Indonesia's Mt. Rinjani Reopens Hiking Trails With Stricter Safety Measures

JAKARTA, Aug 11 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- All hiking trails on Mount Rinjani, located on Lombok Island in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province, were reopened on Monday with enhanced safety measures and upgraded management systems. The reopening follows a 10-day closure prompted by a fatal climbing accident and a separate incident involving an injured foreign climber, Xinhua reported, citing the Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR) Office. 

The reopening decision came after intensive evaluation and improvements to all climbing routes and management procedures to enhance visitor safety and comfort, head of TNGR Yarman was quoted by local media as saying on Monday.

Six climbing destinations were reopened, including a previously damaged trail that has now been repaired, Yarman explained.

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"The hiking trails in the area have been improved to increase visitors' safety and comfort. We want to ensure safety standards are complied with before climbing is reopened," he said.

Several changes have been implemented through revisions to the climbing operating procedures. These include grouping routes, adjusting the guide-to-climber ratio, implementing an insurance system, and providing a safety contingency plan, Yarman added.

The TNGR also requires prospective climbers to buy tickets online through the official app.

"This measure aims to regulate climbing quotas and facilitate supervision. Periodic evaluations will be carried out to ensure the new regulations are effective," he said.

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA