The marine environment at the National Park is one of the richest in the world, and still relatively undiscovered. It was voted as one of the top 3 destinations in the world by CNN for scuba diving. In 1991 the national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and selected as one of the New Natural 7 Wonders of the World. It is recognized as a priority sanctuary area for its array of natural attractions and is protected by the Indonesian government.
On the westernmost tip of the Island of Flores, the town of Labuan Bajo sits peacefully and acts as the only gateway to Komodo National Park. Visitors arrive at this quaint little fishing town from one the multitude of flights from other parts of Indonesia, before making their journey to Komodo National Park.