Flores quake damages dozens of tourism venues, 54 hospitality sites reported

Labuan Bajo — A magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Flores on August 15, 2026 caused significant damage to tourism facilities across the island, with the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority Executive Agency (BPO-LBF) reporting 54 hospitality venues affected as of August 24, including 47 hotels, restaurants and cafes with severe damage and seven with lighter damage, according to Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI).

The figures provide an early indication of the earthquake’s impact on the tourism economy beyond the gradual restoration of transport links and basic infrastructure. BPO-LBF’s data, cited by RRI, refer to Labuan Bajo and other locations on Flores, but the agency has not publicly detailed the individual businesses or broken down how many are hotels, restaurants or cafes.

A separate report by an Indonesian news outlet, citing BPO-LBF, put the number of damaged tourism accommodations and food and beverage venues at 55 units, including hotels, homestays, restaurants and cafes, underscoring that the damage tally is still being updated.

Uneven recovery between attractions and access

Tourist destinations on Flores have not recovered at the same pace as transport infrastructure. BPO-LBF told RRI that by August 24, seven tourist destinations had officially reopened, while 11 remained temporarily closed; two of the closed sites were described as having severe structural damage. Earlier post-quake assessments cited by RRI from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) also recorded damage to multiple attractions and accommodations across Flores, including hotels and homestays in several regencies.

By the same late-August reference date, BPO-LBF reported that six airports across Flores were operating normally, improving physical access for visitors and tourism workers. Normal airport operations, however, do not by themselves confirm that hotels, restaurants, cafes or attractions are safe to enter, and BNPB has continued safety inspections at tourism sites before reopening.

According to BPO-LBF’s data cited by RRI, the situation as of August 24 was:

• 54 hospitality venues affected.
• 47 venues with severe damage.
• Seven venues with light damage.
• Seven tourist destinations reopened.
• 11 tourist destinations still closed, including two with severe structural damage.
• Six airports across Flores operating normally.

Separate reporting drawing on updated BPO-LBF figures in mid‑September noted 55 damaged tourism accommodations and food and beverage businesses across Flores, including hotels, homestays, restaurants and cafes, indicating that verification of conditions is ongoing.

ASITA urges safety checks and coordinated information

RRI reported that the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) in East Nusa Tenggara is pressing authorities to coordinate the restoration of what the sector describes as the “3A” framework: attractions, amenities and accessibility, as the basis for tourism recovery after the earthquake. ASITA’s regional chairman, Oyan Kristian, told RRI that travel agencies need confirmation that facilities are functional and safe before resuming full‑scale promotion and selling tour packages.

According to RRI’s report from Jakarta, ASITA is calling for clear public communication and government verification so agencies can give reliable information to prospective visitors and international partners. The association’s stance places safety certification and transparency alongside physical repairs: operators need to know which venues and attractions have been inspected, which remain closed, and what restrictions apply at sites that have reopened.

ASITA also linked recovery prospects to the psychological impact of the earthquake on local communities, noting that rebuilding visitor confidence will require consistent messaging from officials and the media in addition to infrastructure repairs. BNPB and local governments continue to assess damage to homes, public facilities and tourism assets as part of the wider post‑disaster recovery effort.

Implications for Flores tourism

The reported damage to dozens of hospitality venues and the uneven reopening of attractions suggest that tourism recovery on Flores will require more than restoring flights and basic access. The sector depends on a connected chain of accommodation, food and beverage services, attractions, transport and trustworthy safety information; disruption in any part can affect the viability of the whole.

The reopening of several destinations and the return to normal operations at six airports provide a starting point for gradual recovery. However, the continued closure of more than ten attractions and the still‑evolving count of damaged hotels, homestays, restaurants and cafes indicate that visitor experiences remain uneven across Flores, and that tour operators will be cautious about marketing the region until inspections and repairs advance further.

Sources

• RRI.co.id – Earthquake Destroys Tens Hospitality Venues in Flores
• Detik.com – 55 Hotel-Restoran di Flores Rusak Akibat Gempa