Chinese tourist drowns off Indonesia's pink beach after skipping life jacket to pose for camera
Famous for its pink sand, Long Beach is a popular dive site located in the Padar Island within the national park. - Komodo Tour Boat website via ST/ANN
JAKARTA: A Chinese tourist drowned while swimming off Long Beach at Indonesia's Komodo National Park on June 18, after reportedly ignoring safety advice to wear a life jacket.
The victim, identified by local media as Qiu Yan, 30, had been part of a tour group visiting the national park — a cluster of islands in East Nusa Tenggara province, known for its rugged beauty and its population of Komodo dragons.
Long Beach is a popular dive site located in the Padar Island within the national park. It is famous for its pink sand that gets its unique colour from red marine microscopic organisms called foraminifera.
According to a statement from the West Manggarai police, Qiu entered the sea without a life jacket despite being cautioned by her guide.
'She was reminded to use one before going into the water, but she refused,' said police spokesman Hery Suryana in comments shared with Kompas.com, an Indonesian news site, on June 19.
Qiu had been travelling with ten others on a liveaboard tour. Her tour guide Anselmus Raden, 24, recounted that she wanted to take pictures before putting on the life jacket.
'We had told her to wear it, but she said she just wanted to pose for photos first,' he said. Moments later, others in the group raised the alarm that she had gone under.
'There was foam and blood coming from her mouth and nose,' said Hery.
Qiu was transported to the Komodo Health Centre, but despite efforts by medical staff to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead. Police said the cause of death was likely due to significant water entering her lungs.
A rescue team later transported her body to Komodo Regional General Hospital in Labuan Bajo - the main entry point to Komodo National Park - using a rigid inflatable boat and a fast boat provided by the local port authority.
Qiu had been on a three-day tour, which had set off from Nusantara Port on June 17.
Authorities have since reiterated the need for strict adherence to safety protocols during marine tourism activities in the park. - The Straits Times/ANN
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Laos strives to develop strong tourism growth
This photo taken on January 28, 2024 shows Chinese tourists at a train station in Luang Prabang. From January to March 2025, Laos welcomed 1,262,035 foreign tourists, marking an 11 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. - AFP VIENTIANE: Laos' Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism will roll out a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening the tourism sector, attracting more visitors and boosting national revenue. According to Lao National TV on Friday (June 20), the ministry will focus on improving access to tourist sites, upgrading transport and facilities to meet both national and international standards, and ensuring a safe, clean,and enjoyable experience for visitors. Key priorities include enhancing infrastructure and transportation within and around major tourist destinations, as well as diversifying tourism offerings through greater involvement of local communities and the private sector. The government also aims to strengthen the management of popular tourist towns and improve service quality by aligning with Asean and national tourism standards. To boost visibility, promotional efforts will be expanded across various media platforms, ensuring accurate and timely information reaches a broad audience. In support of economic growth, the government will promote the adoption of digital payment systems to encourage domestic currency circulation, while also modernising border checkpoints to streamline entry procedures for travelers. The ministry will also encourage closer cooperation with tourism associations and neighbouring countries, and review visa policies to enhance accessibility for international visitors. These comprehensive efforts are part of a broader strategy to position Laos as a more attractive, competitive, and sustainable tourism destination within the region. From January to March 2025, Laos welcomed 1,262,035 foreign tourists, marking an 11 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, domestic tourism experienced a remarkable surge, with 1,467,886 local travelers recorded, a 98.6 per cent rise compared to the same period last year. - Xinhua
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Chinese tourist drowns off Indonesia's pink beach after skipping life jacket to pose for camera
Famous for its pink sand, Long Beach is a popular dive site located in the Padar Island within the national park. - Komodo Tour Boat website via ST/ANN JAKARTA: A Chinese tourist drowned while swimming off Long Beach at Indonesia's Komodo National Park on June 18, after reportedly ignoring safety advice to wear a life jacket. The victim, identified by local media as Qiu Yan, 30, had been part of a tour group visiting the national park — a cluster of islands in East Nusa Tenggara province, known for its rugged beauty and its population of Komodo dragons. Long Beach is a popular dive site located in the Padar Island within the national park. It is famous for its pink sand that gets its unique colour from red marine microscopic organisms called foraminifera. According to a statement from the West Manggarai police, Qiu entered the sea without a life jacket despite being cautioned by her guide. 'She was reminded to use one before going into the water, but she refused,' said police spokesman Hery Suryana in comments shared with an Indonesian news site, on June 19. Qiu had been travelling with ten others on a liveaboard tour. Her tour guide Anselmus Raden, 24, recounted that she wanted to take pictures before putting on the life jacket. 'We had told her to wear it, but she said she just wanted to pose for photos first,' he said. Moments later, others in the group raised the alarm that she had gone under. 'There was foam and blood coming from her mouth and nose,' said Hery. Qiu was transported to the Komodo Health Centre, but despite efforts by medical staff to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead. Police said the cause of death was likely due to significant water entering her lungs. A rescue team later transported her body to Komodo Regional General Hospital in Labuan Bajo - the main entry point to Komodo National Park - using a rigid inflatable boat and a fast boat provided by the local port authority. Qiu had been on a three-day tour, which had set off from Nusantara Port on June 17. Authorities have since reiterated the need for strict adherence to safety protocols during marine tourism activities in the park. - The Straits Times/ANN
Malaysia Sun
13 hours ago
- Malaysia Sun
Roundup: Indonesia ramps up global tourism promotion to attract more int'l tourists
JAKARTA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is strengthening its promotional efforts to tap into the growing global tourist market, as the Southeast Asian archipelago continues to struggle to catch up with neighboring countries in attracting international visitors. Last year, Indonesia received around 14 million foreign tourists, while Singapore welcomed 16.5 million, Malaysia 25 million, Vietnam 17.6 million, and Thailand 35.5 million. According to data from Statistics Indonesia, the majority of foreign tourists in 2024 came from Malaysia, followed by Australia, Singapore, China, and Timor-Leste. This year, the country is targeting 14 to 16 million foreign tourist arrivals to boost foreign exchange and encourage economic growth through the tourism sector. Several popular tourist destinations in Indonesia, including the island resort of Bali, the Borobudur Temple in Central Java, and Raja Ampat in the easternmost region of Papua, all offer stunning views. Meanwhile, some of the leading entry points for foreign tourists to Indonesia are Batam in the Riau Islands Province, located near Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Bali and Jakarta. In a bid to increase the global competitiveness of Indonesian tourism, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said recently that the government is committed to further strengthening its promotional efforts in international markets. Moreover, the ministry has undertaken several diplomatic initiatives to boost the country's tourism industry. Late last month, Indonesia's Tourism Ministry and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation. "The MoU is expected to increase the exchange of visits between the two countries, specifically through facilitating promotional activities carried out by the government and business actors," Wardhana said last week at the ministry. She added that advancing the Indonesian tourism industry requires a strong spirit of collaboration and collective commitment among ministries, institutions, and friendly countries, with the hope that tourism can become an economic and social force that benefits the entire community. Indonesia also held bilateral meetings with several countries during the 123rd session of the UN Tourism Executive Council, which took place in Spain late last month. The ministry discussed collaboration opportunities with several nations, including Spain, India, Mexico, and Tunisia, during the forum. "We will continue to move forward with the principles of sustainability, inclusiveness, and global competitiveness, while ensuring that the growth of this sector aligns with efforts to preserve culture and the environment," she added.
