Enviro News Asia, Labuan Bajo — The Komodo National Park Authority under the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia has launched the SiOra application, a digital platform that offers integrated services for ticket reservations (e-ticketing) and digital self-interpretation.
The app was officially launched by the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) on Monday (July 7, 2025) at Puncak Waringin, Labuan Bajo.
In line with the digital era and as an adaptation to technological advancements, the SiOra app was developed by the Komodo National Park Authority to meet the needs of the public, improve service quality, and enhance the efficiency of internal management.
According to an official statement from the Ministry of Forestry, the development of this application aims to organize tourism management, improve public services, and streamline area management.
This initiative aligns with the KSDAE Director General’s Memorandum No. M.2/KSA.3/1/2025, which mandates all Technical Implementation Units (UPT) of conservation areas to adopt a cashless payment system.
This move is intended as a reform measure to make the management of Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) more accountable, efficient, and less prone to leakage.
Through the SiOra app, the Komodo National Park Authority can now provide services including tourist ticketing and permits such as SIMAKSI (Entry Permit for Conservation Areas).
These permits cover activities such as research, photography and videography, drone flights, expeditions, and other commercial purposes.
The SiOra app also facilitates cashless payment for these permits via BRIVA virtual accounts (Bank BRI), bank transfers, and digital wallets (DANA, Flip, and Shopee Pay).
The app is available for both Android and iOS smartphones — it can be downloaded via siora.id for Android and through the App Store for iOS.
Overall, SiOra integrates visit reservations (e-ticketing), zone navigation, information on attractions available in over 40 languages, and SIMAKSI permit services.
For internal use by the Komodo National Park Authority (BTN Komodo), the app’s back-office features support data provision and PNBP reporting, visitor count verification, permit approval processes, and content management related to area information.
However, challenges in implementation include a lack of awareness among some tourism operators about the app, leading to reservations being made at park entry points.
Another challenge is the limitation of virtual account payments, which currently only support BRIVA (BRI), whereas the high volume of international visitors calls for credit card payment options. (*)
