A video of a tourist launching a paraglider in Bromo National Park on Java is gaining popularity on social media. The footage was published by the TikTok account @palawantra: a man in a white helmet and jacket flies on an orange parachute over the sacred area.
The Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, reminded that any tourist activities in the Bromo area must adhere to established rules.
"There can be no tolerance for activities that harm nature, disregard safety, or violate cultural values," she stated on September 15.
According to her, Bromo is not just a tourist attraction but a conservation area and a sacred heritage of the Tengger people, where visitor behavior is also assessed from a spiritual-religious perspective. Since 2015, the region has been part of the UNESCO biosphere reserve 'Bromo Tengger Semeru – Arjuno'.
The governor emphasized the importance of educating tourists: "We will strengthen educational work for visitors so that Bromo remains untouched, sacred, and respected by both current and future generations."
However, this was not the only incident. On September 10, the Instagram account @indonesian_mountains posted a video showing the same man launching a paraglider from another point — Penanjakan, heading towards Mount Batok. The park administration again condemned the offender's actions.
The head of the national park, Rudianto Tjahjono Nugroho, stated that the pilot has not yet been found. He reminded that the area is officially recognized as sacred, and the Tengger Priest Council allows for traditional sanctions against violators — their severity depends on the nature of the offense.
The situation is similar in Bali: authorities there also monitor compliance with cultural norms and punish violators without leniency. Tourists face deportation, fines, and being blacklisted. Therefore, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the rules of conduct before traveling.
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