m not alone,” he stated.
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Ringkasan
A travel blogger, Harival Zayuka, experienced frustration on Padar Island due to conflicting permit requirements for flying a drone. Despite paying Rp 2,050,000 through the official SIORA application for a drone permit and entrance fee, he was prohibited from flying his drone by a park ranger because he lacked a SIMAKSI (conservation area entry permit).
Zayuka questioned the lack of integration between the drone permit system and the SIMAKSI requirement, pointing out that the system allowed him to pay without flagging the missing document. He also criticized the ranger’s unhelpful communication and the lack of options for a refund or a solution that would have allowed him to capture the sunset he had planned for.